|
The Saxon term 'hearge' denoted a holy place and it is probable the site was associated with a shrine to a pagan deity. Piper (Pippa or Pipard) was a family name, recorded amongst those who fought the Normans at the Battle of Hastings in 1066.
In 1128 the Bishop of Winchester provided a grant to establish a Cistercian order nearby at Waverley Abbey and ancient bridges built by the monks at Eashing and Somerset still survive. The tiny church of St. Nicholas was established at Peper Harow around this time and services are still held every Sunday.
The estate has had 40 recorded owners since the 11th Century , many of whom were famous knights or influential noblemen with a colourful history. In 1712 the Brodrick family, who later took the title of Midleton, acquired Peper Harow and remained here for over 200 years. They were responsible for much of the development of the estate as it is today, including construction of Peper Harow House by Sir William Chambers in 1765.
Sir Lancelot 'Capability' Brown landscaped the park in 1762-3 and many fine trees from original plantings remain as a symbol of the estate's horticultural heritage.
After Earl Midleton's death in 1942 the estate was broken up into several farms, and property in the outlying villages of Shackleford and Eashing was sold at auction in 1944. During the Second World War, Peper Harow House was requisitioned for the Canadian Army headquarters and several fortified gun emplacements are still in evidence along the riverbanks.
In the post-War years, Peper Harow became an Approved School and then, in the 1970's, a renowned therapeutic centre for the residential care of troubled youngsters.
Today Peper Harow is a private residential estate not open to the public, and the residents request that their privacy is respected.
|
|
