The Grange, Northington, Hampshire, the foremost example of Greek Revival architecture anywhere in England. Modelled on an Ancient Greek temple, owes its appearance to the architect William Wilkins, who went on to design the National Art Gallery.
The original red brick English five story house was designed by William Samwell in 1662, which William Wilkins, architect of the National Art Gallery, wrapped in cement in 1804. Robert Smirke, the architect of the British Museum, built a single storey wing to the west. The young architect Charles Robert Cockerell 1823 was invited to further extend the house, his additions included an elegant Dining Room facing north [now demolished], and an Orangery in the form of an Ionic temple at the southwest this was adapted to form the opera house in 1998. In 1972 the fate of the house attracted much public comment, so in 1975 the building was placed into the guardianship of the Department of the Environment then English Heritage, now Historic England and managed by E.H.
The demolished connection between The Grange and the Orangery was rebuilt in 2001 and houses a 660-seat opera house which hosts the summer festival the site is now most famous for.
Event Times
Thursday 12 September: The Grange is open from 11:00am-4:30pm.
Pre-booked guided tours at 11:30am, 1:15pm and 3:00pm
Booking Information
Pre-booking: Required.
Bookings through the link below, or by emailing events@thegrangefestival.co.uk.
Tours are free of charge. Please book so we can cater for the correct numbers. Please note The Grange Festival can only take bookings for The House Tours. Booking for tours of St John's Church must be made via Peter Lamb on peter.agneau@outlook.com.
Address & Directions
The Grange, Northington, Alresford, Hampshire, SO24 9TZ.
What3Words: harnessed.called.highways
Additional Information
Max 30 people per session/tour. 1 hour 30 minutes.
Regrettably, the site is not wheelchair friendly or easy for people with restricted mobility and has many drops. The car park is in a field with a 500 meter walk to the house on uneven grounds. There are ramps to the ground floor but no lifts or access to the upper floors or basement.
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Organised by:
The Grange Festival
Header image: The Grange Festival at The Grange Northington_credit Ben Blincoe