THE HOARES OF STOURHEAD  - Gillingham Local History Lecture

The 18^th century wealthy’s need to own land and a country seat led to development of the impressive Stourhead stately home and gardens, Gillingham Local History Society was told after  its  February Annual General Meeting.

 Henry, known as ‘the Good’, demolished the manor house and built the beginnings of Stourhead House with a formal garden following.

When he died in 1705, his son Henry, ‘the Magnificent’, completed the house though not to its extent today.  Impressed by a European ‘Grand Tour’, he created the gardens over several years.

After his death in 1785 his grandson, Sir Richard Colt Hoare, changed the house further to include a 15,000 book library and Chippendale furniture.

On his death in 1838 ownership passed through several Hoare family members until Sir Henry Hugh Arthur Hoare and his wife Alda inherited it in 1894.

Stourhead was devastated by fire in 1902 and restored by 1907.  Their only son Harry died in World War 1 in 1917.

During the 1930s they began negotiations with the National Trust which took it over in 1946.  They both died a year later on the same day.

Ralph Allman