Houghton Lodge Gardens

The History of Houghton Lodge

Houghton Lodge was built in 1793. There is total harmony between the shape of the house, the contoured lawns, the sweeping bends of the river and the view beyond. Emphasis was very much on the natural landscape integrating the house with the garden by contrivances such as verandas, conservatories, French windows and the use of big archways, internally, enabling views both into and from the house. Facing south the house seems settled, quite naturally, in its scarcely changed, but man- made, eighteenth century landscape.

After much research, the probable architect was almost certainly John Plaw (1745-1840) of Southampton who was a pupil of John Nash. Plaw was known for favouring circular design buildings in the Classical style.

Built of chalk cob and originally thatched, (which was quite swiftly removed as it was too heavy for the roof framing), a tribute to it’s natural organic ethos using only local materials. The house was originally designed to impress but, contrary to appearances, was not very large, originally with only three bedrooms.
What makes Houghton Lodge unique is that while it is a cottage orné with its flamboyant chimneys, tracery wood and metalwork, it is also a traditional Georgian house with the symmetry and building techniques employed in this era. It marks the move away from the classic Georgian style to the Gothic revival mode of architecture. It was built and the ground made up to form a basement and associated ‘area’, the kitchen, storerooms and servants’ rooms were in the basement.

Stockbridge was a very large horse racing centre from the eighteenth century and Houghton Lodge had a large number of stables, however at some time in the nineteenth century a link was formed between the original house and the stables, the kitchen was relocated to the former stables which were reduced in number. The basement kitchen was abandoned and the chimneys serving it removed. The remaining stables and ancillary buildings were clad in yellow brick from Beaulieu and re-roofed with slate. This was probably done during the tenure of Lord James Everard Arundel before he succeeded to both the title and Wardour Castle between 1810 and 1830.

The ‘Top Deck’ was mansarded onto the middle section of the house in 1910. The conservatory, on the south facing aspect of the house, was removed following its near destruction by anti-aircraft fire during WWII (what goes up must come down!), and the house extended using the outer walls of the area. Much to our relief a set of cloakrooms and boot rooms were added in the 1950s.

Houghton Lodge was a multi-functional place, aristocratic retreat, a destination for day ‘visitors’ and the forerunner of the Scottish sporting lodge. The house still performs these functions – it is a family home, a destination for our visitors, and we have probably the best trout fishing in the world.