History of Staunton Country Park

1802

William Garrett purchased the land – then an agricultural landscape – and transformed it into a garden. He laid out the Pleasure Grounds surrounding the house and converted the 18th century farm in to a ‘ferme ornee’ (ornamental farm). Garrett built the first hot houses and glass houses in the walled garden.

1820

Garrett sold the site to Sir George Staunton, a politician and noted orientalist.

Sir George made significant changes and additions to Garrett’s landscape with the construction of the lake and several follies.

He worked for the East India Company for many years and travelled widely in Asia and Europe, finding inspiration during these journeys. He was also a Member of Parliament.

1859

On his death, Sir George passed the estate to his cousin, and then to his son.

1861

It was sold to William Henry Stone in 1861. Stone was another Member of Parliament with links to the East India company.

He took on the estate aged just 27 and wasted no time in making his mark. A brickworks was established on the land, with enough bricks made to build a new mansion – a bold design in the new Swiss style.

The mansion was completed in 1865, together with a Coach House and other local buildings.

1875

William Henry Stone sold the estate and gardens to Sir Frederick Fitzwygram.

Like Staunton and Stone, Sir Frederick was a Member of Parliament. He was also a Lieutenant General who commanded a Cavalry Brigade based in Aldershot. He was the Army’s foremost horse expert and President of the Royal College of Veterinary Surgeons.

1904

Sir Frederick Fitzwygram died in 1904. The estate was passed to his son Sir Frederick Loftus Fitzwygram, who became a Major in the Scots Greys and served with distinction throughout World War I. He was a keen cricketer and set up the Leigh Park Beagles which hunted hares across the surrounding countryside.

1920

Sir Frederick Loftus Fitzwygram succumbed to the Spanish Flu. The estate passed to his sister Angela Fitzwygram; she was the last of the estate’s private owners. Angela Fitzwygram lived a long life and passed away in a home in Hazelmere in 1984 aged 99.

1939 to 1945

During World War II, the mansion and main buildings were requisitioned by the Government and were used by the Admiralty Mine Design and Research Department. During this time Leigh Park also had its own Home Guard.

As the war raged on, Portsmouth City began looking for a satellite town to cater for the expanding population, originally targeting land for 30,000 to 35,000 people. Negotiations continued over a prolonged period and the 1,400-acre estate was sold to the City in 1944.

Image provided with thanks to Hampshire Archives and Local Studies

1947 to 1950

1947

Building work on the new Leigh Park estate began.

1949

The first residents moved in to Bramdean Drive.

1950

The first shop was built in Stone Square in 1950.

About 30,000 people now form the Leigh Park community.

1950s

In 1950 the gardens transferred to the Park’s Committee.

In 1953 the gardens and parkland, measuring 180 acres, was classed as a ‘playground for everyone in the District’. It opened to the visitors on weekends and bank holiday Mondays.

In the late 1950s, when the Admiralty gave the mansion up it was deemed ‘not in a fit state’. In 1959 it was finally demolished with the surrounding land left as ‘green belt’.

1987

The gardens became a country park and was renamed Staunton Country Park.

2017

The park received funding from the Heritage Lottery Fund to restore the landscaped gardens and provide key visitor facilities. This project will be completed in December 2021.