Opening 1981 Number of rooms 50 | Developer Christopher Wren | |
 | ||
Location Woodman Lane,
Sparsholt,
Winchester, Hampshire, SO21 2LT, United Kingdom Owner Exclusive Hotels and Venues | ||
Lainston House, an Exclusive Hotel, is a 17th-century country house hotel in Winchester, Hampshire in the south of England. It is a Grade II* listed building.
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History
Lainston House is noteworthy for several reasons throughout history. Commissioned by Charles II to build a palace at Winchester, renowned English architect Sir Christopher Wren may have started work on the site in 1683 by building on the grounds of an earlier medieval dwelling. It became known as the dwelling place of Charles and his mistress Louise de Keroualle before he died in 1685.
Half a century later, Lainston House became the scene of a major societal scandal. Lainston House's private chapel became the location of the secret late-night marriage between Elizabeth Chudleigh and Augustus Hervey, in August 1744. Maintaining privacy about the ceremony lest their employment be endangered, their union did not last long and Elizabeth went on to marry Evelyn Pierrepont, 2nd Duke of Kingston-upon-Hull. The validity of the ceremony held at Lainston House's chapel became the focal point of bigamy charges and legal proceedings against Elizabeth which pursued her until her death in 1788.
Lainston House's tree-lined grounds also contain the longest line of limes in England (9/10ths of a mile), some dating back to 1716. The trees which were planted across the grounds after the influence of gardener and diarist Sir John Evelyn.
Lainston House and its parkland was sold off from private ownership in the 1980s, and currently operates as a luxury 5 star hotel.
Location
Lainston House is located in Sparsholt, Winchester, Hampshire.