Earlier Houses: There was an earlier house of the Cromwell family on the site of the current house.

Built / Designed For: Sir William Heathcote

House & Family History: In 1712, after the death of Richard Cromwell (the lord protector's son) Thomas Heathcote purchased the Hursley Estate from the Cromwell family and built a new house on the site, possibly incorporating elements of the earlier house. During World War I the house was used as a hospital for officers. In World War II Hursley House was requisitioned by the Ministry of Aircraft Production and repurposed to house the design and production departments of Vickers Supermarine. The aircraft manufacturer developed and fine-tuned the design of a number of important planes at Hursley, including subvariants of the famous Spitfire fighter. In 1958 International Business Machines Corporation leased the house and grounds for use as development laboratories; in 1963 IBM purchased the house and 100 acres of surrounding land. The corporation has built a number of modern buildings on land surrounding Hursley House; the historic house itself is used as an executive briefing center and as the IBM Hursley Museum, a computing museum (open only by invitation).

Chapel & Church: Richard Cromwell is buried in the chancel vault of the Grade II*-listed Church of All Saints, Hursley. In the churchyard is the grave of John Keble, vicar of Hursley from 1835 until 1866. Kreble is most notable today as a founder of the Oxford Movement (Keble College, Oxford, was named after him). Near Kreble’s grave is the Grade II-listed 18th century Heathcote Mausoleum, final resting place for over 30 members of the Heathcote family, which has been under the care of the Mausolea and Monuments Trust since 1997.

John Bernard (J.B.) Burke, published under the title of A Visitation of the Seats and Arms of the Noblemen and Gentlemen of Great Britain and Ireland, among other titles: Vol. I, p. 202, 1852.

John 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: XXVI, 562, 598, 1909. XXXIV, 679 [Beauvais tapestries], 1913.

House Listed: Grade II*

Park Listed: Not Listed

Past Seat / Home of: SEATED AT EARLIER HOUSE; Richard Maijor, 1639-60. Richard Cromwell, 1660-1712. Sir William Heathcote, 1st Bt., 1712-25. SEATED AT CURRENT HOUSE: Sir William Heathcote, 1st Bt., 1725-51; Sir Thomas Heathcote, 2nd Bt., 1751-87; Sir William Heathcote, 3rd Bt., 1787-1819; Sir Thomas Freeman-Heathcote, 4th Bt., 1819-25; Sir William Heathcote, 5th Bt., 1825-81. Joseph Baxendale, 1881-1902. Sir George Cooper, 1902-40; Cooper family here until 1942.

Current Ownership Type: Corporation

Primary Current Ownership Use: Offices

Ownership Details: Since 1958 research and development laboratory of IBM United Kingdom Limited

House Open to Public: No

Historic Houses Member: No