Avington Estate

Early Origins (961 AD – 1545)

The story begins with Afintun, first recorded in 961 AD during the reign of King Edgar. Meaning “a place of meadows,” Avington’s fertile land was ideal for grazing cattle - a tradition that quietly continues to this day.

The Domesday Book confirms Avington as church land under the Cathedral, valued at £10 with land enough for five ploughs and a small community of villagers and clergy. Excavations have revealed ancient foundations and even Roman wine jars were found beneath the floorboards in 1927, hinting at over a millennium of continuous settlement.

In 1205 the house was confirmed into holding by the Prior and Monks of the Abbey of St. Swithun’s. They remained holding of the church until the reformation.

Tudor Ownership & the Clerke Family (1545 – 1665)

Following the Reformation, Henry VIII granted Avington to the Dean and Chapter of Winchester before reclaiming it and selling it to the Clerke family for £409. Edmund Clerke, Clerk of the Privy Seal under both Henry VIII and Elizabeth I, became Avington’s first secular owner.

This marked the beginning of private stewardship - a legacy of care and change that continues today.

The Brydges Family & Royal Connections (1665 – 1771)

Avington entered one of its most glittering periods under Sir George Brydges and his wife, the infamous Anna Maria Talbot, Countess of Shrewsbury. In 1664, Brydges became Groom of the Bedchamber to Charles II, and Avington soon transformed into the King’s country retreat.

Charles II lived here for 10 years with his mistress Nell Gwynn and their children while his new palace was being built in Winchester. The house became a royal playground, remodelled in lavish European style - with ceilings painted by Antonio Verrio, who also adorned the Palace of Versailles. Various portraits of Charles II and his family, including Nell Gwynn, hang on the walls of Avington.

The estate’s motto, “Fay ce que voudras” (“Do what you will”), captures the carefree spirit of this era.

Dukes, Duchesses & Georgian Elegance (1771 – 1951)

Through the centuries that followed, Avington passed through generations of the Brydges family, who became the Dukes of Chandos. The 3rd Duke, James Brydges, added the elegant fountain, sundial, and the lead goddesses - Minerva, Juno, and Ceres - which still stand proudly above the house today.

His wife, Margaret, rebuilt the nearby church of St. Mary’s Avington, while the estate continued to welcome royal guests including King George IV and Mrs. Fitzherbert. A coronation portrait of King George hangs in the ballroom.

By the 19th century, the estate had passed to the Shelley family, descendants of poet Percy Bysshe Shelley. Sir Charles Shelley brought electricity and modern conveniences to Avington - among the first in England to do so. His daughter, Lady Eleanor Shelley Rolls, heiress to the Rolls-Royce fortune, became one of Avington’s most colourful residents, known for launching hot air balloons from the South Lawn.

Rescue & Renewal (1951 – 2020)

After the Second World War, Avington fell into disrepair following its use by U.S. troops. The Hickson family purchased and painstakingly restored it in 1951, preserving the house and grounds from decline.

Their daughter Sarah Bullen and her husband Charles continued this legacy, reuniting parcels of land and restoring the estate’s natural beauty - including the lake and parkland - to their 18th-century splendour, until selling it to Nicolas Roach and his family in 2020. Today it remains a private family estate.

Avington Today

In 2020, Avington entered a new chapter. The estate remains privately held, with a continued focus on restoration, hospitality, and harmony with nature.

In recent years, the Avington story has expanded to include Avington Lakes, with its chalk stream waters, fisheries, and the magnificent Stillwaters House, offering guests the chance to stay amidst the beauty of the valley. The Chestnut Horse, the beloved country pub in the neighbouring village of Easton, has also joined the family - welcoming locals and visitors alike with open fires, fine food, and the same sense of warmth and character that has defined Avington for over a thousand years.