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Properties: The Mount, Bishopstoke

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Arborfield Hall

Thomas Hargreaves at Bishopstoke

Thomas Hargreaves - death and after

'The Mount' in Bishopstoke, near Southampton, was bought by Thomas Hargreaves of Arborfield Hall in July 1870. This advertisement appeared in the local newspaper prior to the auction, which was held in London:

 THE MOUNT, BISHOPSTOKE, SOUTH HANTS.

A MODERATE-SIZED

FREEHOLD RESIDENTIAL PROPERTY,

of the greatest beauty, known, in fact, to all residents in the district as one of the most attractive places in the county, and particularly deserving the attention of any lady or gentleman of taste requiring a bijou residence, in a locality that will afford all the charms of a country life, the protection of a good village, and proximity to its church, in combination with the advantages of being within a mile of a first-class junction station, an easy seven miles' drive of the capital town of Southampton, and only about two hours from London.

MESSRS. DEBENHAM, TEWSON, & FARMER are instructed by the proprietor to SELL, at the Mart, on Tuesday, 26^th of July, at Two o'clock precisely, -

The very inviting and well-known FREEHOLD PROPERTY,

“THE MOUNT”, in the parish of Bishopstoke, in the centre of one of the most agreeable and healthy districts in the favourite and fashionable county of Souhampton, a district affording excellent society, first-rate hunting, good shooting, and capital trout fishing.

The Property consists of a moderate-sized Family Residence, in the ornamental cottage style, having:

•  nine bed rooms,

• a bath room with hot and cold supplies,

• an elegant drawing room opening out to a large conservatory,

•  convenient dining room,

• library,

• billiard room,

• study, and

• offices.

The residence stands on a considerable elevation, commands very pretty views, and is surrounded by gardens and pleasure grounds of extraordinary beauty; these include

• green-house,

• large lawns profusely clothed with fine specimen coniferous and other shrubs,

• luxuriant banks and beds of flowers in great variety,

• an exquisite rosary, containing a very choice collection of the finest roses,

• a complete range of vineries,

• orchard house,

• peach house,

• stoves,

• forcing pits,

• a pretty cottage for gardener,

• most productive fruit and kitchen gardens,

• several enclosures of rich meadow land,

• and a well-matured hanging wood sloping down to the banks of the river Itchen (where there is a superior boat house),

• and affording a great variety of beautifully shaded walks, leading to well-secluded nooks, in which are miniature fish ponds, dells of ferns, with fountains, &c.

A rustic bridge connects tha mainland with a charming little island, having an interesting collection of trees and flowering shrubs and plants.

There is a very superior range of stabling, with coach-houses, harness-room, poultry houses, and a small farmery.

The whole property embraces an area of about 28½ acres, every step through which leads to some fresh point of beauty, and the tout ensemble is so exquisite that it would, indeed, be difficult to conceive a more interesting or perfect place.

The Auctioneers have, therefore, great pleasure in recommending the property to the attention of those who desire to obtain an elegant home in the south of England.

Plans and particulars may shortly be had of W. B. TARRANT, Esq., Solicitor, Bond-court, Walbrook, E.C.; and at the offices of the Auctioneers, 80, Cheapside, where a series of photographic views may be seen.

The property was thrown open for all manner of social events as documented in the local press - and once, briefly, in the 'Reading Mercury', as shown from this section labelled 'Condensed Intelligence', published on 23rd July 1887:

The Mount failed to sell following Thomas Hargreaves' death in 1891, the Auctioneer lamenting that  the highest offer of £9500 was "not one-fourth of what had been expended on the place, to say nothing of the freehold property".

In the mid-20th Century, The Mount was used as a Sanatorium, but has been empty for some time. As of 2014, there are plans to create a Retirement Village in the grounds, and there are many images of the buildings in a state of dereliction if you Google 'The Mount Bishopstoke'. 

Although the property didn't sell following Capt. Hargreaves' death, the contents sold for good prices, as the following report shows:

Hampshire Advertiser, 16 April 1892:

SALE OF THE LATE CAPTAIN HARGREAVES'

ART COLLECTION

The valuable furniture, works of art, &c, collected by the late Captain Thomas Hargreaves have been disposed of by auction by Messrs Hampton and Sons, of London. Among some of the more important items were:-

• a Louis XVI carved gilt-frame drawing-room suite, £118, and an occasional table to match, 20½ guineas;

• a Sèvres china vase-shaped timepiece, 32½ guineas;

• a candelabra, 20 guineas;

• Heywood's Summer's work on the Itchen valley, with artist's proof etchings, £7 - 5s.;

• a 5ft. Antique ebony and ivory Italian cabinet, decorated with various marbles and precious stones, 65 guineas;

• an antique china mantel clock, in marble case, ormolu enrichments, 31 guineas;

• a musical box in rosewood and inlaid marqueterie case, performing 64 selections, £62;

• a superb old Italian ebony cabinet, with ivory plaque, £85;

• the 5ft. 6in. Antique Florentine ebony cabinet in the picture gallery, with ormolu figure of Atlas supporting a globe, and decorated with 17 water-colour views of Rome, 48½ guineas;

• the 6ft. antique rosewood and ebony cabinet, in the same room, and which formerly belonged to the Duc de Medici, 95 guineas;

• a 10in. Capo di Monte casket, 12½ guineas;

• a 9in. ditto, 13½ guineas;

• a pair of 11in. blue and gilt Sèvres china jardinieres, 24 guineas;

• a pair of 23in. white and gold Dresden vases, 91 guineas;

• the Royal Worcester china tea service, 40 guineas;

• a 42in. magnificent Florentine mosaic table, inlaid with malachite and decorated with figures and views of Rome, 85 guineas;

• the Florentine mosaic picture of the Forum at Rome, by Galandt, size 61in. by 32 in., that gained the prize medal at Vienna in 1873, 320 guineas.

The most important lots of statuary sold as follows:

• a 33in. marble figure of a “Boy cross at saying his prayers”, by Guarinera, from Milan exhibition, 34 guineas;

• a 44in. group of “Faust and Marguerite”, and pedestal, by Romanelli, 1875, 130 guineas;

• a 44in. figure of “Rebecca” by the same, 61 guineas;

• a 48in. female figure representing “Time is precious”, by Rosetti, 76 guineas;

• a 48in. figure by the same, “Faith in God”, 76 guineas;

• and a 54in. female figure, the “Fountain of Love”, by the same, £95;

• a figure of “Repose”, by Argenti, prize medal at Vienna, £56;

• a figure of “Eve”, by Count Tadoline, Rome, 1875, 190 guineas;

• a 15in. “Cupid Sleeping”, 27 guineas.

Of the curios and antiques,

• a 14in. ebony cabinet made 21½ guineas;

• the richly chased ormolu shrine, in case and jewelled with turquoises, 86 guineas.

The pictures realised:

• Price’s “Anxious Moment”, £42;

• Cattle and Figures, by Laccetti, 22 guineas;

• Coast scene with Fishing Boats, C. P. Constable, 52 guineas;

• Landscape and Ruins, R. H. Wood, 37 guineas;

• Landscape with Sheep, Lonsdale, and the companion picture, Waterfall, 41 guineas each;

• “Beatrice de Cenci”, Anthony Sasso, 35 guineas;

• A Cottage Exterior, with woman peeling Potatoes, D. Law, 40 guineas;

• Landscape, “Victor Emmanuel Hunting”, Marko, 57 guineas;

• “The Mid-Day Meal”, Shayer, 82 guineas;

[The following list was appended to the list of pictures:]

• a 4ft. ebony Italian cabinet, with ivory figures and medallions, 71 guineas;

• a 6 ft. carved oak sideboard, 45½ guineas;

• and the set of 10 dining and two elbow chairs, 110 guineas;

• a 5ft. 6in. ebony and inlaid with ivory china cabinet, 56 guineas;

• the Sèvres dinner, dessert, and tea services, 84 guineas;

• a pair of Chelsea plates, 10½ guineas.

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