| HCC Site ID: | 1803 | Parish: | Boldre |
| Designations: | NFNP | Area: | 2.4ha (6 acres) |
| Access: | Access to School only | Ownership: | Private |
Location and site
The property is situated on a site between the ‘Y’ road junction of the road leading to Batramsley Cross to the west, Boldre and Boldre Lane to the east, with Boldre Grange, a larger property to the north.
Rope Hill (now Hill House School) was owned by Admiral Brine, and in the early part of the century by his grandson, Captain Knapton. Some parts of the house are said to date from Queen Anne. Campion in 1923 wrote that ‘pleasing views are obtained across the sloping lawns adorned with old pines, …… in one part .. there is a very old garden section, containing a fig tree, probably coeval with the original house’. It is now a school.
Summary
The property reflects a time of affluence in the mid 19th century with designed grounds, plants being brought in from other countries, and a tightly knit community of travellers and military men. It is worth considering for inclusion in the Local Register because of the group value with other site in the area to the local landscape.
Information: 2000