John Arthur Pryor
| Company type | Private residence |
|---|---|
| Industry | Country house / Historic estate |
| Founded | 1832 |
| Headquarters | Bentworth , England, United Kingdom |
Area served | Hampshire, England |
Bentworth Hall is a historic country residence situated within the parish of Bentworth in Hampshire, England, positioned approximately south of the village center and about northwest of Alton.
Prior to the 1830s, the original structure known as Bentworth Hall or Bentworth Manor House—currently referred to as Hall Place—was constructed in the early 14th century. This Grade II listed building lies south of the village green.
The present Bentworth Hall, encircled by woodland planted during its erection, began construction in 1832 following Roger Staples Horman-Fisher’s acquisition of the Bentworth Manor estate.
1832 – Construction of the present Bentworth Hall
In 1832, the Bentworth Hall estate, encompassing roughly 500 acres, was auctioned by the Fitzherbert family at Garraway's Coffee House in London. The Fitzherberts were kin to Maria Fitzherbert.
Roger Staples Horman-Fisher bought the estate for around £6000 and initiated the building of the current Bentworth Hall on open downland approximately south of the former hall, accessible via a private driveway branching from the Bentworth-Medstead road.
As detailed in Sir Bernard Burke's "Heraldic Illustrations," Horman-Fisher was the eldest son of Robert Fisher of the Inner Temple and Mary Staples, daughter of Charles Staples from London. His coat of arms displayed a quartered shield merging the FISHER and HORMAN families’ insignia alongside an escutcheon representing his wife Elizabeth Horman’s lineage.
It is noteworthy that some historical documents include minor inaccuracies, such as the misnaming of Bentworth as "Brereworth" beneath the Horman-Fisher crest.
1848 – Transfer of ownership of Bentworth Hall Estate
The estate changed hands in 1848 when Jeremiah Robert Ives acquired it, including both the Old Manor House (now Hall Place) and the newer Bentworth Hall built in 1832. The sale catalogue dated 16 July 1848 described the property as a "handsome newly erected Elizabethan mansion," constructed with expensive black flint walls complemented by stone cornices and mullions. The interiors boasted six family bedrooms, a spacious landing area, a wide principal staircase, and reception rooms adorned with marble fireplace surrounds and finely crafted cornices.
Late 19th century developments
Following Robert Ives’ death in 1865, ownership passed to his widow Emma. The Ives family included George Cecil Ives, a distinguished resident of Bentworth Hall known for his writings on history and homosexuality. In 1890, Emma’s son Colonel Gordon Maynard Gordon-Ives erected Gaston Grange nearby; he later inherited Bentworth Hall upon Emma’s passing in 1897.
Early 20th century history
Colonel Gordon-Ives leased Bentworth Hall to W. G. Nicholson, Member of Parliament for Petersfield. A photograph from 1905 highlights Bentworth Hall as a substantial flint and stone mansion situated within a 400-acre parkland, renowned for its exceptional flint craftsmanship. A crenellated water tower visible at that time has since been removed.
After Colonel Gordon-Ives died in 1907, ownership transferred to his son Cecil Maynard Gordon-Ives, who served as a Scots Guards Captain during World War I. Upon Cecil’s death in 1923, the estate—then covering 479 acres—was placed on sale in July 1924 by John D Wood & Co. The sale particulars emphasized extensive accommodations including fourteen bedrooms with dressing rooms, two bathrooms, five reception rooms (among them a billiard room), electric lighting, central heating, abundant water supply, stabling facilities, cottages, a lodge, and a Tudor farmhouse.
The estate was subdivided into seven lots for sale; Lot 7 contained the "Lordship of Manor." It was re-advertised on 26 June 1930 under the management of A d’A Willis—likely the purchaser from 1924—with an advertised size reduced to 462 acres, indicating some land parcels had been excluded. Major John Arthur Pryor is documented as residing at Bentworth Hall during the 1930s.
World War II
At the beginning of the conflict, Bentworth Hall along with nearby estates such as Gaston Grange and Thedden Grange were requisitioned by military forces.
In 1941, Bentworth Hall operated as an auxiliary facility of the Haslar Naval Hospital in Portsmouth, managed by the Mobile Naval Base Defence Organisation (MNBDO). Bedrooms were repurposed into patient wards, while a doctor's consulting room was established on the upper floor. The bathroom in the west wing was adapted into a darkroom for processing X-ray films, chosen due to its small window size. This information was provided by N Crabb, a Royal Marine stationed at the site during wartime.
Subsequently, the British 48 Marine Commando ("48 CDO") occupied the location, as indicated by carvings found in the surrounding woodland. Several Nissen huts were constructed to the west of the Hall; remnants include concrete foundations and a brick structure believed to have served as an ablution facility. Near the western edge of the woods, a three-foot-wide drain cover concealed sewer pipes connected to latrines within the hut complex.
By 1944, Bentworth Hall accommodated American and British Commonwealth troops. Onsite amenities comprised a swimming pool, two cookhouses, and a water tower. The wooded area housed accommodation huts, while some officers resided within the Hall itself. The cornfield to the southwest was utilized as a landing strip for three L4 light aircraft (US Army Piper Cubs), which the commanding Colonel used for flights to Lasham airfield.
This account was verified by Michael Lennox, a former US Army serviceman who visited Bentworth Hall on 6 June 1994 and identified his wartime quarters among the huts.
After the War
An ordnance disposal team operated near Colliers Wood, conducting detonations in an adjacent hollow.
In 1947, Major Herbert Cecil Benyon Berens, who later became a director at Hambros bank, purchased the Bentworth Hall estate. By 1950, he had constructed two lodge houses at the estate entrance and expanded Bentworth Hall with new "Garden Rooms," notable for their tall southwest-facing windows and flint walls matching the original structure.
As an avid game shooter, Major Berens continued pheasant breeding in the former stable and coach block, where his gamekeeper was accommodated. During the 1970s, this role was filled by "Ginger" Woods, a well-known local resident living on Berens family land situated between Bentworth and Medstead.
Major Berens passed away at Bentworth Hall on 27 October 1981. Following his death, the remaining estate was offered for sale.
Stella Strachan established and currently leads the Bentworth Garden Club, which was founded in 2001 after a community Millennium survey revealed strong local interest. The West Wing garden is made accessible during special events organized by the Garden Club and other local groups.