Merchistoun Hall

History

Merchistoun Hall, Named by Admiral Charles Napier in the mid-19th-century after his ancestral home in Scotland, was previously called ‘Quallets’, ‘The Grove’ or ‘Grove Lodge’. The estate was gradually built up as land became available, probably by James Conway and some later owners over several years.

The present house was built in the early-19th-century, near the site of the original farmhouse, afterwards used as a bailiff’s house, and still surviving. The estate, known first as a ‘hunting lodge’, gradually became a ‘gentleman’s residence’, with hunting available locally and spacious grounds surrounding the house.

There is little map evidence concerning the garden except there was a lawn in front of the house. Two locally well-known gardeners, Henry and William Drover, father and son, were employed by Admiral Sir Charles Napier. Henry Drover particularly was known as a chrysanthemum grower. He published a book on chrysanthemum growing. After having moved to Fareham, he supplied the royal family with flowers on the journeys to and from the Isle of Wight. After the death of Admiral Sir Charles’s daughter, the estate had many tenants.

Local entrepreneur Maurice Hill seemed to have taken more interest in the house, refurbishing it during his ownership. It was, however, used by the army during the war, and later was bought in 1942 by AW White & Company, after 1945 it was used as a furniture store. Finally, the much-reduced estate, having suffered from extensive development in the area, was bought by the Horndean Community Association [information]

https://www.parksandgardens.org/