The History of Townhill Park House and Gardens

The history of the site can easily be traced back to the first significant developments over 200 years ago.

It was purchased in 1787 by Mr Nathaniel Middleton from two local landowners, and at this stage included a small farm, which Mr. Middleton set about enlarging. However, during the first half of his ten-year ownership a fire swept through the building, reducing it to ruin. Mr. Middleton initiated the rebuilding process in earnest in 1792. His visions, though, were grander than his wealth, and his financial situation forced him to sell the land and property known as Townhill Park House. During the intervening years, a succession of wealthy families occupied the house.

It was not until 1910 that Sir Louis Samuel Montagu, a wealthy London banker, purchased the land and house from Mr Caleb Gater for use as a summer residence for his family. Sir Samuel Montagu engaged architect Leonard Rome Guthrie to extend and re-face the building in the Italian style. In 1911 his father, Lord Ivor Samuel Montagu, the first Baron of Swaythling who lived in nearby South Stoneham House, passed away. Sir Louis Samuel Montagu became the second Lord Swaythling. That same year Gertrude Jekyll, the famous artist and garden designer, and Leonard Rome Guthrie were asked to lay out the gardens in a style that reflected the Italian appearance of the house. Before this, the gardens were not particularly grand, although Lord Louis Swaythling had planted an arboretum with numerous specimen trees collected on his many travels around the world.
L. Rome Guthrie constructed the formal gardens on the central axis of the west front, creating a series of terraces on the sloping land. The terraces led to the pergola garden or sunken Italian garden for which Miss Jekyll produced the planting plans. She also designed the formal Herb garden that lay beyond the sunken grounds. The start of the war in 1914 prevented further extensions to the house, but in 1920 to l922, L. Rome Guthrie returned to add a music room, panelled in polished walnut and a boudoir for Lady Swaythling. 
He also designed a garden at the rear of the house that the new reception room overlooked and this became known as the boudoir garden. Queen Mary, a close friend of Lady Swaythling's, visited Townhill Park House on a number of occasions, regularly enjoying a walk through the gardens. Sport was a passion at Townhill Park House that boasted two tennis lawns and a hard court. Dan Maskell, the celebrated tennis player, coach and later famous commentator, was a frequent visitor to the 'White House' as it had become known. Lord Swaythling enjoyed cricket and at one time was President of Hampshire County Cricket Club. His youngest son Ivor, who was named after his grandfather, played table tennis and helped to establish the Table Tennis Association, of which he became Chairman and President. He was also Founder and President of the International Table Tennis Federation. Lord and Lady Swaythling presented a cup for the men's team championship of the world, the table tennis equivalent of tennis's Davis cup. The Cup remains in existence and is still played for today.
In 1927, aged 57, Lord Swaythling - the second Baron - caught a chill in the kidneys from which he never recovered. His eldest son, Sir Stuart Albert Montagu, became the third Lord Swaythling. Mr. F. Rose, the head gardener, and Lord Stuart Swaythling became interested in hybridising rhododendrons at Townhill Park. Between 1932 and 1946 they received over thirteen Awards of Merit from the Royal Horticultural Society.
In 1933, an article was published in Country Life about their successes. Particular mention was also made of Lilium giganteum growing in Marlhill Copse, or Swan Copse as it was previously known. The five hectares of woodland, no longer part of the estate, had proved to be the perfect climate for the Himalayan plant. Camellias and Magnolias were also cultivated at Townhill Park; a few of the original species have survived and are still a spectacular sight in spring. The onset of the Second World War led to the house and grounds, now totalling 324 acres, being used for a very different function. It was handed over to the Red Cross in 1939 as an impressive convalescent home for British and American soldiers. In 1948 the rigours of the post war economy forced the sale of the house and thirty acres of grounds by Lord Swaythling to Middlesex County Council. The Council employed it as an education centre for underprivileged children with learning difficulties. The remaining land was sold for house building. In 1969 Townhill Park House was again placed on the market, this time purchased by Southampton City Council and used for training marine cadets.

During 1994 the house and land were sold once again and The Gregg School is now the proud owner of the beautiful house and gardens.