With its interesting involvement with Church and Diocesan activities spanning more than three centuries, Old Alresford Place has had a major influence on many generations.   Its move into the second millennium sees new development plans which will continue to adapt the House to the needs of the times whilst preserving its purpose (to quote a former Bishop of Winchester) as “a place to be” – a power-house for spiritual refreshment, education, training and recuperation.

The site of Old Alresford Church has been a place of worship for over 1,000 years, and its list of Rectors goes back to the 13^th Century.  Local tradition states that after a successful battle against the Danes (possibly in the 10^th Century) the Saxons erected a shrine to the Virgin Mary at Old Alresford.   A Parsonage House was built on the site of Old Alresford Place before the time of the Stuarts (early 17^th Century), and notable points of the house’s history follow:

1631 PETER HEYLIN, at one time a Sub-Dean of Westminster and Chaplain to King Charles I, came to Old Alresford as Rector. 

1633 Many extensions were added to the existing Parsonage House, known today as Old Alresford Place, by Peter Heylin. As a passionate Royalist, he was forced in 1640 to flee in the Civil War and his goods were confiscated.  After the Restoration in 1661 he was reinstated as Rector of Old Alresford but died the following year.

1797 - 1850 FRANCIS NORTH, sixth Earl of Guildford, held the living in plurality with New Alresford, Medstead, St Mary’s Southampton and St Cross Winchester. He lived in Old Alresford only part of his time (paying a curate a pittance to look after the parish) but did so in the Grand Style, enlarging the House and giving employment to the villagers who cheered his green carriage emblazoned with its personal crest whenever he drove through.

1850 GEORGE SUMNER became Rector of Old Alresford, and remained in the living for 34 years.  He became Bishop of  Guildford in 1888.

1876 MARY SUMNER, George’s wife, much concerned with the need to strengthen and support Christian family life, called a meeting at the Rectory, to which she invited all the village mothers as well as those of her own social class.  This was the inaugural meeting of THE MOTHERS’ UNION – a union of all mothers, whatever their background, race or social status, which today has over 3 million members in 71 countries around the world.

1908 Hill House in Old Alresford was acquired as a Rectory, and Old Alresford Place passed into private ownership.

1914 – 18 Old Alresford Place served as a hospital.

1939 – 45 Old Alresford Place became the main office for an insurance company.

1946 – 1961 Old Alresford Place became a school for “severely maladjusted” children.

1961 On 5^th October Old Alresford Place with nine acres of land was purchased by the Diocese of Winchester for £12,300 for use as a Diocesan Conference House.  The purchase and subsequent renovation was masterminded by the Rector of Old Alresford, CANON JULIAN RUDD, who commented that price reflected the dilapidated state of the building.   The staffing of the House was undertaken by the Sisters of Bethany.

1979 – 1996 The Sisters of Bethany had to withdraw from running the house. Old Alresford Place came under the management of a Warden and Assistant Warden with the Rector of Old Alresford and Bighton as Chaplain.

1996 - 2006 Refurbishment of bedrooms, dining room and communal areas took place with the addition of conference facilities in tune with the historical architecture of the House. The work of the House became increasingly focused on training and education, providing a venue for a wide variety of activities whilst maintaining its links with The Mothers’ Union. From early 2006 a new lay management team was put in place.

2007 - onwards During 2007 the Parish of Old Alresford became part of the Arle Benefice.  Work is nearing completion on the total refurbishment of the Centre.  New conference facitilites and kitchen annexe with a full complement of 16 en-suite bedrooms with lift access to all floors.

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