History of How Park Farm

The house stands in John of Gaunt's Deer Park. This park was originally 400 acres enclosed within a "pale" - a fence with gates at several ends. The park was first planned and started at the end of the 12th century. John of Gaunt directed that the lodge be 'put in order' in 1380 and this gave the park its royal name.

The original hunting lodge consisted of a hall, a fair wainscotted parlour, a kitchen, a mill house and other necessary rooms. It then went down in life, being the warrener's lodge - the rabbit warren was to the north.

In Tudor times it must have been turned into a farm. There are more mentions of the house in Georgian, Victorian and Edwardian times. In 1935 a further 2 rooms were added along with bathroom. Changes were made in 1991 and more in 1994 by the current owners.

Test Valley

This area of Hampshire has been settled since Neolithic times. On the other side of the Test valley you can visit Danebury - an Iron age hill fort that has seen extensive archaeological excavations. Work has now finished and you can walk around the earth mound defences and enjoy spectacular views of the surrounding countryside.

John of Gaunt (1340-1399), so called because he was born in Ghent, Flanders, was an English nobleman and politician, the fourth son of Edward III. He played an important part in the Hundred Years’ War and acted as head of government during Edward’s last years and the years before Richard II reached his majority.