Laverstoke Park: A historic Hampshire estate

Within the rolling farmland and ancient woodland of the Hampshire Downs lies Laverstoke Park, one of southern England’s finest country estates. The imposing Grade II*-listed manor house occupies a commanding, elevated site amid 1,835 acres, its grounds traversed by the River Test, a stretch immortalised in the first illustrated edition of Richard Adams’s Watership Down. Offered as a whole for a guide price of £58 million (or available in separate lots), it represents a one-of-a-kind opportunity.

“It is rare that we get to sell estates of the calibre of Laverstoke and particularly one that quite simply, ticks all of the boxes,” says Will Matthews, Head of Farms and Estates at Knight Frank. “You have the river on your doorstep, acres of parkland to explore, and yet London remains in easy reach.”

Laverstoke Park’s history is woven into every corner of the estate. In 1539, Richard Andrews of neighbouring Freefolk Estate acquired Laverstoke Park Estate, uniting the estates for the first time following the dissolution of the monasteries until they were divided again in 1582. Its next defining chapter began in the early 18th century with the arrival of the Portals, Huguenot émigrés fleeing religious persecution in France. After his success pioneering watermarked banknotes for the Bank of England, Henri de Portal purchased Freefolk Manor in 1747; his son Joseph later reunited Laverstoke Park under the same ownership.

In 1798, Joseph Bonomi the Elder, formerly draughtsman to Robert Adams, designed the new Palladian mansion now known as Laverstoke House. Jane Austen, who lived nearby, was a frequent visitor, and her nephews married two Portal daughters. The Portal coat of arms still graces the pediment of the grand Ionic portico.

The Portals retained ownership, including the paper mill - today the Bombay Sapphire Distillery - until De la Rue acquired the business and estate in the 1990s. The current owners took over in 1996 and have since overseen sensitive, extensive renovations and additions. “It’s rare to see houses of this scale in such good condition,’ adds Matthews. 

Adam’s influence can be seen throughout. Highlights include the Summer Dining Room, its expansive arched windows affording a spectacular view across the estate’s parkland, the room adorned with bespoke silk wall coverings from the historic Whitchurch Silk Mill, oak flooring sourced from the estate’s woodland, and an original marble-surround fireplace. The spectacular vistas continue from the dual-aspect Yellow Morning Room, while the Summer Dining Room can be accessed via a whimsical secret bookcase door from the Library. 

The impressive Internal Courtyard, added by the current owners, juxtaposes original Flemish-bond yellow brick walls with a contemporary curved ceiling that floods the space with natural light. It is just one of many modern amenities that showcase the best of contemporary living on the estate, among them an expansive indoor leisure complex complete with a gym, heated swimming pool, trampoline area, and tennis and squash courts.

Active pursuits are integral to life at Laverstoke Park. The mature woodlands provide a fantastic shoot, and the River Test offers 1.5 miles of double-bank chalk-stream fishing. A variety of 17 lodges, cottages, and farmhouses, many rendered in the distinctive red-brick and flint Gothic style favoured by the Portal family, adds further accommodation and character. Meanwhile, approximately 1,279 acres of certified organic farmland, famed for its water-buffalo herd, round out the estate’s rich tapestry.

“It offers opportunities for those seeking everything from an unparalleled lifestyle to agricultural enterprise, natural capital investment, and environmental enhancement,” says Matthews. “From the stunning main house, to indoor pool and tennis court, garaging and even an African hut, to the River Test and the wider estate – it really does have it all! It must be one of the finest all round estates in the south of England.”

Laverstoke Park is for sale at a guide price of £58 million. Discover further research, news and insights into rural estate and farming businesses in the new edition of Knight Frank’s Rural Report.