A gracious Grade II*country house in a protected parkland setting, including extensive fishing on the River Itchen.

Description

Shawford Park is one of the finest small estates in Hampshire, with one of the county’s most beautiful houses in a protected parkland and river setting in the heart of the picturesque Itchen Valley, and enclosed on almost three sides by clear chalk streams, offering over a mile of exceptional fishing.

The house itself is believed to date from 1685, with alterations and additions between 1912 and 1920 by the architect Herbert Jewell and is listed Grade II*, being of special architectural and historic interest.

Externally the house has stone elevations, sash and casement windows under a tile roof. Internally a series of well proportioned reception rooms, bedrooms and domestic offices, together with a self-contained annex provides elegant family, guest and staff accommodation. Traditional features are enhanced by the benefits of modern day living. All of the principal reception rooms have traditional wooden panelling, fine carved open fireplaces and elaborate architectural detailing such as cornicing, plaster friezes and ornate door and window frames.

Historic associations with Shawford Park can be traced back as far as the 16th Century, at which time it was situated within the Manors of Twyford and Marwell and owned by Sir Henry Mildmay. Sir Henry was, and remains to be, best known for the part he played in the trial of King Charles I and although he was not directly responsible for signing the death warrant, he was still exiled for his involvement. Shawford Park passed to his son, Henry Mildmay, High Sheriff of Nottingham. The property remained in the ownership of the Mildmay family until the mid 1800’s when it was bought by General Frederick CB of The East India Company, then by Mabel Morrison, the daughter in law of the eminent financier James Morrison, who at the time was said to be the ''richest commoner in England". Over the last century, Shawford Park has passed through three principal ownerships, concluding with the current owners who have significantly altered the gardens and grounds and built a secondary courtyard and additional accommodation.

It is believed that the stone used to construct the house came from earlier and larger houses and buildings, including possibly the ancient Palace of the Bishops of Winchester at Marwell, although probably originally quarried at Caen in northern France. Substantial alterations and additions were made to the house in the early 1900s by the highly regarded architect, Herbert Jewell. These included adding the formal entrance with segmental pediment, the paved forecourt with granite setts from Aberdeen and the superb Ballroom/Drawing Room and Ante Room, forming the south east wing.

Jewell also added the arcaded cloisters to the north east face of the Ballroom/Drawing Room and laid out the garden terrace, including excavating the original sunken garden which is believed to have Elizabethan or Medieval origins.

Location

Extensive shopping and recreational facilities are available nearby in Winchester and Southampton. The highly regarded Twyford Preparatory School is situated in the village of Twyford. In Winchester, just four miles away, are Winchester College, Pilgrims Prep School and St Swithun’s School for Girls, further beyond is Bedales. The city also offers a number of outstanding state schools including the much sought after Peter Symonds Sixth Form College.

The Itchen Valley and surrounding Hampshire countryside provides splendid opportunities for the sporting enthusiast. There is racing at Newbury and Salisbury and Golf courses nearby include Royal Winchester, South Winchester and Hockley. The south coast is conveniently close, and offers sailing on the sheltered waters of the Solent from marinas on the Hamble (about 12 miles), Beaulieu and Lymington rivers.

The River Itchen, one of England’s premier chalk streams, and its carriers, flow through and around the property, providing superb fishing. There are a myriad of lanes, footpaths and bridleways to explore throughout the South Downs National Park.




Acreage: 59 Acres

Additional Info

Shawford Park is situated close to Twyford and the historic City of Winchester in Hampshire. The beautiful house is sited close to the centre of its mature parkland grounds which in turn are bordered by the River Itchen and woodland, providing a secluded and protected position. Despite its rural setting and location, its communications are excellent with the M3 (Junction 11) 2 miles providing convenient road access to London and Southampton. Alternatively for Central London there is a regular train service from both Shawford and Winchester, the latter taking approximately 1hr to London Waterloo. Southampton International Airport is approximately 10 miles flying to destinations in the UK and mainland Europe.

Outbuildings The back door leads to a paved courtyard flanked by the garden room, squash court, staff quarters and a single storey brick and tile building forming a studio workshop and gardener’s store. Beyond is a newly built service yard, including large greenhouse, garage buildings with 2 garages and storage area. A separate building with 3 double garages, storeroom, staff kitchen, tool kitchen and kennels. With stairs leading from the staff kitchen to the accommodation on the first floor, forming a forming two large rooms and a WC.

Gardens Behind the service building is the vegetable garden with raised beds and soft fruit cages. A garden door leads to the orchard with cutting garden, box hedging, vegetable and flower beds and an ornamental water feature. The garden room door leads onto a large stone flagged terrace perfect for informal entertaining. The ornamental gardens include both mature and newly planted areas, brought together into one cohesive element by Kim Wilkie. Working in a three dimensional format, immediately below the music room are steps leading to a sunken garden with mature topiary and yew hedging, fountain taking centre stage and at the rear an Orpheus. Outside the drawing room/ball room is a further entertaining area that is stone flagged, with both herbaceous and shrub borders looking out over a croquet lawn and tennis court. To the south there is a further area of topiary with the outdoor swimming pool which is in need of restoration.

Parkland and Grounds There is a newly formed lake beyond the formal gardens leading to the estuarine landscaped garden created by Kim Wikie, throughout which c2,000 trees have been planted. Dispersed within these the landscape is three golfing greens and nine tees. The boundaries of the property are boarded by the braided landscape of the River Itchen with two main channels of the main river and mill stream providing accommodation for some double banked and some single banked fishing. The mature parkland and woodland including willow, oak, beech, ash, birch and lime provide dense planting, but the banks are clear making it easy fishing with a number of seats and fishing huts around the boundaries of the property. There is a beautiful hidden mill house built of flint under a tile roof and a tree house in an old horse chestnut tree. In the corner of the property with access off the back drive are a further range of timber buildings providing machinery storage.

Fishing One of Shawford Park’s rarest features is the superb opportunity for fishing enthusiasts, on account of its location on the banks of the River Itchen. There are in total approximately 865 yards (791 metres) of single and 538 yards (492 meters) of double bank fishing on this, one of the country’s best chalk streams. The beat has a good variety of water from classic glides on the main river at the south east, to smaller but faster water on the western stream. Included in the Beat is the Mill Stream, providing wonderful single and double bank fishing.