East Close Hotel, Christchurch

The East Close Hotel in Hinton, Hampshire, near Christchurch, Dorset, is a building of historical significance and a grade II listed building on the English Heritage Register. It was built in 1768 as a home for two newlyweds and was used as residence for the next two centuries by many notable people. It is now a hotel and provides accommodation, dining facilities and catering for special events, particularly weddings.

It appears that Abraham Spalding, an immensely wealthy Swedish merchant, was the originator of East Close. A letter was written to his wife’s sister Sibylla Soddherland (née Dickson) in 1769 when she was staying with them and gives her address as East Close near Christchurch. The previous year Sibylla wrote a letter mentioning that her sister Margaret Spalding was putting her Hinton house in order. This was the year that the house was built.

Abraham Spalding was born in Sweden. He came to London and established a firm with Gustav Brander called Spalding and Brander. They were very successful business men and both became interested in scientific and cultural pursuits. Abraham was a member of several English scientific societies.

In 1767 Abraham married Margaret Dickson in Kensington London and in the following year they built East Close in Hinton. This may have been erected on the site of a 1720s farm house. The couple had no children and lived at Hinton and in London until 1782 when Abraham died. He was buried in Christ Church, Southampton.

The next resident of East Close was John Levett (1725-1807). He bought the property in about 1790 and lived there until his death in 1807. Living with him during this time was Mary Hawkes (1763-1834) but there is some mystery about her relationship with him. When he died his will stated that she would own the house until her death after which it would be inherited by his nephew. She was about 40 years younger than he so it is not known whether she was his illegitimate daughter, de facto wife or housekeeper/carer.

John Levett was born in 1725. His father was John Levett and his mother was Charlotte de Peleran, daughter of French diplomat Pierre Armand de Peleran. His father was an English merchant who conducted his business in Turkey and his brother was Francis Levett a very wealthy merchant who acquired property in Florida. John also became a merchant and was an influential businessman in Calcutta. For some years he was alderman and later the Mayor of Calcutta.

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