History of Hiltingbury Lakes

Domesday Book to The Edwardians
The earliest reference to Hiltingbury Lakes is in 1086 when a fishery owned by Ralph of Mortimer from Otterbourne is mentioned in the Domesday Book.
A clearer reference is in the Hursley Estate maps of 1588 which shows one lake on Hiltingbury Heath with two buildings surrounding it, one possibly being a mill house. Nothing more is known about the space until the 1870s when Charlotte Yonge mentioned in her Keble’s Parish book that ‘there are marshes near Hiltingbury where milkwort grows’.

The Edwardians
A map from 1896 shows the lake had been cleared, possibly in preparation for selling multiple building plots in the area. One plot saw Merdon House built upon it and glorious water gardens created.
The lakes were always popular with locals, as images show a skating party there and springtime punting across the lake to a small island full of glorious daffodils.
Merdon estate was sold to Eastleigh Borough Council in the 1930s, they also acquired the lake and the neglected water gardens for an official public park.

The 1930s - Present day
Eastleigh Borough Council acquired the site in the 1930s, and a couple of years later more houses were built in the surrounding area and within the old gardens of Merdon House.
In the 1960s Merdon House was demolished and Merdon Close was built on the site. During the 1970’s work began to restore four of the original Edwardian lakes, which had completely dried up and fallen into disrepair during World War Two.

Present day and beyond
Present day, Eastleigh Borough Council in partnership with contractors (B&M McHugh Ltd, Scott White, and Hookins Ltd) have completed the improved pathway network, restored long hidden pathways from the Edwardian period. Additionally, the countryside team and the loyal volunteers are actively restoring the historical woodland and water flow around the site.