Grove Place is one of the UK's most sought-after retirement villages.  It offers purpose-built apartments and bungalows, set in 27 acres of beautiful grounds, combined with outstanding hotel-inspired facilities and 24-hour care.

Referred to by Hampshire County Council as 'Hampshire's Treasure', the regeneration of Grove Place into a retirement village was carried out to preserve a plethora of rich history which warrants its Grade I listing.

With Elizabethan chimney stacks, stone mullioned windows and much of the 16th century oak panelling remaining, Grove Place is thought to date back to 1561. Its list of past owners is fascinating, including high profile merchants, noblemen, politicians and even King Charles I. 

The first owner, Sir Francis Knollys, was an usher of the Royal Chamber of King Henry VIII and Treasurer of the Chamber of Queen Elizabeth I.  In 1568 Sir Francis was trusted with taking charge of the fugitive Mary Queen of Scots. In 1630 Grove Place was sold to King Charles 1 and a fireplace leads to the hiding place used by fugitive Royalists to flee Cromwell's troops in 1648.

The interior architecture is a timeline in history.  Grove Place holds some of the finest examples of decorative plasterwork in the country, bearing the royal arms of both Elizabeth I and James I.  A mermaid frieze reflects the 16th Century fascination with world exploration, whilst 17th Century 'Apotropaic' marks illustrate a fear of witches.  Over centuries of subsequent ownership, inevitable damage followed - in 1813 it fell into disrepair as one of only nine houses licenced as a lunatic asylum, followed by a great fire in 1969.

In 2007 it was bought by present owners LifeCare Residences and, with the help of Test Valley conservation officers, extensively restored.  Today, Grove Place stands proud with a new lease of life as a haven for discerning retirees.

Resident Fred Tickle observes: “A building that was built during the reign of Elizabeth I holds a lot of history to be explored; we are swept away by what Grove Place has to offer”.  Resident Peggy Bigglestone said: “Once you see it, that's it; it''s just home”. 

For further information on Grove Place Retirement Village please contact Wendy Griffith T. 023 8074 3592, www.groveplace.co.uk.

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For press information please contact Amanda Sharpe - DBPR (Deborah Battsek PR Ltd) E: amanda@deborahbattsek.com

Notes to editors:

• For more information on Grove Place please visit groveplace.co.uk.
• Grove Place's full address is – Upton Lane, Nursling, Hampshire SO16 0XY.
• LifeCare Residences (LCR) is an international retirement village operator with communities in New Zealand and the United Kingdom.
• Founded by New Zealander, Cliff Cook, the LCR business model has been developed over a 35-year involvement in the sector.
• LCR takes a fresh approach to providing housing for people over the age of 65, offering residents an independent lifestyle in their own home, with access to an extensive range of high quality facilities and 24 hour nursing care and emergency assistance, if required.
• LCR retirement villages are of 5-star quality, where residents purchase a long term lease, allowing them exclusive use of the amenities.
• In the United Kingdom, LCR owns and operates Battersea Place - London's first luxury retirement community, Grove Place in Hampshire and Somerleigh Court in Dorchester.
• LCR is a founding member of the Associated Retirement Community Operators (ARCO), representing the retirement community sector in the United Kingdom.