Dear Editor,

In reference to the lost garden in Hackwood Park (Gazette 8th September) I would suggest that the estate holds many more uncovered secrets.

For example no one has yet found the exact site where the first Hackwood House was situated.

Mr W G Atkin one of the estate agents in 1945 did much research into the estate's history and suggests that the first house formerly the Hunting Lodge was situated somewhere in the vicinity of the garage block.

The earliest map of extant of Hackwood Park shows a substantial house in elevation situated west of the present position of the garage block which was built in the 18th century.

READ MORE: Dry spell uncovers lost garden at country estate in Basingstoke

As someone who was born at the garage block (no 2) and lived there for 39 years I have witnessed lots of changes.

I once uncovered a neatly layed brick footpath leading to nowhere to the west of the block.

It is possible that it could have been built in the Second World War but I don’t believe it was as it was too neatly built.

However, I don’t think that Jane Austen was very important to Hackwood much more interesting was Lavinia Fenton, Polly Peacham in John Gays Beggars Opera performed in London who married Charles the 3rd Duke of Bolton in 1751 after many years as his mistress.

David Buckland

Porter Road

Basingstoke