Originally the site of a manor mentioned in the Domesday Book, in 1201 Mottisfont was founded as an Augustinian priory by William Briwere (or Brewer). It held a valuable relic: the forefinger of St John the Baptist, which made the Priory a place of pilgrimage. Important pilgrims include Eleanor of Castile and Edward I.
After dissolution in 1536 by Henry VIII, Mottisfont was granted to the Lord Chancellor, William Sandys, who already owned The Vyne. Sandys converted the priory into a country house: little of the original Tudor priory can now be seen. One exception is the two stairwell blocks either side of the central pedimented facade in this picture. The windows in these two blocks are noticeably smaller than the Georgian sashes elsewhere in the picture.
Mottisfont was remodelled yet again in the 1740s by the Mills family, adding Georgian wings onto the front facade (seen at the extreme left and right in this picture).
In the 20th century, following a period where the house was unoccupied, the house was bought by Gilbert and Maud Russell who renovated the interiors, including the commissioning of Rex Whistler to redecorate the front drawing room with an entire trompe l'oeil scheme.
The house is now a National Trust property.
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