IT HAS grounds which were designed by the most famous English landscape gardener of them all - Capability Brown.

Yet for the last 40 years, the historic Stoneham House - one of Southampton University's oldest buildings - has been joined in an unlikely partnership to a 1960s tower block.

Now, thanks to an ambitious multi-million-pound scheme put forward by the university, the historic house which dates from around 1700 could recapture much of its former glory.

University authorities plan to knock down the 17-storey tower which was joined to the house in the 1960s to provide student accommodation.

Once the demolition has taken place, Stoneham House will undergo an extensive internal restoration which will see its elegant eighteenth century rooms renovated with original period features including fire places and panelling.

The house will then see a new lease of life as a top-level conference centre for the university if the ambitious project is given the green light by Southampton City Council today.

Building work on the house was begun by Thomas Dummer in the later part of the seventeenth century with the house finally being completed around 1700. It is believed that it was designed by the renowned architect, Nicolas Hawksmoor, although there is no local evidence to prove it.

Capability Brown is thought to have landscaped the garden in an eight-year period between 1772 and 1780 although university authorities can find no positive confirmation of the house's connection with the famous designer.

Major modifications took place at the house in 1900 and it was eventually bought from its owners by the university after the First World War to be used as a student residence.

It's all part of a wider scheme to redevelop the site.

The warden's lodge next to Wessex Lane is also scheduled to be pulled down as part of the multi-million-pound development.

Demolition costs of the tower block are likely to be in the region of £1m. University authorities hope to sell a redundant piece of land at the campus to pay for the restoration costs of the house. New student accommodation is also planned on land off St Mary's Church Close as part of the overall redevelopment of the site.

Roger Mallett, the university's director of business and community services, said: "We have thought about this project for the last couple of years. We spend a lot of money on external conferences and we thought why not refurbish the house to its former glory?"

A HISTORY OF SOUTH STONEHAM HOUSE:

South Stoneham House built by Thomas Dummer of London

The grounds originally consisted of 300 acres and cost £3,400.

The house was completed in 1708.

It passed through many different owners during its history, eventually being sold to Sir Samuel Montagu, head of a family of London bankers who was created Lord Swaythling in 1907.

It was sold on his death to Southampton University in 1921.

All servants quarters and stables were demolished in 1961.