Tragically in April 1950 while walking in the grounds Ralph Dutton saw smoke rising from the direction of his home. On returing he found the house in flames and his collections of pictures, books and furniture including the fine 18th-century fireplaces almost completely destroyed, undaunted he immediately started to rebuild the house. Bachelor Ralph Dutton died in 1985 and was the last of the Sherborne family, he bequeathed his estate of 1,650 acres, including the hamlet of Hinton Ampner to the care of the National Trust.                                                         All photographs © David Packman

The Temple

The Lawn and Lily Pond - I could swear I just saw a...during the afternoon dozens of visitors stopped and looked at a piece of wood on the edge of the pond. And what were they looking at, the answer's below...

...a large dragonfly laying eggs. The Southern Hawker can often be found in gardens ponds and lay their eggs in rotten vegetation including timber often above the waterline.

Flowers in the Walled Garden.

The Orchard - Beyond the orchard stands the parish church of All Saints where Ralph Dutton and many of his ancestors are buried. The church was originally Saxon with the chancel being rebuilt sometime prior to 1822, and the nave in the 1870s by Ralph Dutton's grandfather.                                                                         All photographs © David Packman

Caption details are based on the latest available information and are accurate to the best of my knowledge. Although the images are heavily compressed you are welcome to use them for your own non-commercial use.If you do please credit  Hampshire  Cam and add a link to these pages.  For hi-res images please contact me below.                           All photographs copyright David Packman © 2002 - 2007 (All Rights Reserved)