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| About
Us |
| History
of South Hill Park |
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The
original South Hill Park mansion was built
in 1760 for William Watts for his retirement
from service as a senior official of the Bengal
Government.
William Watts was only able to enjoy his new
home for four years, dying in July 1764, and
left among his bequests an income of £320
a year for the poor, known as Watts' Charity.
The house was originally on two floors, built in
the Italian manner, decorated with stucco, with
a front entrance and tower in the Baroque
style. The grounds included 30 acres of common
land, which William Watts enclosed. In return he
built Alms Houses on a site opposite Easthampstead
Parish Church about half a mile away. The Alms Houses
were eventually demolished by order of the Marquis
of Downshire in 1826.
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| Lake
View of South Hill Park |
| The
Honourable Henry Bouverie lived in the house
until 1787 and was followed by Sir Stephen
Lushington until 1807. |
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| Architectural
Detail |
Lake View |
Lake Ducks |
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| 19th Century
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George
Canning, the celebrated Statesman, acquired
the property early in 1807. He was Under Secretary
for Foreign Affairs under William Pitt, Foreign
Secretary from 1807 and both Prime Minister
and Chancellor of The Exchequer at the time
of his death in 1827.
The Earls of Limerick were the next owners,
around the time of the Easthampstead Inclosure
Award of 1827.
Kelly's Post Office Directory
for Berkshire shows that Sir James Matheson
was in residence in 1847, and 1853 he sold
the estate to Sir William G Hayter, son of
the Judge Advocate General.
The area known as Easthampstead in 1861 had
a population of 789 and acreage of 5886. The
chief landowners were the Marquis of Downshire
(Lord of the Manor) and Sir William G Hayter,
Bart. |
The
Re-build
In 1868 South Hill Park was referred to in
Cassey's Directory as "one of the principal
mansions in the neighbourhood of Easthampstead"
- and as the residence of the Right Honourable
Sir William Goodenough Hayter, Bart, Q.C.,
J.P., D.L.
Kelly's Directory of 1883 contains a description
of South Hill Park, referring to it as the
seat of Lady Hayter, "a compact residence
of brick faced with cement, standing in a
park of 800 acres in which there are four
lakes; the private gardens are very beautiful,
being laid out in terraces'."
Sir William Hayter's son, Sir Arthur Divett
Hayter, born in 1835, rebuilt most of the
mansion towards the end of the 19th century,
in brick and Bath stone, incorporating one
wing of the original house. Sir Arthur became
Lord Haversham in 1906. Haversham Drive, in
the Easthampstead neighbourhood of Bracknell,
has been named after him.
The staff at the time consisted of three footmen,
three housemaids, one lady's maid, one housekeeper,
one butler, one valet, labourers, gamekeepers,
scullery maids and kitchen maids. The Haversham
Coat of Arms can be seen over the main entrance
of the building and is described as "azure
and escallop between three bulls' heads couped
or". The crest surmounting the coat of
arms also shows a bull's head and gold shells.
The Directories of 1891, 1899 and 1903 refer
to South Hill Park as the seat of Lt. Col.
Sir Arthur Divett Hayter, Bart, P.C., M.A.,
D.L., J.P., also of 9 Grovesnor Square, London
W., and a member of the Travellers' Brooks'
and Devonshire Clubs.
In the grounds of South Hill Park a plaque
records the planting of a tree by William
Gladstone in 1893. |
| 20th Century
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The
War Years – The Hospital and the BBC
Lady Haversham was still in residence in 1920
and she erected a marble tablet in Easthampstead
Parish Church as a memorial to 62 men connected
with the Parish who lost their lives in the
1914-18 war.
After the death of Lady Haversham in 1929,
leaving no direct heir, the house passed into
the hands of Major Rickman O.B.E., Lady Haversham's
nephew, who was the last person to own and
live in it as one house.
During the 1939-45 war the house was occupied
by the Royal Sea Bathing Hospital, evacuated
from Margate. In the late 1940's it was converted
into five luxury flats with the main reception
being common to all.
From 1953 the house was owned by the B.B.C.,
who converted parts into studios and acoustically
treated some of the rooms.
In 1963 South Hill
Park was included in an extension of the new
town designated area of Bracknell and the
Bracknell Development Corporation acquired
the property. The house was let in 1965 to
Ferranti Limited, who used it as offices and
laboratories until early 1972. |
| The
Beginning of South Hill Park Arts Centre,
1973 |
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In
1971, Sir Jack Hughes, then Chairman of Bracknell Development Corporation, persuaded the district and town councils, Southern Arts Association and the Arts Council to create the arts centre and theatre at South Hill Park, keen for everyone to have the opportunity of enjoying the arts as much as he did himself. The South Hill Park Trust was established to administer the building, as well as the immediate surrounding gardens, lawns, trees and two lakes. Sir Jack was elected Founder Chairman of the Arts Centre on its opening in 1973. Knighted in 1980 for his work in Bracknell, Sir Jack, who died in February 2006 aged 89, always regarded the creation of South Hill Park as his proudest achievement. |
| First
Advert |
| The Wilde Theatre,
1984 and the Bracknell Gallery, 1991 |
In 1984, the construction of Phase 2 completed
the original design for the 330 seat Wilde
Theatre, which has drawn large numbers
of people to the area since its opening.
A new, Dance
Studio and Bar extension, along with
additional dressing rooms, rehearsal and storage
space were added to the theatre in 1988/89.
The Bracknell
Gallery opened in 1991. |
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| Wilde Theatre
Opening |
The Bracknell
Gallery |
Dance Studio |
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| 21st
Century |
The
New South Hill Park
In 2002, the Park completed a major programme of
refurbishment. A successful application for £3million
from the Arts Council of England National Lottery
Board, partnered with £1million from Bracknell
Forest Borough Council, has created an exciting
development of the mansion buildings. The scheme
has transformed the interior of the old building
into a purpose built art space. A New
Atrium opened up the heart of the building
and provides an attractive meeting place, a restaurant
and bar featuring art works and an informal performance
space. |
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From
right to left: David Elford, Chairman of South
Hill Park in 1999; Vincent Paliska, Director
of Leisure Bracknell Forest Borough Council;
Sally Abbott, Arts Council England; Eddie
Taylor, Arquitect; Tim Brinkman, CEO of South
Hill Park in 1999, Cllr. Paul Bettison, Bracknell
Forest Borough Council Leader |
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| Main Entrance |
Reception |
New Atrium |
| A
new Craft
Courtyard built at the west side of
the building improved facilities for printmaking
and pottery around a covered courtyard which
is used for creative activities and demonstrations.
Martin Donlin’s especially commissioned
artwork enhances the architects' design. |
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| Courtyard |
Ceramics
Studio |
Printmaking
Studio |
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| The
Studios
on the first floor provide design facilities for
Silversmithing and Jewellery making activities.
The redesigned Park
Bistro and
Bar, linked to the atrium and overlooking
the parkland, offer a comfortable place for refreshments.
Conference spaces
have been refurbished. Greater access has been created
for disabled visitors so now South Hill Park is
capable of welcoming customers in wheelchairs to
events held anywhere in the building. |
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| Park
Bar |
Jewellery
Studio |
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| Cinema |
Garden
Room |
| A
new Digital
Arts Studio, The John Nike Suite
opened in 2004 and is proving to be
an exciting facility where local artists
explore the creative potential of information
technology. |
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Digital
Arts Studio |
Recital
Room |
| For
the last 30 years, South Hill Park has
reinforced its position as one of the
largest and most enterprising arts facilities
in the country. |
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