The Gun House

The Gun House originally had lands which stretched westwards down to the waterfront but over its long history debtors had to parcel off and sell the land. In 1851 an auction was held at The Victory Inn and the house was sold to a Mr Bell for £300, subject to a further annual payment of 1 shilling per year.

During the First World War the house was owned by two American ladies, the Blake sisters. They used the house to entertain wounded soldiers convalescing at the Netley Hospital, (now Netley Country Park).

The garden used to feature a pet's gravestone, dedicated to "Nicho, a cheerful friend in dark days". The stone was moved to the front garden and can be seen under one of the front windows.

Recently two watercolour paintings of the house and gardens came to light, painted by a Private E. Harris of the 4th Royal Sussex Regiment in 1918, a soldier guest of the Blake sisters recuperating at the Royal Victoria Hospital. These were purchased by the present owner.

It is also worth noting that the garden contains a fig tree, which can be seen overhanging the white garden wall. The tree produces figs each year but they rarely ripen off in our climate

Modern times have seen renovations to the house, mostly sympathetic to the history of the house. The old flocked wallpaper has been carefully preserved beneath a batoned covering on the walls.Sadly the beautiful oak-railed fence at the front of the house is no longer there, being demolished in two separate incidents involving two car drivers turning in the road.

The Gun House remains one of the most interesting in Hamble's long history.

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