House & Family History: Ralph Dutton, 8th Lord 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 Victorian house he had inherited into a proper setting for his collection of Georgian furniture and decorative arts. On April 3, 1950 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 the House in neo-Georgian style. 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, gardens, and 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.

House Listed: Grade II

Park Listed: Not Listed

Past Seat / Home of: Ralph Dutton, 8th Lord Sherborne, 20th century.

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