BEAULIEU, the village on the edge of the New Forest that means “beautiful place”, is one of the most popular tourist spots in the south.
Home of the National Motor Museum, Beaulieu also boasts Palace House, the Abbey and Buckler’s Hard.
Originally built in the 13th century, Beaulieu Palace House was the gatehouse of Beaulieu Abbey.
The estate was purchased by Sir Thomas Wriothesley after the Dissolution of the Monasteries by Henry VIII and before he became the 1st Earl of Southampton in 1538.
The gothic country house, which overlooks Beaulieu River, passed from generation to generation and became Montagu owned through marriage.
The house is currently owned by the 1st Earls descendant, the 4th Baron Montagu of Beaulieu Ralph Douglas-Scott-Montagu
Although still home to the current Lord and Lady Montagu, much of the house and gardens are open to the public - as can be seen in some of these pictures.
Palace House has seen many renovations over the years, ranging from large extensions to smaller revamps including when the kitchen had a six-month makeover five years ago.
Rumours are that the house is haunted by ghosts including a lady dressed in blue or grey that walks through walls and creates noise in the private apartments. It’s thought she may be the ghost of the Countess of Beaulieu, Lady Isabella, who died in 1786.
Sightings go back hundreds of years and many paranormal investigators have performed tests and gathered data at the Abbey.
Sherlock Holmes author Sir Arthur Conan Doyle, a staunch advocate of spiritualism, claimed he made contact with a ghost during a séance held there.
Back in the 1950s it was the location for one of Britain’s first open-air festivals when the village was ascended on by jazz musicians.
Crowds flooded to the house to listen to some of the country’s top jazz acts who appeared at the festival right up to 1960.
Music concerts still occasionally take place on the grounds.
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