The Brockenhurst Gatehouse

One of the most Instagrammable places in the New Forest has to be the ornate chateaux-style Brockenhurst Gatehouse.

Also known as the North Lodge Brockenhurst, this gorgeous building forms part of the Brockenhurst Park estate as an old entryway for carriages.

It was designed by Alfred Waterhouse and was built in the 19th-century. Today, it’s a quaint cottage you can rent in the countryside and a hidden gem that’s perfect for photography! Here is a complete guide for The Brockenhurst Gatehouse with the history and how to visit.

Brockenhurst Gatehouse history

The North Lodge forms part of the expansive Brockenhurst Park that lies close to the church of St Nicholas in the village.  The land was purchased in 1769 by Edward Morant who was a wealthy sugar plantation owner. With his wealth, he commissioned for a Georgian Mansion to be built along with a landscaped garden.

The house was extended in 1865 and along with it, a manicured garden was built that included artificial lakes, topiary, fountains, and even a boathouse. It was around this time that North Lodge on the estate was designed in a French chateau-style by Alfred Waterhouse.

Waterhouse was part of the Victorian Gothic Revival movement and designed famous buildings such as the National History Museum in London.

He designed this brick gatehouse to be incredibly ornate with lots of intricate carving work. You can easily see the Morant coat of arms above the archway that would allow passage for carriages visiting the house.

In the 1950s, the Morant Family moved out to Roydon Manor and the new owners had the old house demolished and replaced with a new one in the 1960s.  Luckily, the owners decided to keep this chateaux-style building is still part of the Brockenhurst Park estate in the New Forest.

Where is the Brockenhurst Gatehouse in the New Forest?

North Lodge can be found in the village of Brockenhurst in the New Forest in Hampshire.  It forms part of the private Brockenhurst estate but you can see this gatehouse tucked away on Mill Lane in the village. The New Forest is a great day trip if you’re visiting England’s south coast and the nearest city is Southhampton. The postcode for The Brockenhurst Gatehouse is Mill Lane, Brockenhurst SO42 7AB