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History
Home to the Talbot-Ponsonby family
for over 7 generations, Langrish House dates back to
the 17th century.
During the Civil War most of Hampshire
was 'for the king' but it would appear that the village
of Langrish supported Oliver Cromwell. When the Roundheads
did particularly well at the nearby Battle of Cheriton
in 1644, and took a number of Royalist Prisoners, there
was a problem of where they should be held. All the
local strongholds were still in Royalist hands, and
so unsuitable. They were therefore brought back to Langrish
and made to dig the vaults.
For many years, Langrish, a substantial
manor house, was owned by wealthy sheep farmers who
used the Lake for washing the wool.
In 1842 Nigel Talbot-Ponsonby's great-great-great-great-grandfather,
a local landowner bought the house and made major additions
to it.
Langrish House's heyday as a family
home came under the tenure of Charles William and Constance
Louisa Talbot-Ponsonby. They were married in 1868 and
brought up 7 children here. Family archives paint a
picture of jostling family life centred around the dogs,
cats, chickens and outdoor sports. There were musical
recitals, plays, croquet on the lawn, journeys abroad,
huge houseparties for Glorious Goodwood and great celebrations
such as Queen Victoria's Diamond Jublilee in 1867.
Nigel's father, Edward, inherited
the house and the Langrish Estate in 1937 - aged 19.
He was fascinated by machinery and started 'making things'
in the stables. By the time the War came in 1939, he
had a thriving and very busy factory makng cockpits
for Spitfires, and Munitions for the War Effort.
During the War soldiers from New Zealand
were billeted here and slept either in the house or
in tents on the three large lawns.
The house temporarily left the Talbot-Ponsonby
family for 26 years when it was sold in 1972!
There was a big fire here in November
1976, and soon after that it was bought by hoteliers,
Peter ffytche and Monique Von Kospoth. Together they
restored it and turned it in to a Hotel.
Nigel and Robina were given the chance
to buy the House back in 1998.
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