Preshaw Manor

Preshaw Manor (also called Preshaw House) is a Grade II listed country house at Preshaw, in the Hampshire countryside near Winchester. Historic England first listed it in 1952. It suits visitors who like English manor architecture and are exploring the Meon Valley and the area around Winchester.

What is Preshaw Manor?

Preshaw was a landed estate that spread over two parishes. Little and Middle Preshaw sit in Exton parish, while Lower Preshaw lies in Upham parish. The manor house itself is recorded under Exton. Its walls are flint with brick dressings, a typical building style of southern England.

What is its history?

The National Heritage List describes an E-shaped front block of around 1600. An eastward extension in the same style followed in the 18th century. A parallel rear range, built on higher ground, dates from the early 19th century and is credited to John Nash. The house was raised in height around 1910.

The estate was granted in 1542 to William Paulet together with the manor of Lomer. Robert Kirby bought it in 1707, and the Long family acquired it in the 1720s. Walter Long, the last of the family to live there, sold it in 1898 to Baron de Bush. Reginald Harry Cholmondeley bought it in 1901. In 1918 the house became the seat of the Baronetcy of Upham. Between 1810 and 1826 the grounds were laid out as parkland, with clumps of trees and copses.

Can you visit Preshaw Manor?

It is not a museum. The house has been converted into apartments, so the interiors are closed to tourists. You can see the surroundings from public roads and footpaths. Check a footpath map before you set out and keep off private land.

How do you get there?

Preshaw lies roughly 10 km east of Winchester, near Upham. A car is the easiest way to reach it. Public transport in this part of Hampshire is infrequent, so pair the visit with a walk through nearby villages.

When should you go?

Spring and summer are best for walking the surrounding fields and woods. In winter some field paths can get muddy.

Frequently asked questions

Is Preshaw Manor open to the public? No. It is a residence divided into apartments, with no regular interior tours.

What heritage status does it have? Historic England listed it at Grade II in 1952.

How old is the building? The oldest part, the front block, dates from about 1600. Later work followed in the 18th century, the early 19th century and around 1910.

Who designed the rear range? The listing credits John Nash and dates it to the early 19th century.