Staunton Country Park
Encyclopedia
Staunton Country Park is a listed Regency landscaped parkland and forest encompassing approximately 1000 acres (4 km²) in Hampshire
, England
.
An ornamental farm, ornamental lake, follies
, maze, walled garden and glasshouse
s can be found within it. Entry to the parkland itself is free, however there is an associated visitors center, with animals and attractions, which is not free.
It is situated between Leigh Park
and Rowlands Castle, near Havant
.
who purchased the land in 1802. In 1817 the park was sold to John Julius Angerstein but in 1819 the sale was reversed after Angerstein brought a case against Garrett over non disclosure of dry rot. Garrett then put the estate back on the market. The park was purchased in 1820 by Regency
politician
and botanist Sir George Thomas Staunton
as part of his country estate 'Leigh Park'. He made significant changes and additions to the gardens with the construction of the lake and a number of follies. On his death in 1859 the estate and gardens were inherited by Staunton's cousin Henry Cormick Lynch. Henry Lynch died just six weeks after receiving his inheritance and it was in turn passed to his eldest son George Staunton Lynch who then changed his name to George Staunton Lynch-Staunton. In 1861 he in turn sold the gardens and the estate to William Henry Stone
for £60,000. Stone had a new house built which was finished in 1865 and most of the old house was demolished around the same time. Stone sold the estate and gardens to Frederick Fitzwygram
in 1875. When Frederick Fitzwygram died in 1904 the park and estate passed to his son Frederick Loftus Fitzwygram. He died in 1920 with the park this time passing to his sister Angela Fitzwygram. The estate and gardens were purchased by the city of Portsmouth in June 1944 and the gardens were transferred to the parks committee in 1950. They were established as a Country park
in 1987.
Stone's house was demolished in 1959, however the Gothic Library, part of Garrett's house on the site, still remains.
. In either 1832 or 1834 an ornamental Kiosk was added to the lakeside. It featured an onion dome
surrounded by small Minaret
s. In 1835 a Chinese themed summer house was built by the site of the lake.
The lake is home to a number of islands the largest of which was home to a cottage while a smaller island named Fort Island was originally home to small battery set up for nine guns. The flag of the Qing Dynasty
was flown on Fort Island. The cottage was used to house the under-gardener whose job it was to look after the lake area. A third island was swan island which as its name suggests was used to house swans. Under Henry Stone the lake was expanded and an extra island added. He also had the cottage demolished and replaced by an American garden. Most of the surrounding buildings were removed at this point with some being replaced by new structures. The Chinese bridge remained but alterations were made to its appearance.
were added in a semi circle around the urn. Most of the busts were of friends of Staunton who had died after 1820 but one was of the then still living William Howley
. In 1840 Staunton decided to add no further memorials to the temple. Further busts were added after this time but they were primarily of people still living. The temple was removed when William Henry Stone had his new home constructed on its site.
The house is hexagonal in shape and was based on the design of the Chichester Cross
. By 1836 George Staunton was using the shell house as a museum of curiosities
for such items as a stuffed crocodile and examples of Roman pottery.
temple to a design by Lewis Vulliamy
. It was largely built with material from the demolished Purbrook house. It features a hole in a roof designed to allow a flagpole to be placed there. The roof is domed and supported by eight Doric columns.
pebbles of differing colours. It was removed in the 1860s as part of the building work undertaken by William Henry Stone.
. By 1986 it was in a very poor condition.
Hampshire
Hampshire is a county on the southern coast of England in the United Kingdom. The county town of Hampshire is Winchester, a historic cathedral city that was once the capital of England. Hampshire is notable for housing the original birthplaces of the Royal Navy, British Army, and Royal Air Force...
, England
England
England is a country that is part of the United Kingdom. It shares land borders with Scotland to the north and Wales to the west; the Irish Sea is to the north west, the Celtic Sea to the south west, with the North Sea to the east and the English Channel to the south separating it from continental...
.
An ornamental farm, ornamental lake, follies
Folly
In architecture, a folly is a building constructed primarily for decoration, but either suggesting by its appearance some other purpose, or merely so extravagant that it transcends the normal range of garden ornaments or other class of building to which it belongs...
, maze, walled garden and glasshouse
Greenhouse
A greenhouse is a building in which plants are grown. These structures range in size from small sheds to very large buildings...
s can be found within it. Entry to the parkland itself is free, however there is an associated visitors center, with animals and attractions, which is not free.
It is situated between Leigh Park
Leigh Park
Leigh Park is a large suburb of Havant, in Hampshire, England. It has four electoral wards: Battins, Bondfields, Barncroft and Warren Park ....
and Rowlands Castle, near Havant
Havant
Havant is a town in south east Hampshire on the South coast of England, between Portsmouth and Chichester. It gives its name to the borough comprising the town and the surrounding area. The town has rapidly grown since the end of the Second World War.It has good railway connections to London,...
.
History
The first gardens on the site were begun by William GarrettWilliam Garrett
William Garrett may refer to:* William Garrett, co-writer of "Please Mr. Postman"* William Garrett , American Civil War veteran, see List of American Civil War Medal of Honor recipients: G–L...
who purchased the land in 1802. In 1817 the park was sold to John Julius Angerstein but in 1819 the sale was reversed after Angerstein brought a case against Garrett over non disclosure of dry rot. Garrett then put the estate back on the market. The park was purchased in 1820 by Regency
English Regency
The Regency era in the United Kingdom is the period between 1811—when King George III was deemed unfit to rule and his son, the Prince of Wales, ruled as his proxy as Prince Regent—and 1820, when the Prince Regent became George IV on the death of his father....
politician
Politician
A politician, political leader, or political figure is an individual who is involved in influencing public policy and decision making...
and botanist Sir George Thomas Staunton
George Thomas Staunton
Sir George Thomas Staunton, 2nd Baronet was an English traveller and Orientalist.-Early life:Born at Milford House near Salisbury, he was the son of Sir George Leonard Staunton , first baronet, diplomatist and Orientalist...
as part of his country estate 'Leigh Park'. He made significant changes and additions to the gardens with the construction of the lake and a number of follies. On his death in 1859 the estate and gardens were inherited by Staunton's cousin Henry Cormick Lynch. Henry Lynch died just six weeks after receiving his inheritance and it was in turn passed to his eldest son George Staunton Lynch who then changed his name to George Staunton Lynch-Staunton. In 1861 he in turn sold the gardens and the estate to William Henry Stone
William Henry Stone (MP)
William Henry Stone was an English Liberal politician who sat in the House of Commons from 1865 to 1874.Stone was the son of William Stone of Dulwich Hill and his wife Mary Platt daughter of Thomas Platt of Hampstead...
for £60,000. Stone had a new house built which was finished in 1865 and most of the old house was demolished around the same time. Stone sold the estate and gardens to Frederick Fitzwygram
Sir Frederick Fitzwygram, 4th Baronet
Lieutenant-General Sir Frederick Wellington John Fitzwygram, 4th baronet was a British Army cavalry officer, expert on horses and Conservative politician....
in 1875. When Frederick Fitzwygram died in 1904 the park and estate passed to his son Frederick Loftus Fitzwygram. He died in 1920 with the park this time passing to his sister Angela Fitzwygram. The estate and gardens were purchased by the city of Portsmouth in June 1944 and the gardens were transferred to the parks committee in 1950. They were established as a Country park
Country park
A country park is an area designated for people to visit and enjoy recreation in a countryside environment.-History:In the United Kingdom the term 'Country Park' has a special meaning. There are over 400 Country Parks in England alone . Most Country Parks were designated in the 1970s, under the...
in 1987.
Stone's house was demolished in 1959, however the Gothic Library, part of Garrett's house on the site, still remains.
Leigh water
The park contains a lake called Leigh water. Prior to its construction its site was home to a pond a few yards in diameter. Its initial construction of the lake took place between 1828 and 1836. A three arched bridge known as the Chinese bridge was built in 1830 and in 1832 two buildings were added; a boathouse apparently built to a Chinese design and a PergolaPergola
A pergola, arbor or arbour is a garden feature forming a shaded walkway, passageway or sitting area of vertical posts or pillars that usually support cross-beams and a sturdy open lattice, often upon which woody vines are trained...
. In either 1832 or 1834 an ornamental Kiosk was added to the lakeside. It featured an onion dome
Onion dome
An onion dome is a dome whose shape resembles the onion, after which they are named. Such domes are often larger in diameter than the drum upon which they are set, and their height usually exceeds their width...
surrounded by small Minaret
Minaret
A minaret مناره , sometimes مئذنه) is a distinctive architectural feature of Islamic mosques, generally a tall spire with an onion-shaped or conical crown, usually either free standing or taller than any associated support structure. The basic form of a minaret includes a base, shaft, and gallery....
s. In 1835 a Chinese themed summer house was built by the site of the lake.
The lake is home to a number of islands the largest of which was home to a cottage while a smaller island named Fort Island was originally home to small battery set up for nine guns. The flag of the Qing Dynasty
Qing Dynasty
The Qing Dynasty was the last dynasty of China, ruling from 1644 to 1912 with a brief, abortive restoration in 1917. It was preceded by the Ming Dynasty and followed by the Republic of China....
was flown on Fort Island. The cottage was used to house the under-gardener whose job it was to look after the lake area. A third island was swan island which as its name suggests was used to house swans. Under Henry Stone the lake was expanded and an extra island added. He also had the cottage demolished and replaced by an American garden. Most of the surrounding buildings were removed at this point with some being replaced by new structures. The Chinese bridge remained but alterations were made to its appearance.
The Temple
The temple was a memorial commissioned by George Staunton in 1824 with a large memorial urn at its centre. As initially completed the temple contained dedications to Staunton's parents and further dedications to more distant relations and friends. In the following years a eight bustsBust (sculpture)
A bust is a sculpted or cast representation of the upper part of the human figure, depicting a person's head and neck, as well as a variable portion of the chest and shoulders. The piece is normally supported by a plinth. These forms recreate the likeness of an individual...
were added in a semi circle around the urn. Most of the busts were of friends of Staunton who had died after 1820 but one was of the then still living William Howley
William Howley
William Howley was a clergyman in the Church of England. He served as Archbishop of Canterbury from 1828 to 1848.-Early Life, education, and interests:...
. In 1840 Staunton decided to add no further memorials to the temple. Further busts were added after this time but they were primarily of people still living. The temple was removed when William Henry Stone had his new home constructed on its site.
The Shell House
The Shell house was built in 1828 and is covered in shells from Hayling Island.The house is hexagonal in shape and was based on the design of the Chichester Cross
Chichester Cross
Chichester Cross stands in the centre of the city of Chichester, England at the intersection of the four principal streets. According to the inscription upon it, this cross was built by Edward Story, the bishop of Chichester from 1477 to 1503; but little is known for certain and the style and...
. By 1836 George Staunton was using the shell house as a museum of curiosities
Cabinet of curiosities
A cabinet of curiosities was an encyclopedic collection in Renaissance Europe of types of objects whose categorical boundaries were yet to be defined. They were also known by various names such as Cabinet of Wonder, and in German Kunstkammer or Wunderkammer...
for such items as a stuffed crocodile and examples of Roman pottery.
The Election Column
The Election Column was erected in 1837 and initially featured the date of Staunton's then sole election victory and two defeats. A year later the date of his election as an MP for Portsmouth was added. The column was removed at some point during Stone's ownership of the park with the inscription recording Staunton's election victories being moved to the shell house.The Beacon
The beacon is a folly built in 1830 in the style of an ionicIonians
The Ionians were one of the four major tribes into which the Classical Greeks considered the population of Hellenes to have been divided...
temple to a design by Lewis Vulliamy
Lewis Vulliamy
Lewis Vulliamy was an English architect belonging to the Vulliamy family of clockmakers.-Life:Lewis Vulliamy was the son of the clockmaker Benjamin Vulliamy. He was born in Pall Mall, London on 15 March 1791, and articled to Sir Robert Smirke...
. It was largely built with material from the demolished Purbrook house. It features a hole in a roof designed to allow a flagpole to be placed there. The roof is domed and supported by eight Doric columns.
The Moss House
The moss house appears to have been built at some point in the first half of the 1830s and featured covered seat. The inside was lined with moss and the floor was made up of EmsworthEmsworth
Emsworth is a large village the south coast of England, situated on the Hampshire side of the border between Hampshire and West Sussex. The village lies at the north end of an arm of Chichester Harbour, a large but shallow inlet of the English Channel....
pebbles of differing colours. It was removed in the 1860s as part of the building work undertaken by William Henry Stone.
The Canning obelisk
The obelisk was another Lewis Vulliamy design. Construction started in august 1832 with the obelisk featuring a dedication to George CanningGeorge Canning
George Canning PC, FRS was a British statesman and politician who served as Foreign Secretary and briefly Prime Minister.-Early life: 1770–1793:...
. By 1986 it was in a very poor condition.
External links
- Hampshire County Council Staunton Country Park
- Maps: 50.88°N 0.98°W