Hursley House
| Company type | Subsidiary |
|---|---|
| Industry | Information technology |
| Founded | 1958 |
| Headquarters | Hursley, Hampshire , England |
Area served | Global |
Number of employees | 1500+ |
| Parent | IBM |
| Website | www |
Hursley House is a Grade II* listed mansion constructed in the 18th century, exemplifying the Queen Anne architectural style. It is situated in Hursley, close to Winchester in Hampshire, England.
History
The estate of Hursley was initially obtained by William Heathcote, MP from the daughters of Richard Cromwell, who had originally acquired it through his marriage to the daughter of Richard Major, MP. Between 1721 and 1724, during the reign of George I, Heathcote commissioned the building of the present house. He was later granted a baronetcy in 1733. Ownership remained within the family until it reached the 5th Baronet, whose widow sold the property following his death in 1881 to Joseph Baxendale, proprietor of the Pickfords transport company. In 1902, Baxendale transferred ownership to Sir George Cooper. His wife, American heiress Mary Emma Smith, engaged architect Alexander Marshall Mackenzie to carry out significant renovations that shaped the house into its present appearance. Sir George received his baronetcy in 1905.
During the First World War, the upper floor was repurposed as a hospital for officers. Following Sir George’s death in 1940 and throughout the Second World War, Hursley House was requisitioned by the Ministry of Aircraft Production to house Vickers Supermarine’s design and manufacturing teams after their original premises were damaged by bombing. This relocation commenced on 7 December 1940. At Hursley, Supermarine developed notable aircraft such as the famous Supermarine Spitfire along with early jet fighters including the Supermarine Attacker, Supermarine Swift, and Supermarine Scimitar. Mary Cooper continued residing at the property until late 1942.
IBM Hursley
Starting in 1958, IBM utilized Hursley House and its surrounding grounds as a site for development laboratories. By 1963, IBM had acquired approximately 100 acres (405,000 m²) around the estate and erected a substantial modern office complex that employs over 1,500 staff members. The original mansion now serves as an Executive Briefing Centre. Additionally, the basement level contains the IBM Hursley Museum, which presents exhibits on the history of IBM Hursley Park, IBM UK, and IBM Corporation.