Alice Holt Lodge
| Alice Holt Lodge | |
| Hampshire | |
|---|---|
| Location | |
| Grid reference: | SU80324279 |
| Location: | 51°10’43"N, -0°51’9"W |
| History | |
| Built before 1816 | |
| House and research station | |
| Information | |
| Owned by: | The Forestry Commission |
| Website: | www.forestry.gov.uk/fr/aliceholt |
Alice Holt Lodge is a house deep within the Alice Holt Forest in eastern Hampshire, which serves as the centre of a major research station for the Forestry Commission.
The house stands on, or almost on, the site of the former Great Lodge which for several centuries was the home of the Lieutenant or Ranger of the Royal Forest of Alice Holt and Woolmer. The Great Lodge was certainly in existence in the reign of Henry VIII, when Sir William Sandys writes in 1530 that he was living in it, but of its origin we have no record.
History
Origins
The house of today is late Georgian, but its predecessor stood here at least from the reign of King Henry VIII. The office of Lieutenant or Ranger during the 17th and 18th centuries was granted by the Crown on a lease for lives or terms of years, and from 1766 onwards the grantee was Lord Stawell. He was also in residence in 1789 and William Moore, the Head Keeper was living in the Small Lodge "adjoining the Great Lodge".
19th century
The Great Lodge and Small Lodge were demolished in the early years of the nineteenth century, but the exact date is not recorded. Lord Stanwell’s term of office as Ranger ended in 1811, and this may have coincided with the demolition.
The present Alice Holt Lodge was built at some point after the demolition of the Great Lodge. We have no date for this but it was certainly standing in 1816. From this date no further resident Rangers of the Forest were appointed, and throughout the nineteenth century the house and grounds were let by the Crown on private leases to various families.
The Forestry Commission
The Forestry Commission took over Alice Holt Forest and its properties in 1924 when the house was leased to Mrs Fisher who installed the oak panelling.
In 1940 it became a guest house and Country Club then from 1941 to 1946 it was a military rehabilitation hospital.
The Forestry Commission moved into the Lodge in 1946 and began the development of the Research Station. The laboratory and office extensions were built in 1959, more laboratories were added in the late 1970s.[1]
Outside links
- Alice Holt Research Station – The Forestry Commission