Beaurepaire is a country estate near Bramley in Hampshire, England.
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Beaurepaire was owned by the Brocas family from Aquitaine for approximately 500 years.[1]
In the 14th century, Sir Bernard Brocas was Edward III's Master of the Horse. In 1369, Edward permitted Bernard to enclose the parkland and create the Beaurepaire estate. As a knight, Bernard was favoured by Edward, the Black Prince, and accompanied him during the Battle of Poitiers.[1] Bernard later became Chief Surveyor and Sovereign Warden of the parks at Winchester College; he was acquainted with the college's founder, William of Wykeham.[1]
An early manor house at Beaurepaire is thought to be a Georgian sham castle built in 1777. This has largely vanished, but the moat – enclosing approximately 1 acre (0.40 ha) of gardens – is extant.[1] The Georgian building was accompanied by a Tudor wing with hood moulded windows and red brick diapering.[1]
The estate was sold by the Brocas family in 1873. In 1942, the building was largely destroyed by fire. The Tudor wing, however, survived.[1] The owner at the time of the fire, Sir Strati Ralli, was unable to restore or repair the house due to wartime restriction of building materials.
In 1959, the house was bought by Roger Makins, 1st Baron Sherfield who lived in nearby Sherfield. Makins commissioned Tom Bird (an architect who worked at the offices of Maxwell Fry) to restore the building. The building ewas further renovated by Makins's son, Dwight, who added a cloister garden with battlements and crow-stepped gables.
In the early 21st century, the estate was put up for sale. The estate was broken into lots, aiming to attract offers of £3.4 million for the house and immediate grounds, or offers exceeding £7 million for the full estate of 753 acres (305 ha).[1]