A 1775 engraving of the house (far left) from "Angus's Views of Seats." By kind permission of a private collection.
A 1778 engraving of the house from "The Copper Plate Magazine"
An 1830 hand-colored engraving of the house from "Neale's Views of Seats"
House & Family History: In 1850 the Bolton family decamped to their other seat, Bolton Hall in Yorkshire; thus, from the 1850s until 1936, Hackwood was let, together with all its furniture, to a succession of notable tenants, including Charles Hoare of the famous banking family; Lord Westbury, attorney general and chancellor of the Exchequer; the Earl of Wilton; and the queen of the Belgians, who lived at Hackwood with her family after fleeing the German army during World War I. In 1936 William Berry, 1st Baron and 1st Viscount Camrose, purchased Hackwood from Lord Bolton. Lord Camrose made his fortune in the newspaper business (the first three viscounts all headed "The Daily Telegraph"). In 2016 Hackwood, together with 260 acres, was listed for sale for £65 million.
Collections: On April 20, 21, and 22, 1998, Christie's conducted an auction of the contents of the Hackwood, the star of which was a Gillows Regency brass and inlaid rosewood library desk (originally supplied to William Powlett, 2nd Baron Bolton [1782-1850], for Hackwood), which sold for £254,500 (lot 21), against a high estimate of £150,000. A George III giltwood pier glass attributed to John Vardy sold for £106,000, against a high estimate of £50,000. Seven thousand people viewed the sale, which brought a record-breaking £7,030,908. A painting of Hackwood, "Hackwood Park, Hampshire," 1763-64, by Paul Sandby is today in the collection of the Yale Center for British Art, New Haven, Connecticut.
Garden & Outbuildings: Laid out by the first three dukes of Bolton, Hackwood is noted for its classical gardens that surrounds the house. The early (circa 1720) formal woodland garden in the (French) style of Le Notre was probably designed by James Gibbs and laid out with a geometric pattern of avenues, basins, canals, and classical follies. There were later alterations to the gardens in the 18th century and early 19th century. An equestrian statue of George I as a Roman emperor is in the grounds. The statue was a gift from the king to the 3rd Duke of Bolton. Lord Curzon, during his time at Hackwood in the 20th century, created a new garden. Today owned by Basingstoke and Deane Borough Council, Crabtree Plantation (formerly a part of Hackwood) became detached from the estate when the M3 motorway was built.
Architect: Charles Bridgeman
Date: Circa 1725-30Architect: Lewis William Wyatt
Date: 1810-13Architect: James Gibbs
Date: Circa 1720Architect: William Talman
Date: 1683-88Architect: John Vardy Sr.
Date: 1760sArchitect: Samuel Wyatt
Date: 1810-13John Preston (J.P.) Neale, published under the title of Views of the Seats of Noblemen and Gentlemen in England, Wales, Scotland, and Ireland, among other titles: Vol. II, 1819.
Country Life: XXXIII, 706 plan, 742, 1913.
Title: Christie's Auction Catalog: Hackwood Park, Basingstoke, Hampshire, Apr 20, 21, 22, 1998
Author: NA
Year Published: 1998
Reference: pgs. 32, 34, 70
Publisher: London: Christie's
ISBN: NA
Book Type: Softback
Title: This Other Eden: Paintings From the Yale Center for British Art
Author: Warner, Malcolm; Alexander, Julia Marciari
Year Published: 1998
Reference: pg. 76
Publisher: New Haven: Yale University Press
ISBN: 0300074980
Book Type: Hardback
Title: Kedleston Hall Guidebook - 2001
Author: Various Authors
Year Published: 2001
Reference: pg. 45
Publisher: London: The National Trust
ISBN: NA
Book Type: Light Softback
Title: Biographical Dictionary of British Architects, 1600-1840, A - SOFTBACK
Author: Colvin, Howard
Year Published: 1995
Reference: pg. 950, 953
Publisher: New Haven: Yale University Press
ISBN: 0300072074
Book Type: Softback
House Listed: Grade II*
Park Listed: Grade I
Past Seat / Home of: Admiral Harry Powlett, 6th Duke of Bolton and 11th Marquess of Winchester, 18th century; William Powlett, 2nd Baron Bolton, 19th century. Richard Bethell, 1st Baron Westbury, 19th century. Charles Hoare. Seymour John Grey Egerton, 4th Earl of Wilton, 19th century. George Nathaniel Curzon, 1st Marquess Curzon of Kedleston, 1906-25. William Ewart Berry, 1st Viscount Camrose, 20th century; Berry family here 1936-97.
Current Ownership Type: Individual / Family Trust
Primary Current Ownership Use: Private Home
House Open to Public: No
Phone: 01256-328-801
Historic Houses Member: No