Abshot Manor (From Hampshire Society)

Abshot Manor

9:20am Wednesday 1st July 2009

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The Bradshaw family of Abshot Manor moved among the best of Hampshire society and was held in the very highest regard, living, as they did, an exceedingly, genteel existence in their rural retreat.

Abshot Manor can trace its roots back at the end of the 18th-century, when it was surrounded by hundreds of acres of countryside at Titchfield Common.

Now the mansion, at one time used as a 13-bedroom hotel, is undergoing a dramatic transformation, which will see the building developed into 12 luxury apartments, due to appear on the market early next year.

The exclusive refurbishment of the house will create a total of 11 one and two bedroom apartments, as well as a single one-bedroom, two-storey end of terrace house.

Developed in the grounds of the Abshot Country Club, the apartments’ residents will have access to the next-door sports facilities, swimming pool, tennis courts and fitness suites.

The house became a hotel in the 1980s and then in 1995 it was acquired by Channel Islander, Ken Vigiers, whose 30-year-old son, Jason, is now the manor’s general manager.

According to Jason, at one time, the Bradshaw family were highly, influential in the local area.

However, details of Abshot Manor’s history are thin on the ground, although records do exist that show the house was passed down through the generations of the Bradshaw family.

It seems likely that the original squire of Abshot Manor was a Captain James Bradshaw who served in the Royal Navy and went on to become a Member of Parliament. In 1858 he married Emmeline, the daughter of a Devon vicar.

On the death of Captain Bradshaw, his son, Frank, took over the running of Abshot Manor and its land together with a further 7,000 acres, which the family owned in Devon.

A staunch member of the Conservative party, Frank Bradshaw followed in his father’s footsteps and entered politics, making Abshot his permanent residence until he died at the age of 88.

It was his son, James Buller Bradshaw, who then stepped forward to take over the controlling reins of the family estates.

According to the history books: “James Bradshaw was a captain in the Scots Guards, with every promise of a brilliant career, but was compelled to resign through ill-health and was an invalid for a number of years.’’ When he died on May 3, 1909, local records said: “The little village was in mourning, and there were manifestations of sorrow in the surrounding district.’’ Just a short time later his wife, described as a “loyal and earnest churchwoman of sincere and undoubted piety’’ also died.

“Only ten days earlier Mrs Bradshaw appeared to be in her usual health, but her illness was short and rapid, and the end calm and peaceful,’’ say the records.

“Against all unrighteousness she steadfastly set her face like a flint, and evil-doers feared her; but those who were in trouble always found in Mrs Bradshaw one who would give both sympathy and help.’’ It is thought the Bradshaw family finally moved out of Abshot Manor in 1911 to live in Leatherhead, Surrey.

There was genuine sadness when they left the house as the local records say: “The departure of this beloved family leaves a gap in the parish, which we fear will not readily be filled. They took the deepest personal interest in all that concerned the welfare of the church and people.’’ Following the departure of the family the manor house’s history becomes vague, except, it is believed, the property was used by refugees during the First World War.

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