The Grange, Northington
The Grange, Northington, Alresford, Hampshire, SO24 9TZ
The original red brick English five story house was designed by William Samwell in 1662, which William Wilkins, architect of the National Art Gallery, wrapped in cement in 1804, Robert Smirke, the architect of the British Museum, built a single storey wing to the west, The young architect Charles Robert Cockerell 1823 was invited to further extend the house, his additions included an elegant Dining Room facing north [now demolished], and an Orangery in the form of an Ionic temple at the southwest this was adapted to form the opera house in 1998. In 1972 the fate of the house attracted much public comment, so in 1975 the building was placed into the guardianship of the Department of the Environment then English Heritage, now Historic England and managed by E.H.
The demolished connection between The Grange and the Orangery was rebuilt in 2001 and houses a 660-seat opera house which hosts the summer festival the site is now most famous for.
The Grange, Northington, Alresford, Hampshire, SO24 9TZ
Regrettably, The site is not wheelchair friendly or easy for people with restricted mobility and has many drops. The car park is in a field with a 500 meter walk to the house on uneven grounds. There are ramps to the ground floor but no lifts or access to the upper floors or basement.