Author and historian Rosaleen Wilkinson has discovered the story behind Townhill Park House from accounts of those who lived and worked there...

WE BRITISH have long had a love affair with the aristocracy. We are fascinated by their leisured lifestyle and the upstairs-downstairs world of their elegant homes.

A century ago Southampton had many grand houses on its outskirts, but times have changed and the rural estates have disappeared under suburban housing.

The houses have been demolished and the stories of the people who lived in them have been lost forever.

Southampton has one remaining mansion, Townhill Park House, once the home of Lord Swaythling.

In a new book, Townhill Park - the Life and Times of a Gertrude Jekyll Garden, Southampton historian Rosaleen Wilkinson uncovers the fascinating story behind the house and its Grade II listed gardens.

Louis Montagu, who became the second Baron Swaythling in 1911, bought Townhill at the time of his marriage in 1897. He extended the house and had a lovely garden designed by Gertrude Jekyll. Lord Swaythling and his beautiful wife, Lady Gladys, entertained lavishly.

Rosaleen has interviewed surviving members of the Montagu family, their servants and gardeners, who remember the heady days of country house weekends, elegant dances and royal visits by Queen Mary.

The Swaythlings had three sons. Stuart became the third Lord Swaythling in 1927.

Ewen served in naval intelligence during the Second World War. His plot to deceive the Germans was immortalised in the film The Man Who Never Was. Ivor became a communist and worked in films with legendary movie director Alfred Hitchcock.

An army of servants - maids, footmen, cooks and gardeners - made the luxurious lifestyle of the family possible.

Molly was third housemaid in the 1930s.

She said: "We'd practically done a day's work before breakfast. The guests didn't like to see you doing the cleaning when they got up.

"The third housemaid did floors, the second maid cleaned furniture, but the head housemaid did the best stuff like dusting ornaments. Waiting at table was a job for the butler and footmen."

Nannies cared for the Swaythling children, one of whom said: "At 5 o'clock we were allowed to see our parents. We were scrubbed from top to toe beforehand. We played cards or board games with them, then we went back to the nursery for tea while they got dressed for dinner."

Twenty-five gardeners were employed. In 1920 a garden-boy earned 37p a week for sweeping leaves, pushing wheelbarrows, making tea and trapping rats for 2p a tail.

The grass was cut by two men pulling a manual machine. They mowed every single day. "You never saw two men so pleased to see it raining!"

At new year there was a Servants' Ball. The gentry stood one side of the ballroom while servants and gardeners stood along the other, until Lady Swaythling started the dancing with the butler. "We didn't envy the Swaythlings their money. We were just glad to have good jobs."

Country-house life ended with the Second World War.

Lord Stuart lent the house to the Red Cross as a convalescent home for soldiers.

Veterans of D-Day and Arnhem were under the thumb of matron.

Returning late from the pub they were locked out. Someone found an open window. "Paratroopers and commandos tip-toed in and went to bed, frightened in case matron woke up!"

Rosaleen explores the story of the house through fascinating, and often amusing, eyewitness accounts up to the present day. Now Townhill Park is the home of The Gregg School.

The gardens have been under restoration for seven years and Rosaleen, a qualified horticulturalist, has been actively involved in the project.

Townhill Park - the Life and Times of a Gertrude Jekyll Garden is available from the Daily Echo shop in Hanover Buildings, Bitterne History Society shop, price £12, or by post. Ring 023 8078 1012 to order.

Townhill Park House is open to the public for Heritage Day on Sunday, September 12th from 2pm to 5pm.

There are free guided tours of the house. The gardens and ground floor of the house have disabled access.

Townhill Park House is situated between Swaythling and West End off the A27. Turn into Townhill Way at Allington Lane roundabout and follow the road to Atlantic Park View, sign-posted Gregg School.