An Edwardian house with swimming pool and wine cellar, in the village known as 'the Cradle of Cricket'
Penny Churchill explores a handsome property near the historic village of Hambledon.


Steven Moore of Savills in Winchester quotes a guide price of £2.5m for handsome, Edwardian Rosecroft, set in 2½ acres of delightful grounds on the slopes above historic Hambledon village, which straddles two valleys in the rolling chalk downland of the South Downs National Park, nine miles from Petersfield and 16 miles from the cathedral city of Winchester.
Following a major restoration just over 15 years ago, Rosecroft offers some 4,260sq ft of well-organised, light-filled living space.
There is an impressive entrance hall, three main reception rooms, a large kitchen/breakfast room, five bedrooms, three bathrooms and a wine cellar/games room.
One of Hampshire’s oldest rural settlements, Hambledon dates from the Bronze Age, as evidenced by the barrows scattered around its fields by the Celts. The sites of at least two villas in the area hark back to the arrival of the Romans in the 1st century.
The present village evolved around the Grade I-listed, 11th-century village church of St Peter and St Paul and the manor farm, owned in medieval times by Winchester abbey.
Further expansion of the village took place in the early 1600s, when James I granted Hambledon the right to hold two fairs every year. According to local records, the letters patent were stamped with the word ‘Broadhalfpenny’ — the toll paid to the lord of the manor for the setting up of booths, which gave its name to Broadhalfpenny Down, famous for hosting cricket matches on behalf of the Hambledon Cricket Club, still known to this day as ‘the cradle of cricket’.
The club is thought to have been founded in about 1750, and cricket was certainly played in the area for at least a couple of centuries. Interestingly, however, the earliest surviving record of cricket at Hambledon dates 'only' from 1756, when the Oxford Gazette and Reading Mercury advertised the loss of a dog at a cricket match on Broadhalfpenny Down.
Sign up for the Country Life Newsletter
Exquisite houses, the beauty of Nature, and how to get the most from your life, straight to your inbox.
At the turn of the 19th century, the expansion of Portsmouth drew people away from the village, although it retained its links to the Royal Navy.
Many naval officers retired to the area where they built large houses on the outskirts of the village, one of which was Rosecroft.
The house was feeling its age when, in 2004, its present owners bought and embarked on an intensive, year-long refurbishment of the house and its gardens and grounds.
Rosecroft near Hambledon is listed for £2.5m with Knight Frank — see more pictures or request further details from the agent.
Hambledon, Hampshire: What you need to know
- Location: Tucked away in the South Downs National Park, not far off the A3 in the south-eastern corner of Hampshire, rougly 10 miles south of Petersfield and the same amount north of Portsmouth.
- Atmosphere: A classic English country village, with a population just under 1,000 at the time of the last census. The village has been dubbed the 'Cradle of Cricket', thanks to the formation in 1750 of Hambledon Club, one of the first cricket clubs in the world, some 37 years before those Johnny-come-lately bandwagon jumpers at the MCC got their act together.
- Things to do: Cricket is still played, both at Broadhalfpenny Down — the Hambledon Club's original ground — and a newer ground closer to the village centre. There are walks in South Downs, a church, village shop, tea-room, vineyard and a pub called — for obvious reasons — the Bat & Ball.
- Schools: Hambledon Primary School was rated 'Outstanding' in every area in its Ofsted inspection in 2014 — impressive stuff.
Find more houses in the area or see the best country houses for sale this week.
A magnificent former bath house with a classical-style portico and three acres of walled gardens
Rachael Turner explores a Georgian gem in Country Durham.
Credit: Knight Frank
A house and estate with a waterfall, gym and 40 acres of the Yorkshire Dales
Penny Churchill takes a look at Roundhill, in the Nidderdale AONB.
-
Graham Norton's elegant East London home hits the market, and it's just as wonderful as you would expect
The four-bedroom home in Wapping should be studied for how well it uses two separate spaces to create a home of immense character and utility.
By James Fisher Published
-
Sign of the times: In the age of the selfie, what’s happening to the humble autograph?
When Ringo Starr announced that he was no longer going to sign anything, he kickstarted a celebrity movement that coincided with the advent of the camera phone and selfie. Rob Crossan asks whether, in today’s world, the selfie holds more clout than an autograph?
By Rob Crossan Published
-
Graham Norton's elegant East London home hits the market, and it's just as wonderful as you would expect
The four-bedroom home in Wapping should be studied for how well it uses two separate spaces to create a home of immense character and utility.
By James Fisher Published
-
About time: The fastest and slowest moving housing markets revealed
New research by Zoopla has shown where it's easy to sell and where it will take quite a while to find a buyer.
By Annabel Dixon Last updated
-
A wisteria clad hall built by one of the founders of the Bank of England
Come for the history of Old Hall. Stay for the interesting interiors.
By Annabel Dixon Published
-
A gorgeous Scottish cottage with contemporary interiors on the bonny banks of the River Tay
Carnliath on the edge of Strathtay is a delightful family home set in sensational scenery.
By James Fisher Published
-
Six rural properties with space, charm and endless views, as seen in Country Life
We take a look at some of the best houses to come to the market via Country Life in the past week.
By Toby Keel Published
-
380 acres and 90 bedrooms on the £25m private island being sold by one of Britain's top music producers
Stormzy, Rihanna and the Rolling Stones are just a part of the story at Osea Island, a dot on the map in the seas off Essex.
By Lotte Brundle Published
-
A home cinema, tasteful interiors and 65 acres of private parkland hidden in an unassuming lodge in Kent
North Lodge near Tonbridge may seem relatively simple, but there is a lot more than what meets the eye.
By James Fisher Published
-
A rare opportunity to own a family home on Vanbrugh Terrace, one of London's finest streets
This six-bedroom Victorian home sits right on the start line of the London Marathon, with easy access to Blackheath and Greenwich Park.
By James Fisher Published