Townhill Park House

Townhill Park House is a two-story Italianate building in Southampton featuring large sash windows, ornate stucco details, and an L-shaped layout with a north-facing five-bay elevation. The architectural elements showcase 19th century craftsmanship and create a distinctive appearance within the landscape.

The property traces its origins to King Henry VIII's grant of the Manor of Townhill to Sir William Paulet in 1536, after which the location evolved from a farm into a refined country estate. Over time the grounds were expanded and refined while maintaining their importance as a residential and later cultural site.

The gardens were designed by renowned gardener Gertrude Jekyll, featuring carefully chosen plants like rhododendrons, azaleas, and camellias arranged in formal spaces. The layout reflects Edwardian ideals of garden design and remains accessible to visitors on particular days throughout the year.

The building serves today as a school campus while the gardens open to visitors on selected days throughout the year through the Friends of Townhill Park Gardens organization. It is worth checking opening dates in advance to plan a visit to the gardens.

The property once hosted an early aviation demonstration when aviator Gustav Hamel performed aerial maneuvers on the grounds in 1913. This was among the first such displays shown in the region and connects the location to industrial innovations of that era.