Earlier Houses: There was an earlier Tudor house on, or near, the site of the current house that was demolished in 1793.
House & Family History: Ralph Dutton, 8th Baron Sherborne, was the author of a number of books on the Georgian period and contributed to the re-evaluation and appreciation of Georgian furniture and architecture between the two world wars. In 1937 Lord Sherborne hired his friend the 7th Duke of Wellington to transform the mostly Victorian house he had inherited into a proper setting for his collection of Georgian furniture and decorative arts. On April 3, 1960, the house burned and Dutton's fine 18th century fireplaces and his collection of pictures, furniture, and books were almost entirely destroyed; undaunted, he at once began to rebuild Hinton Ampner House in the neo-Georgian style (it was fully rebuilt by 1963). Dutton was a bachelor, and on his death in 1985 he bequeathed the estate of 1,650 acres to the National Trust. The hamlet of Hinton Ampner, the house, the gardens, and his collections were all included in the gift. The house is tenanted.
Collections: Hinton Ampner contains Ralph Dutton's very fine collection of Regency furniture, Italian paintings, and hardstone objets d'art.
Garden & Outbuildings: The 12-acre garden at Hinton Ampner, created largely by Ralph Dutton, is one of the great gardens of the 20th century. Dutton created delightful walks and vistas by the thoughtful siting of trees and statues and also took full advantage of the setting ensuring, by careful planting, that there are wonderful views out from the garden across the Hampshire countryside and the 80 acres of parkland that are part of the estate.
Architect: Gerald Wellesley (Wellington)
Date: 1937
Title: Treasure Houses of Britain, The - SOFTBACK
Author: Jackson-Stops, Gervase (Editor)
Year Published: 1985
Reference: pg. 345
Publisher: Washington, DC: National Gallery of Art (New Haven: Yale University Press)
ISBN: 0300035530
Book Type: Softback
House Listed: Grade II
Park Listed: Not Listed
Past Seat / Home of: SEATED AT EARLIER HOUSE: Thomas Stewkeley, late 16th century; Sir Hugh Stewkeley, until 1719. Edward Stawell, 18th century; Henry Stawell Bilson-Legge, until 1793. SEATED AT CURRENT HOUSE: Henry Stawell Bilson-Legge, 1790-1820. John Baron Dutton, 2nd Baron Sherborne, until 1862; James Henry Legge Dutton, 3rd Baron Sherborne, 1862-83; Edward Lenox Dutton, 4th Baron Sherborne, 1883-1919; Frederick George Dutton, 5th Baron Sherborne, 1919-20; Henry John Dutton, until 1935; Ralph Stawell Dutton, 8th Baron Sherborne, 1935-85.
Current Ownership Type: The National Trust
Primary Current Ownership Use: Private Home
Ownership Details: House is tenanted and open to the public by arrangement.
House Open to Public: Yes
Phone: 01962-771-305
Fax: 01962-793-101
Email: [email protected]
Website: https://www.nationaltrust.org.uk
Historic Houses Member: No