During WWII, Exbury House became a “stone frigate”, operating as a land-based ship, HMS Mastodon. As such it formed part of the complex planning network which ultimately resulted in the successful D-Day invasion of France.

In April 1944, shortly before D-Day, a German Junkers 188 bomber was spotted approaching Exbury House before being brought down in the fields below the house by two RAF Typhoons, assisted by the Lower Exbury anti-aircraft battery. This intriguing story is told in the book, The Exbury Junkers: a World War II Mystery by John Stanley. Join the author on a fascinating walk around the gardens and wider estate as John recounts the curious tale of the lone bomber and its unknown mission, and shares his knowledge of the role of Exbury House leading up to D-Day.

Tours are being held on 6th and 7th June, and start at 11am and 2pm. Please meet at the Visitor Entrance approximately 10 minutes before your preferred tour is due to depart. The tours will last approximately two hours.

£5 per person for Friends of Exbury members.

£20.00 per person for non-members, including a full day’s admission to the gardens.

Route

Departing from the Visitor Entrance, John will lead the tour through the gardens towards Exbury House. Attendees will then enter some of the private areas of Exbury, still occupied by the de Rothschild family, through the Italian Garden (not open to the public) and round to the old workshop. The group will then pass our Nissen hut and proceed to the actual crash site.

Sensible footwear should be worn as some of the walk will be over uneven ground, including through fields without a footpath, covering a distance of approximately 4km (2.5 miles).