The first two dates for public viewings of 'The Hauntings' have now been set : Sunday 27th November and Sunday 4th December.  CLICK HERE to find out more and book.  Pre-booking is essential as the Open Days run "on demand". 

Amesbury's Remembrance Day parade set off from Antrobus House yesterday just after 10:20am.  Almost 500-strong, our Armed Forces, members of the Royal British Legion, local dignatories, schools, clubs and groups all marched through the town for a service at St. Mary and St. Melor Church. 

'The Hauntings' statue of a WW1 soldier was officially unveiled at Antrobus House on Monday 3^rd October. The date of the 3^rd October was chosen as it marks the anniversary of the last possible day that Lt. Edmund Antrobus, (in whose memory Antrobus House was built) could have visited the family home of The Abbey, Amesbury.

After an introductory speech by Trustee Phil Monk which gave some background as to why and how the statue came to be here at Antrobus House, and in front of more than 60 invited guests, Mayor of Amesbury Mr. Damien Kuczera and C.O. of The Royal Regiment of Artillery Colonel Charlie Harmer jointly lifted the cover of the plaques to “unveil” 'The Hauntings'.

The six metre tall figure of a WW1 soldier dons the cap badge of a member of The Royal Regiment of Artillery, so it was most apt that the C.O. of the regiment based at Larkhill joined Amesbury Mayor Mr. Damien Kuczera in the unveiling.

The guests were then able to make a close inspection of the statue to see exactly what it is made from, and to meet the owners Jo and Paul and to chat with those that actually interpreted and fabricated him from Jo and Paul’s directions, Chris and Martin from the Dorset Forge.

Light refreshments were served throughout the evening as the guests mingled and chatted inside The Edmund Hall at Antrobus House, where many were able to see the striking resemblance between the face on the statue and that of Edmund Antrobus whose picture is on display on the walls of the Edmund Hall.

Details of public open days, when you can visit and take a closer look at 'The Hauntings', can be found on our website - CLICK HERE - to find out more. 

An imposing six-metre-tall sculpture of a WW1 soldier made from scrap metal has arrived and is now on show here at Antrobus House until the end of April 2023. 'The Hauntings' arrived at Antrobus House on Monday 22^nd August and is on loan to Antrobus House from the same couple that kindly lent the house 'The Angel of Mons and The Bowmen of Agincourt' in 2021.

Designed and created by Martin and Chris of Dorset Forge and Fabrication at their works near Sherborne, 'The Hauntings' resembles a forlorn and battle-weary soldier coming back from 'The Great War' (1914-1918). 

Designed to evoke the fragility and suffering of those who survived the war and returned home to an uncertain and difficult future, it is erected here at Antrobus House to help us commemorate all soldiers who gave their lives in both World Wars, especially Lt. Edmund Antrobus, who served in the Grenadier Guards, was killed in action on 24th October 1914 at the age of 27, and in whose memory Antrobus House was built and opened in 1925. 

'The Hauntings' statue is here at Antrobus House Amesbury, because of a stroke of luck.  It was first seen by Mr. Phil Monk, one of the Trustees of Antrobus House, on a visit to The Great Dorset Steam Fair in August 2018. The statue stood at the entrance to an area of the showground depicting all that happened a 100 years earlier at the time of WW1.  In looking up at the statue, Mr Monk was struck by the resemblance between the statue’s face and that of Edmund Antrobus - Mr. Monk said "the likeness was quite remarkable"!  The intention at that point was to somehow get the statue to come to Antrobus House here in Amesbury.

After 4 years of planning, the statue is now here on display. Recently given a fresh coating of bronze lacquer, the statue arrived in three parts, with the assembly team including J.A. Mackenzie’s Haulage, Chris and Martin from The Dorset Forge and Trustees from Antrobus House. Made of old horseshoes, bed springs, brake discs, spanners, pliers, nuts, bolts, chains and other assorted old metal items, 'The Hauntings' has the cap badge of 'The Royal Regiment of Artillery' - very apt, since the home of the regiment is so near to us at Larkhill Garrison, and there has been a long association between Amesbury and the many branches of our Armed Forces.

Details of public open days, when you can visit and take a closer look at 'The Hauntings', can be found on our website - CLICK HERE - to find out more. 

The Trustees of Antrobus House gratefully acknowledge the support of HOME BARGAINS (T.J. Morris) who kindly paid the transport cost to get the statue here at Antrobus House and Amesbury Town Council, who have made a contributory grant towards the cost of the project.

Monday 25th April at 7.30pm at Antrobus House

The Tennant Family of Wilsford Manor by Ruby Vitorina

The Tennants built Wilsford Manor at Wilsford cum Lake. Pamela Tennant’s father built Clouds House at East Knoyle and Edward Tennant, 1st Baron Glenconner, was Liberal MP for Salisbury. Pamela and Edward’s children included Edward, the war poet, David who created the Gargoyle Club in London, and Stephen known as the brightest of the bright young people. Pamela Tennant’s grandson Colin famously bought the Island of Mustique and was a close friend of Princess Margaret.

Entrance free to Amesbury Society members, £3 for guests/non members
For more information contact [email protected]