South Hill Park visit, Saturday 24th September 2011

The House was built in 1760 by William Watts, an Indian Nabob, who had made a fortune as a senior official with the East India Company. Watts acquired a further 30 acres of common land which he incorporated into his estate, but today the site includes just 24 acres.

Now part of Bracknell, a 1960s new town, today South Hill Park forms a haven for Bracknell people. The house, much altered and re-built from Watts’ original, now serves as an Arts Centre and Theatre for the Borough. In 2011 a major restoration project was completed, funded by a £4.4 million Lottery Grant.

We heard 4 speakers talk about the site, its history, the regeneration scheme and its implementation, and then we were able to tour the grounds to see what has been achieved. The Italianate Garden and the lake looked splendid in the hot sunshine – in no way was the weather autumnal – and it was fascinating to see how many of the features had been treated in the restoration, such as urns which had been repaired and others totally reproduced.