HAT visit; guided tour of Bisterne Manor, Ringwood

HAT VISIT TO BISTERNE MANOR, RINGWOOD on Wednesday 24^TH May 2023

Bisterne Manor is a private estate that sits just within the outskirts of the New Forest in the western half of Hampshire and south of Ringwood.  Since the tiny hamlet of Bisterne was mentioned in the Domesday Book of 1086 as Betestre, and occupied since 1066 by the sons of Godfric Malf, from its known history after 1349 it has only been owned by 4 families.  Among the fascinating artifacts that the current occupiers Hallam and Lal Mills are going to show us is the beautiful calligraphic list of all 32 occupiers, all related in some way, spanning the nearly 700 years since.

We are very privileged to be offered a guided tour by Hallam of the rooms containing the artifacts collected since 1792 by the Mills family and used today in everyday life, as it is a much loved family home and not a museum.  It is also an individual house, so guests should be aware that there are 13 stone steps, with a handrail up to the main entrance and then to access the main drawing room, a beautiful south facing room with mullioned windows altered to accommodate the art and furniture acquired by Francis Mills on his Grand Tour of 1834, another 11 shallow wooden stairs.  This is also when the house was stuccoed as it appears today. The other rooms we will be shown are all on one floor but guests should be aware that the floors are slightly uneven and of precious wood so please wear suitable flat shoes.  Hallam will also have a display in the dining room of a collection of the artifacts assembled by his relations of the Gallipolli Campaign (1915-1916). As all the objects we will see are individual and unique to the family and manor, please no photographs or films.

Our visit will begin at 2.00p.m. outside the front of the house by the entrance steps, where there is also plenty of parking, then move indoors as described ending with tea, after which guests are invited to wander the gardens including the walled garden which is looked after by members of the Stable Family Home Trust, an organisation strongly supported by the Mills Family with its headquarters on the estate, and then we are asked to vacate the estate by 5.00p.m. The Parish Church of St Paul’s, built in 1842, which you will have passed if approaching from Ringwood, is just before the estate and will be opened both before and after our visit. It has been praised by the Victorian Society for the retention of its original features.

The cost of this visit will be £20pp with all being donated to the Church of St Paul’s, Bisterne.  We also have to limit our numbers to 25 people, so be sure to book early as this is a unique opportunity to visit a  Manor and Estate where the knowledge and commitment to their family history is outstanding.

If approaching from the A31  turn off onto the A338 and then follow the signs to Sopley, Kingston and Christchurch on the B3347.  There is a brightly coloured blue house on the right after approximately 3 miles with the village sign for Bisterne on the left.  Continue past the church and the 2 pillars with balls on the top to the entrance signed to the Stable Family Home Trust on the left.  Bear to the left where the tracks part and then to the right where you will see plenty of parking in front of the Manor.  Please exit the same way after your visit as the road bends slightly at the pillared entrance/exit and is very dangerous.  The post code for Bisterne Manor is BH24 3BN

Please let us know if you wish to attend this event but do not have transport.

Hat Events and Hallam and Lal Mills look forward to seeing you there!

Booking; either e mail events@hampshirearchivestrust.co.uk or book by post marked HAT events organiser to  236 Hunts Pond Road Titchfield Hants PO14 4PG. Payment is by Bank Transfer to HAT account sort code 30-99-71 account 00361865 or by cheque to Hampshire Archives Trust, subject line Bisterne Manor tour. Phone number for enquiries 01489 573056