Felbridge & District History Group

The first time we wrote about Felbridge Place was back in 1999 [see Handout, Felbridge Place, SJC 10/99].  Since then much more information and many more documents have been found that relate to the Felbridge Place Estate.  However, during the 18^th century and for most of the 19^th century, the centre of the estate had been known as FelbridgePark.  We have uncovered the story of the Evelyn family that created Felbridge Park [for further information see Handouts, Evelyn Family of Felbridge, JIC/SJC 09/13 and The Commonplace Book of Colonel Edward Evelyn, JIC/SJC 09/07], the development and embellishment of the Park and grounds [for further information see Handouts, Felbridge Monument, SJC 08/99 and Garden Designers & Horticulturalists of Felbridge, Pt. 1 – The Horticultural Legacy of the Evelyn and Gatty families, SJC 05/19]; the proposed vision for the Felbridge Place estate as envisaged by the Rudds [for further information see Handouts, Downfall of Henry Willis Rudd, SJC 11/02 and Lutyens Grand Design for Felbridge, SJC 07/03] and more recently, the re-purposing of the mansion house as a series of hotels and apartments [for further information see Handout, Eating and Drinking Establishments of Felbridge, Pt. 2, JIC/SJC 03/08].  In light of all the new information discovered we felt it was time to revisit Felbridge Place. 

Initially this document was going to cover the history and developments of the park, grounds, mansion house and the residents that have occupied the mansion house but it soon became apparent that there was more than enough material for at least two handouts.  Thus, this document, the first to revisit Felbridge Place, will concentrate on the development of the park, grounds and mansion house known first as FelbridgePark, before adopting the name Felbridge Place in the 1890’s.  A future second document will cover, in more depth, the lives of some of the residents of the mansion house as it progressed through time until its purchase by the Worshipful Company of Mercers in 1966 and its subsequent re-purposing as Whittington College [for further information see Handout, Whittington College, SJC 10/00]. 

Back history to the creation of Felbridge Park

Felbridge Park was created by James Evelyn through the re-organisation of field boundaries and the enlargement/construction of a mansion house after inheriting lands in Felbridge and the manor of Hedgecourt from his father Edward Evelyn when he died in 1751 [for further information see Handout, Evelyn Family of Felbridge, JIC/SJC 09/13]. 

The Evelyn interest in Felbridge first began in 1588 with George Evelyn of Kingston, Long Ditton, Godstone and Wotton (the 4x great-grandfather of James Evelyn), when he acquired land at the southern end of the manor of Lagham [Walkhamstead alias Godstone] when he purchased the manor of Lagham.  The area was one of four tithings or boroughs of Godstone and was known as Heath Hatch (Heythhatche or Hethhatche).  Although the holding was not itemised in 1588, a lease and release trust for the widow-hood for Frances Evelyn, wife of George Evelyn of Nutfield (grandfather of James Evelyn), was issued in 1692 that includes a few more details.  The lease referred to ‘All that messuage called Heathhatch and 60 acres of land lying in the said parishes of Godstone and Tandridge and another messuage and 7 acres of land in the parish of Godstone and 2 crofts adjoining and ½ an acre of ground and also one acre and a ¼ of ground a moiety of a messuage and all the garden and orchards belonging thereto and two cottages and also a common called Fellbridge Heath Common all which are situate in the said parish of Godstone …’  It is thought that the property now known as the Star Inn could equate to one of the messuages as the structure predates 1692. As for the moiety of a messuage with its garden and orchards and the two cottages, their sites have not yet been securely identified as there are no detailed reference points for them or depictions on contemporary maps.  Even using the Bourd map, which was commissioned by Edward Evelyn in 1748 and is the most detailed map closest to the date of 1692, there are no likely candidates for the number of dwellings listed in the 1692 lease. 

In 1740, a lease and release for life between Edward Evelyn and his son James sheds more light on the break down of this holding in Felbridge as the description in the lease is given as: ‘All those 30 acres of arable, meadow, pasture and Woodland with the Hop Garden thereof containing an acre being part of 60 acres which with the messuage therein are called Heath Hatch in the occupation of the said Edward Evelyn, 29 acres thereof being in Tandridge parish and the other acre being the Hop Garden in the parish of Godstone’.  Thus the implication is that the holding sits within two parishes, the majority of it being in the parish of Godstone but with 29 acres in Tandridge.  When trying to identify the 29 acres in Tandridge, one can again turn to the Bourd map.  At the time, the only lands within Tandridge parish that were depicted as owned by Edward Evelyn were part of what was called ‘Lower Ground’, which straddled the parish boundary and lay north of Wards Farm and east of Coopers Moors, the only other lands in Tandridge were four fields on the south side of the Newchapel Road, east of Rabies Farm.  The lands at Newchapel Road were called Tanners and were, however, listed in the sale from Gage to Edward Evelyn in 1747 so these could not have been the lands purchased by George Evelyn in 1588.  This therefore leaves ‘Lower Ground’ as the only potential location of the 29 acres in Tandridge.  The area of ‘Lower Ground’ on the Bourd map is 33 acres, although only 9 acres are within Tandridge, it does however have a ‘hop garden field’ with 1 acre of that field in the Godstone parish. The only plausible explanation is that Tandridge parish used to extend further west at Felbridge water than it does today as the late 16^th and early 17^th century ownership of all the remaining southern extent of Tandridge parish is known and was not held by the Evelyn family. 

The ‘messuage of Heathhatch’ in 1692 named as ‘New House’ on the Overton & Bowles map of 1740, was set in 60 acres of land, being built during the ownership of George Evelyn of Nutfield (grandfather of James Evelyn) sometime between 1671 and 1692 and is believed to be on or near to the site of what is now Whittington College.  A pictorial representation of the new dwelling known as Heath Hatch or New House can be found as early as 1724 on the Budgen map and is depicted on the site of WhittingtonCollege.  However, the Bourd map of 1748 has a far more detailed image that shows the ‘messuage of Heathhatch’ with two chimneys, together with a building to its east that has a chimney but may potentially be a stable block with accommodation above, and a smaller building, again with a chimney indicting that it too was potentially accommodation, standing to the southeast of the mansion house.  These three buildings are set within a plot of just over 3 acres, divided in three.  

In 1719, Heath Hatch and the lands recorded in Felbridge (as outlined in the lease and release of 1692), having previously been settled on William Evelyn (George Evelyn of Nutfield’s youngest son) on the death of his mother Frances, were sold to his older half-brother Edward for the sum of £700 after Frances released her interest.  Thus Edward Evelyn acquired the freehold properties of Heath Hatch and its 60 acres, together with the messuage with seven acres, the messuage with the moiety, the two cottages and Felbridge Heath Common, making Heath Hatch his permanent home [for further information see Handout, The Commonplace Book of Colonel Edward Evelyn, JIC/SJC 09/07].  However, there is some evidence that Edward was living in Felbridge from around 1714 as there is reference to a child being born to Edward and his wife Julia in Felbridge in 1714.  On taking up permanent residence, Edward Evelyn began the formation of the Felbridge estate. 

In 1724, Edward Evelyn inherited the manor of Lagham [Walkhamstead alias Godstone] and the Advowson and Rectory of St Nicholas Church, Godstone, which had passed in succession through his older brothers, John and George [for further information see Handout, Evelyn family of Felbridge, JIC/SJC 09/13].  However, the manor was badly in debt so in 1733/4, Edward sold much of this inheritance but retained, according to Uvedale Lambert in his book Godstone, ‘the Borough of Blindley Heath, with the cottages within, and also Felbridge Heath Common … lately purchased of William Glanville [William Evelyn’s adopted name] with a smith’s house and shop and several acres of Felbridge common, with two cottages and two newly enclosed fields of 5 and 8 acres, the common being marked by stone bounds against Horne on the north and East Grinstead on the south’ (this equates to the triangle of land in Felbridge now bounded by the Copthorne Road on it’s north side, Rowplatt Lane on its west side and Crawley Down Road on its south side [for further information see Handout, Felbridge Triangle and the development of Warren House Farm, SJC 05/05]).  Uvedale Lambert also wrote that this area had ‘a boundary cross cut on the east side of Tandridge.  This Felbridge common containing 50 acres or upwards, but is now practically wholly enclosed, and Warrenhouse Farm and the school stand on it’.  However, it is now believed the Felbridge common as referenced here is an amalgamation of two pieces of common land/heath land lying at Felbridge.  The triangular piece of ground as outlined above, on which Warren House Farm and the School [for further information see Handout, FelbridgeSchool, SJC 09/05] had been built, and the original 30-acre strip of land in Tandridge purchased in 1588 that extended north from Heath Hatch.   

In 1740, Edward Evelyn extended his ownership of property in the Felbridge area with the purchase of part of the manor of Hedgecourt from Sir William Gage of Firle, for the sum of £900.  The conveyance included: ‘All that messuage & farm called Park Corner and also another messuage & farm late in the occupation of Edward Harman & such messuage & farms are part of the manor of Hedgecourt … & lye in the parish of Godstone…’  The ‘messuage and farm called Park Corner’ equates to a farm complex that once stood at the junction of Mill Lane with Copthorne Road [for further information see Handout, Park Corner Farm, JIC/SJC 07/09] and the other ‘messuage and farm, late in the occupation of Edward Harman’ equates to a farm ‘near the Queen’s Highway between Felbridge Heath to Woodcock Bridge on the east side of the Queen’s Highway’.  It would now be to the west of the main London road (A22) as the road was moved to its current alignment, west of the original alignment.  This messuage and farm abutted Park Corner Farm on the north and the lands of Hedgecourt Mill on the east [for further information see Handouts, The Early History of Hedgecourt Manor and Farm Pt. 1, JIC/SJC, 11/11 and Harmans, SJC 01/17].  

In 1747, Edward Evelyn purchased the remainder of the manor of Hedgecourt (reuniting the northern end of the manor with the previously purchase southern end) and added it to Heath Hatch and his other land in Felbridge, thus creating the estate of Felbridge, which he had depicted by the Bourd map of 1748, and as such, consolidating the area of land that his son James would later develop as Felbridge Park.  Three years later, in 1751, Edward Evelyn died and his newly created estate of Felbridge passed to his only surviving son James.  At the time of his death, Edward Evelyn was living at Heath Hatch which was described in his will as ‘my farm at Felbridge Water where I now dwell’.  A stipulation in his will was that if James was to build ‘a house with outbuildings and garden’ it should not exceed the sum of £1,000.  With the death of his father, James was in the position to create what became known FelbridgePark, later called Felbridge Place.  

Creation of Felbridge Park and mansion house under James Evelyn

We can again turn to the Bourd map for evidence of the creation of Felbridge Park as many of the old field boundaries and even the southern boundary of Hedgecourt Park have been ‘scratched off’ the velum map in the vicinity of what was to become Felbridge Park and words like ‘Lawn’ have been added.  It is possible that James Evelyn raised collateral for his works at FelbridgePark through the mortgage of Park Corner Farm in 1752 [for further information see Handout, Park Corner Farm, SJC 05/09].  This mortgage released £700 that may have been invested in the creation of FelbridgePark and the extension/construction of the mansion house that became his permanent residence.  During later building works at the mansion it was reported that in the floor of the house there was a floor tile with the inscription ‘William Barnes, July 1763’.  This is believed to be the name of the builder employed by James Evelyn to re-model/re-build Felbridge House (William Barnes is listed as a tenant of the Felbridge estate in 1801) and that the date of 1763 probably indicates when these alterations took place.  

The Park and grounds, described as ‘pleasure grounds’ from 1828, extended from a broad terrace on the northwest of the house with lawns and woodland walk with the Park ‘Belted and Studded with Fine, Majestic, and varied Timber and Shrubs’, a description from 1855 that is as valid today as it was in the ownership of James Evelyn [for further information see Handout, Garden Designers & Horticulturalists of Felbridge, Pt. 1 – The Horticultural Legacy of the Evelyn and Gatty families, SJC 05/19].  In 1786, James Evelyn further embellished the Park with the construction of the EvelynMonument, a 75ft (23m) tapering, sandstone column on a plinth dedicated to his parents Edward and Julia Evelyn.  Today the site of this monument is now part of the back garden of Tall Acre, 78, Copthorne Road.  In 1927, the monument was dismantled and rebuilt within the grounds of Lemmington Hall, Alnwick, Northumberland, by Sir Stephen Aitchinson to embellish his grounds [for further information see Handout, The Felbridge Monument, SJC 08/99].  Another addition to the Park and grounds was the construction of the Evelyn Chapel, built to the south of the house in 1787 [for further information see Handout, The Felbridge Chapel, SJC05/00].  

Returning to the Bourd map and the erased lines on the velum it is potentially possible to determine the extent of the Park and Grounds that James Evelyn created as 76 acres of open Park, with 4 acres of wood and the 3-acre mansion plot, totalling 83 acres.  In 1768, the Rocque map depicts the mansion in the mansion plot as being ‘L’ shaped, still flanked by the stable block on its east and the residential building southeast of the mansion.  The 1793 Lindley & Crossley map depicts a similar layout except they do not depict the stable block, however, they did not depict non-residential buildings on their maps and as the stable block is depicted on a later map it is assumed that it was actually standing in 1791 but omitted because Lindley & Crossley did not consider it to be residential. 

In the 1800’s, the house was called Felbridge House by antiquarian E W Brayley in his book the Antiquities of Surrey, and was described as ‘a handsome house at the southern extremity of Godstone…’  With regards to the house that James Evelyn commissioned, it was built in the Italian style in brick and tile and of modest proportions as dictated by the terms of his father’s Will, although all descriptions of the house come from the 19^th century onwards.  W R Pepper writing in East Grinstead and Its Environments states that ‘the house is a fair-sized mansion, built of light-coloured and ornamental bricks, and is of the composite style of architecture [a mixture of Classical Greek architectural styles combining the volutes [the spiral or scroll-like ornamentation] of the Ionic order capital with the acanthus leaves of the Corinthian order]’.   However there are no known images of the house until 1911, although there is a possible painting depicting James Evelyn wearing a three-quarter length, red Doctor’s gown, stick in hand, standing with a view of Felbridge Park in the back-ground, painted by G. Romney, RA, in 1788.  This painting once hung at Buxted Park, the childhood home of Annabella née Medley (first wife of James Evelyn), inherited by Julia Annabella (daughter of James and Annabella Evelyn), wife of Sir George Augustus William Shuckburgh (Medley) Evelyn, but the painting’s whereabouts today has not yet been established. 

Felbridge Park during the early 19^th century

On the death of James Evelyn in 1793 the estate of Felbridge, including Felbridge Park and the mansion house passed to his daughter and sole heir, Julia Annabella Shuckburgh-Evelyn who, resided at her husband’s ancestral home – Shuckburgh Hall, Daventry.  Therefore with no requirement for FelbridgePark as a permanent family home, it would appear that the property was leased out to a succession of tenants, some of whom had sub-tenants, until its eventual sale in 1855. 

In 1801, John Nicholls esq. of Epsom, sometime MP for Bletchingley and son of Dr Francis (Frank) Nicholls, Physician to George II, is recorded as paying an annual rent of £157 12/- and the Land Tax of 19s 6d for ‘Felbridge house and Park’.  However, by 1804 he had left the property and was living in Verdun in France, although he appears to have continued leasing the property until at least 1805 (further information to follow in the future Handout, Residents of Felbridge Park aka Felbridge Place). 

In April 1808, a 4-year lease on Felbridge Park was made between Stileman Bostock (further information to follow in the future Handout, Residents of Felbridge Park aka Felbridge Place) and the Rt. Hon. Lady Jane Long of Carshalton (further information to follow in the future Handout, Residents of Felbridge Park aka Felbridge Place).  It is known that at this date the estate of Felbridge was in the ownership of Julia Evelyn Medley (grand-daughter of James Evelyn) and her husband the Hon. Charles Cecil Cope Jenkinson, 3^rd Earl of Liverpool.  The implication of the Bostock/Long lease is that perhaps Stileman Bostick, vicar of St Swithun’s, East Grinstead (1792 – 1811) and the Felbridge Chapelry, may have taken out the lease on the property after John Nicholls and was sub-letting the property to Lady Jane Long.  What is important is that this 1808 lease gives the earliest description of the ground floor interior of Felbridge House, detailing that it had:

In July 1812, a 7-year lease was made between the Hon. Charles Cecil Cope Jenkinson and Robert Jenner esq. of WenvoeCastle, near Barry, Glamorgan, for the sum of £220 plus £50 per annum.  This lease contained a more comprehensive description of the dwelling, detailing that it had:

The description suggests that Felbridge House was indeed a fairly modest mansion house with just 2 main bedrooms situated on the first floor on the south/southwest side overlooking the Park and HedgecourtLake, with live-in accommodation for a Butler, House Keeper and Housemaids and garret rooms for the remaining staff and guests. 

In December 1814 and the very beginning of January 1815, several advertisements for the sale of household effects of Felbridge Park, as well as dead and live farming stock, appear in the national newspapers: 

Excellent FURNTITURE, CELLERS of Choice WINES, Six COWS, SADDLE HORSES, and other EFFECTS, Felbridge Park, Surrey, near East Grinstead, the Property of a Gentleman removing – By HOGGART and PHILLIPS, on the Premises, on Thursday next, 5^th January, and two following days, at Eleven O’clock. 

ALL the Valuable EFFECTS, in FELBRIDGE PARK MANSION, with the Live and Dead Farming Stock, Household Furniture, Cellars of Choice Wines; consisting of about 75 Dozen of fine Port, eight years in the bottle, 50 Dozen of Old East India Madeira, and 12 Dozen of Hock, Champagne, Claret, and Barsac; upwards of 20 Loads of Meadow Hay and Effects.  The Furniture comprises mahogany four post and tent bedsteads, with furniture, goose feather beds and bedding, excellent cabinet work, in wardrobes, chest of drawers, a set of dining tables, card, Pembroke, sofa, and library ditto [sofa], cellaret sideboard and sarcophagus, mahogany, Trafalgar, and library chairs, French grey curtains, a drawing-room suite, in French curtains, couch, and 12 chairs, Brussels and Turkey carpets, pier glasses, oil cloth, kitchen requisites, Baker’s patent mangle, and numerous valuable articles. 

May be viewed one day preceding the Sale, and Catalogues had on the Premises; the Evelyn Arms [now Newchapel House], East Grinstead; White Hart, Godstone; Star, Lewes; Greyhound, Croydon; and of Hoggart and Phillips, 62, Old Broad-street, Royal Exchange – The Family Residence, with a Park of 75 acres, and the privilege of Sporting and Fishing upon an extensive Manor, to be let for three to five years. 

This advertisement gives an insight into the furnishings of a small mansion and the sale of household goods and chattels at this period in the early 19^th century.  One would expect that the sale is due to the departing of one resident prior to an incoming resident and highlights the differences between moving properties in the early 19^th century compared with now.  In the 1815 sale, there is an extensive cellar of wines being auctioned, consisting of 1,644 bottles.  Also, it is interesting to see what the most popular alcoholic beverages of the early 19^th century were and how the modern palette has changed.  Today Port, Champagne and Claret are still high on the list of consumption but Madeira, Hock and Barsac, are not so and have gone out of fashion.  As for the furniture, the advert suggests it is very like a house clearance.  The advert also gives the size of the Park as 75 acres which is directly comparable with the 76 acre Park as created by James Evelyn (see above). 

Unfortunately, one can only speculate as to who the ‘Gentleman’ was that was selling all these items as there is no documentary evidence for said person.  Robert Jenner had four more years to run on his lease and, according to the available documents, was still resident at FelbridgePark in 1817, so perhaps he was having a clear-out after the departure of the Houstons, or perhaps he was sub-letting and that tenant was having a clear-out.  What is known is that in 1816, Isaac Dupuy (further information to follow in the future Handout, Residents of Felbridge Park aka Felbridge Place), was recorded as paying a rental of £200 to the Hon. Charles Cecil Cope Jenkinson, and Felbridge Park is recorded as the ‘country seat’ of Isaac Dupuy until 1826, although the Morning Post reported that it was the seat of Charles Devon esq. in April 1825.  This could suggest that perhaps Isaac Dupuy may also have sub-let the property.  What is known is that in September 1825, an advertisement for the sale of contents appears in the Sussex Advertiser for: 

FELBRIDGE PARK,

BETWEEN GODSTONE and EAST GRINSTEAD.

Elegant Furniture, Fixtures, Double-barrel Gun,

Brewing Utensils, Mangle and Effects.

TO BE SOLD BY AUCTION

BY MR. BATES. 

On the Premises, FELBRIDGE PARK, two miles from EAST GRINSTEAD, SUSSEX, on Wednesday, 21^st day of September, 1825, and following day, at half-past twelve o’clock, precisely, on account of the number of Lots, the property of a Gentleman, the Lease being expired. 

ALL that excellent and modern HOUSEHOLD FURNITURE, comprising capital mahogany four-post & field bedsteads, with cotton hangings, wool and hair mattresses, goose feather beds and bedding, chamber furniture of the best description in dressing and washing tables, chest of drawers, dressing glasses, bedsteps and bidets, sets of drawing room and parlour chintz, cotton and morine [type of cloth] window curtains, large sofa and Grecian couches, rose-wood, loo, sofa, and card tables, a commode inlaid with Buhl [boulle – brass, tortoiseshell, or other material cut to make a pattern and used for inlaying furniture], chimney glass, 50 inches by 42, Brussels and other carpets, a Turkey carpet 19ft by 16, sets of japanned, rosewood bamboo, and mahogany chairs, a capital set of claw dining tables, sideboard, sarcophagus, dumb waiter, library writing tables, deal and mahogany bureau bookcases, a library chair with steps, eight-day dial and clock, a Baker’s patent mangle, a double barrel gun and case, china, glass and earthernware, culinary, brewing and dairy utensils, fixtures, register and other stoves, kitchen range, oven, smoke jack, coppers, mash tub and casks 304 iron and wood park hurdles, 150 greenhouse plants, hay, garden and farming utensils, rollers, and other effects. 

To be viewed two days preceding and mornings of sale, catalogue to be had at the Dorset Arms, East Grinstead; White Hart, Godstone; White Hart, Reigate; King’s Arms, Westerham; Crown, Seven Oaks; Greyhound, Croydon; on the Premises; of Mr. Holmes, Upholder, Albermarle Street; and of Mr. BATES, Welbeck Street, London. 

When comparing this list of contents for this sale with that of 1815, several items appear on both including: mahogany four-post and tent/field bedsteads, goose feather beds and bedding, high quality bed chamber furniture, Brussels and Turkey carpets, a sideboard and sarcophagus and a Baker’s patent mangle.  It would be interesting to know whether these items were the same or just the ‘must have’ pieces of the era.  The extensive ‘Cellar of choice wines’ is missing from the 1825 list but there is the addition of a ‘double barrel gun and case’ and the ‘150 greenhouse plants’, which indicates that there were greenhouses on the premises in 1825.  The advert also states that the sale was because of the ‘Lease having expired’ which would suggest that the ‘Gentleman’ in question was probably Charles Devon. 

In September 1826, a 21-year lease was granted by the Hon. Charles Cecil Cope Jenkinson to George Raikes esq. of Fulham (further information to follow in the future Handout, Residents of Felbridge Park aka Felbridge Place), at the cost of £150.00, plus £50.00 an acre that was ‘to be cut and mown twice a year or turned to tillage’.  The lease covered ‘FelbridgePark with paddock and lawn, the lay or pasture fields, Bon Cheals Wood and Rookery Wood, all forming in the tenure previously held by Charles Devon esq.’.  The wording of this lease would suggest that the sale of the ‘Elegant Furniture, Fixtures, Double-barrel Gun, Brewing Utensils, Mangle and Effects of 1825 were the effects of Charles Devon on his imminent departure from Felbridge Park.  Two years after this lease was made between Hon. Charles Cecil Cope Jenkinson and George Raikes an advertisement appeared in the Morning Chronicle in May 1828 that read: 

Valuable Copyhold Estate, with House and Land, pleasantly situate near East Grinstead, Sussex, 28 miles from London, on the Brighton Road – By Messrs. BURRELL and SON, at Garraway’s on Tuesday June 3, at Twelve, by order of the Proprietor removing. 

A VALUABLE COPYHOLD ESTATE, the Fine moderate, delightfully situate near FelbridgePark, two miles from East Grinstead, 20 to Lewes, and 28 to Brighton, on excellent turnpike road, where coaches pass by the premises daily.  The house, which is respectable, with fore-court enclosed, and substantially built, contains five bed chambers, dressing room, spacious dining room with French windows to the lawn, breakfast parlour, convenient kitchen supplied with fine spring water, brewhouse with oven, dairy, wine and beer cellar;  the out-door offices consist of a coach house, stabling for three horses, loft, harness room and outbuildings, capital garden well stocked with choice fruit trees and shrubs, farm yard, capital barn cow sheds, cart lodges, stabling for four horses, piggery, &c.; and 29 acres of rich meadow and pasture land; also two cottages, with gardens, adjoining, and a piece of freehold land. 

The Estate may be viewed 12 days preceding the sale, when particulars may be had at the Greyhound Inn, Croydon; the Swan, Ryegate; the Crown, East Grinstead; at Garraway’s and Messrs. Burrell and Son 13, Tokenhouse-yard. 

Another newspaper advertisement that appeared in the New Times (London) two days later added that the estate ‘…comprises a gentleman’s cottage residence, with fore court enclosed, and substantially built… a capital garden, well stocked with choice fruit-trees and shrubs, orchard and pleasure-grounds…’ 

The advertisements for the copyhold sale appear 19-months into the tenancy of George Raikes and his family as his 21-year lease was not due to expire until 1847 and it is known that George Raikes died at Felbridge Park in January 1840, however his wife Maria Raikes was still in residence there in the 1841 census (taken in June), listed as head of the household of independent means, as well as in the Godstone tithe apportionment completed in January 1842.  It is possible that George was trying to secure a sub-tenant at FelbridgePark in 1828 but it would seem he was unsuccessful as no documentary evidence can be found to support a sub-tenant and three of George and Maria’s children were baptised from Felbridge between 1827 and 1836.  However, Pigot’s Directory lists a Capt. Irvin as residing at FelbridgePark in 1834, implying he may have been there as early as 1833 to have been registered for the 1834 edition.  However, no further information has yet been established about Capt. Irwin.  Also, in March 1842, it was reported in the Perthshire Chronicle, that a daughter had been born to the ‘Lady of Charles Crosland Hay esq. of Felbridge Park, Surrey’ and his name also appears the electoral roll of 1842 as ‘resident at Felbridge Park [house and lands as occupier]’, although the Hay family appears to have been very transient as by 1845 they were living in France.    

However, with the death of George Raikes in 1840, his widow Maria succeeded him as head of the household and appeared as such in the Godstone tithe apportionment holding FelbridgePark in 1842, which consisted of:

The Tithe apportionment records the extent of FelbridgePark in 1842 as 91 acres 1 rod and 31 perch, which as stated in the lease of 1828, was the exact same holding that Charles Devon held between 1818 and 1825.  The breakdown of land usage in 1842 shows that what was being leased out as FelbridgePark between 1818 and 1842 was just over 5 acres more than the size of FelbridgePark created by James Evelyn (see above).  With regards to the house plot, the accompanying Godstone Tithe map shows that several alterations and additions have been made since 1793.  The mansion house is no longer ‘L’ shaped, although a boundary edge adjacent to the stable block still infers the ‘L’ shape.  The mansion house is depicted as more of a square block with the long arm of the ‘L’ shape extending to the south.  A projection is depicted on the northern side of the square block, which from later photographs was an entrance porch, and there is a projection on the west side of the mansion house, which from later photographs was the loggia.  The stable block is depicted with a small square projection on its east side, possibly a porch and the building to the southeast of the mansion is still depicted but has been joined by numerous scattered buildings including: an ‘L’ shaped range to the south of the stable block with four smaller square buildings.  There is a run of three buildings to the south of the ‘L’ shaped range, adjacent to the main London road (these could have been fuel stores or relate to storage of something that was to be kept away from or delivered to the rear of the mansion house complex).  The Evelyn Chapel stands to the far south of the plot and there is another unknown building to its northwest. 

In 1846, it is recorded that Thomas Palmer Hutton (further information to follow in the future Handout, Residents of Felbridge Park aka Felbridge Place), Curate of Lingfield and Minister at the Evelyn Chapel, was occupying FelbridgePark.  From the available documents it would seem that Thomas Hutton was resident at FelbridgePark until its sale in 1855.  In 1851, during his tenancy, the Felbridge Park estate was left in trust to Lady Selina Charlotte Foljambe, Viscountess Milton (great grand-daughter of James Evelyn) after the death of her father, Hon. Charles Cecil Cope Jenkinson and on 15^th December 1854 an advertisement was placed in several newspapers announcing the sale of the whole of the ‘Freehold domain of Felbridge Park’ in the spring of 1855.  

Surrey – The important FREEHOLD DOMAIN of FELBRIDGE PARK, comprising altogether above 2,200 Acres, surrounding a moderate-sized Mansion, and embellished with beautiful Lakes and extensive Woodlands, offering one of the most picturesque and best sporting Estates in the County; also, in separate Lots, some detached Farms, valuable Tithe rent Charges, Inns and other smaller Properties, between Godstone and East Grinstead, which will shortly be within 1½ Hour’s Journey of London.

MESSRS. DANIEL SMITH and SON are commissioned to NEGOCIATE for the SALE (and if an acceptable offer is not previously made, it will be submitted to Auction in the Spring) of the above very valuable and beautiful featured ESTATE, situate within a walk of the town of EAST GRINSTEAD, where there will shortly be a railway station, and only six miles from Godstone Station on the Dover line, a highly-picturesque and remarkably healthy spot.  The main Lot will embrace above 1700 acres, in a perfect ring-fence, and partly tithe-free, with the residence, ornamental lakes well stocked with fish, and beautiful woodlands, forming admirable game preserves.  The estate comprises several very improvable Farms, with suitable homesteads, keepers’ lodges, and labourers’ cottages; also Two Mills, the Star Inn &c.; and in separate Lots will be offered some Farms and detached Lands and Woods, nearer Godstone; also the Blue Anchor Inn, and divers valuable Tithe-rent Charges, offering most desirable properties for investment, and unusual attractions to any one fond of sporting, and a fine and profitable field for a capitalist wishing to carry out the great agricultural improvements of the present day.  A portion of the purchase-money may remain on mortgages.

Particulars may be had on application to Messrs. BENNETT and FIELD, Solicitors, Lincoln’s Inn; of MR. BAKER, Mayfield, Sussex; and of Messrs. DANIEL SMITH and SON, Land Agents, Waterloo-place, Pall-mall, who will show the plans, and are authorised to treat for the sale. 

On 5^th April 1855, prior to the main auction of Felbridge Park estate, some of the ‘extensive woodlands’(as advertised above) were thinned through the sale of some of the valuable oak timber in the Park.  The main auction for the ‘Freehold domain of the Felbridge Park’ estate took place on 18^th May 1855, in whole about 2,200 acres, in 12 Lots; the mansion and home domain at Felbridge forming Lot 1.  

The sale catalogue of 1855 gives the description of Felbridge House and its immediate Grounds as it stood at the end of Evelyn family ownership:

The Mansion

 Is on a moderate inexpensive scale

Placed upon a gentle elevation overlooking some Beautiful Scenery, embracing the Mill Lake and Surrey Hills,

and in a Parkland Paddock,

which might be easily extended by the removal of Fences, so as to embrace some of the adjoining Fields & Woods, and is Belted & Studded with Fine, Majestic, & varied Timber & Shrubs,

and embellished by a Handsome Memorial Column.

 It contains,

 On the Upper Floors – 12 or 13 good airy Bed Rooms, and 2 or 3 Dressing Rooms, with several Closets.  On the Ground Floor – A handsome Drawing Room, with spacious Bow, Decorated Ceiling etc; a Dining Room and Breakfast Room; a handsome Paved Hall, with Portico Doorway; 2 Waterclosets, and light broad Staircase, with Mahogany Balustrades; and the usual Domestic Offices – as Housekeeper’s Room, Servant’s Hall, Footman’s Pantry, Kitchen, Scullery, Cellars etc; Kitchen Garden; Stabling for several Horses, Double Coach House etc, with Grooms’ Rooms and Lofts above; a Dairy, and various Out Offices, Court Yard, Walled Garden and Shrubbery.

 The Paddocks usually let with the House, which, with the Pleasure Grounds, etc contain about 45 acres, and certain other Pasture Lands, in the whole 83 acres.

 There is a Chapel of Ease near the Residence

 The Parkland and Grounds that went with the mansion house of FelbridgePark were as follows:

The total acreage in the schedule of land given as 83a 1r 13p in 1855 was less than that of the 1842 tithe, which had totalled 91a 1r 31p, a difference of about 8 acres.  When comparing both schedules, four plots are missing from the 1855 sale, plots 235, 238 245 and 246, all four being included as part of Park Farm in the 1855 sale.  When comparing Felbridge Park in 1855 with that created by James Evelyn it appears to have reverted back to a similar size, having decreased in size by about 8 acres since 1842 (see above). 

In March 1856, just over 1,740 acres of the Felbridge Park estate was conveyed to George Gatty (further information to follow in the future Handout, Residents of Felbridge Park aka Felbridge Place), listed as tenant, formerly of Crowhurst, Sussex.  From the available documentary evidence, George Gatty moved to Felbridge Park sometime between April and October 1855 as his account books indicate that he was carrying out repairs to the mansion house and Park, as well as embarking upon the construction of a roadway and two lodge houses, one at the southern end of the estate (South Lodge, now Stonecroft, 58, Copthorne Road) and one at the northern end, adjacent to the A22 (North Lodge, London Road) 

Draining Tiles

Mr Nix has many thousands to sell.  Chandler says that they are better than any in this neighbourhood and the prices are as follows:

1½ inch diameter – 16/- a thousand exclusive of cartage, 5/- a thousand

2 inch     diameter – 22/- a thousand exclusive of cartage, 5s 6d a thousand

3 inch diameter – 45/- a thousand exclusive of cartage, 7/- a thousand

 

C Waters, Shovelstrode Brickyard near East Grinstead:

1½ inch pipes – 16/- a thousand

1¾ inch pipes – 18/- a thousand

2 inch pipes – 20/- a thousand

3 inch pipes – 26s 6d a thousand

4 inch pipes – 8/- a hundred

6 inch pipes – 16/- a hundred

 

Deduct amount of Chandler’s charge for clearing drains

Deduct for curing leakage in small spare room

Paper for repairing the paper that is damaged

White washing damaged portions of the ceilings in various parts of the house

In defects in the stucco and damage done by damp in the porch, dining room and drawing room

See blisters in the paint in several places.

 

31^st October 1855

Mr Thomas came to dinner and spent the whole of 1^st November here in planning the road through.

 

2^nd November 1855

Tolhurst account for laying the length of the drain from the small pond that requires pipes of some kind in 62 yards.  £173 2s 10d

 

11^th & 12^th November 1855

I went over some of the works with Mr Thomas and also went to the Furnace pond to examine the stone there.  He returned to town in the evening.

 

13^th December 1855

8 panes of glass came, instead of 12 as ordered, for the staircase window.  (One was broken by spiller in putting in some weeks ago and I desired him instead of ordering 1 to order a dozen in case of future accidents.

 

22^nd February 1856

Chandler offered to make a Tank 10ft over and 10ft deep which would hold about 5,000 gallons for £30 and find cement and pipes to make it….

[Tolhurst’s men would do the digging for 40/- – 50/-

Bricks for the tank – £200

A pump would probably cost £300]

 

Repairs to the mansion house continued after the purchase in April 1856 and furniture was also being commissioned for the library as the following entries in George Gatty’s account books testify:

 

26^th June 1856

On Tooth’s going out on the roof he found full 7 buckets of mortar, which had come from under the tiles lying in the gutters and necessary to have the roof re-laid.

Second blemish from damp in both dining room and drawing room, porch and stucco.

 

12^th July 1856

Length of fence required:

From the box gate to Park Wood                     £240

From the gate in Birch Grove to the wood     £364

From the garden walk to the New Lodge       £317

Total                                                                      £921

Plus Gates required

 

The fence proposed is 3s 9d a yard.

 

Bookcase

My bookcase is 8ft long and 5 high, to the top of the cornice, the height to the top of the lower division (immediately under the doors is 3ft 1 inch).

The lower division is 13 inches deep at the sides and 16 inches deep in the centre.

The upper division is 10 inches deep out at the sides and 13 inches deep in the middle.

The centre is 4ft wide and each wing is 2ft wide. 

Order one for Charles Henry of same dimensions, except as to height which is to be 8 feet to the top of the cornices.  Charles Henry’s room is 8ft 7 inches high without cornices. The bookcase is not to be cross banded. 

Sadly, George Gatty died in May 1864 and FelbridgePark passed to his wife Frances until her death in August 1876 and finally to their only surviving son Charles Henry Gatty until his death in December 1903 [for further information see Handout, Charles Henry Gatty, SJC11/03].  However, over the 56-year Gatty association, FelbridgePark was well cared for, especially with regards to the Park and gardens, even after ‘The Gale’ of May 1882 had blown down many ‘noble trees on the estate’.  Within a few years the damage had been repaired as an account in ‘History and Guide to East Grinstead and Its Environs’, written an few years after the event, stated that the Park and grounds at Felbridge ‘are of vast size and include a magnificent park’ containing ‘a number of ornamental trees, several being very fine specimens, notably a Wellingtonia gigantean, of about 20 years grown, which is some 60 feet in height.  There is also a splendid evergreen oak [Quercus ilex], covering a very large space of ground, also some good specimens of the Pinus insignis [Monterey Pine], Picea nobilis glauca [White or Canadian Spruce], Picea nordmannianna [Nordmann or Caucasian Fir], Araucaria [Monkey Puzzle], Cryptomeria japonica [Japanese Cedar], &c.’ [for further information see Handout, Garden Designers & Horticulturalists of Felbridge, Pt. 1 – The Horticultural Legacy of the Evelyn and Gatty families, SJC 05/19]. 

It was during the early ownership of the Gatty family that several alterations and additions were made to the mansion plot.   In 1873, the Ordnance Survey map shows that the mansion house has acquired a glass roofed structure on the south side of the main square block of the house, which later photographs show was a conservatory.  The stable block had lost the porch-like structure on its east end but the ‘L’ shaped range to its south has been extended, although one of the structures to its west has been demolished.  The range of buildings adjacent to the main London road are still standing but the garden area (George Gatty’s kitchen and fruit garden) has been formalised and the square building that had been standing there in 1842 has been demolished.  Also demolished was the Evelyn Chapel as by 1865 St John’s church had been built and as a condition the chapel had to be demolished, and the building to the west of the chapel has also disappeared.  The mansion plot remains unchanged on all the maps until sometime between 1938 and 1955.  It was also whilst under the ownership of Charles Henry Gatty that FelbridgePark adopted the name Felbridge Place, appearing intermittently as both between 1886 and 1911. 

Felbridge Place in the early 20^th century

On the death of Charles Henry Gatty in 1903, the estate at Felbridge, including Felbridge Place (formerly FelbridgePark) was left in trust to two cousins, Alfred Leighton Sayer esq. and Charles Lane Sayer esq. [for further information see Handout, Break-up and Sale of the Felbridge Estate of 1911, SJC 01/11]. There is little evidence to suggest that either of the Sayer brothers made Felbridge their home although Alfred Lane Sayer must have visited the place on occasions as it was reported that he gave a garden party in the mansion grounds at Felbridge in the summer of 1904 and within a year the Sayers had placed an advertisement in the press for the sale of the entire Felbridge Place estate:

SALES BY AUCTION.

FOR SALE BY PRIVATE TREATY.

SURREY and SUSSEX, the centre of a beautiful and very favourite district, and within 28 miles of London, and 2 miles of East Grinstead Station.

 

THE MEMORIAL SPORTING and RESIDENTIAL DOMAIN, known as

THE FELBRIDGE PLACE ESTATE,

situate in the Parishes of East Grinstead, Godstone, Worth, Horne and Tandridge, and comprising a MANSION, in Italian style, with stabling for eight horses, surrounded by charming gardens and grounds and about 80 acres of finely timbered park, with over 800 acres of woodlands, two large lakes, a small residential property and various farms, small holdings, the whole extending to upwards of 2120 ACRES.

 

The RESIDENCE is approached by two lodge entrances, and contains three good reception rooms, and nineteen bed and dressing rooms.

The Gardens embrace a profusion of ornamental shrubs, and trees of a rich maturity, and with the finely-timbered park, form an important feature to the residential attractions of the property.

 

The large area of WOODLAND and the LAKES, which are well dispersed over the Estate for the preservation of game, render it an excellent SPORTING ESTATE, and an almost unlimited head of game could be reared, while the Estate generally is the resort of wildfowl of all kinds. The Lakes afford good fishing.  Hunting can be had with several packs of Hounds; and AshdownForest, with its well known Golf Links, is within 5 miles.

 

The LORDSHIP of Two MANORS and the RIGHT of PRESENTATION to the church are included in the Sale.

 

With its exceptional SPORTING and RESIDENTIAL amenities, and the MANORIAL and other rights, this Estate forms one of the most important and enjoyable landed properties in this very favourite district, and is in every way suited to the occupation of a family of distinction and wealth.

Detailed Particulars, with Plans, Views and Conditions of Sale are in course of preparation, and will be issued shortly.  Meanwhile, particulars may be obtained, with order to view, of the Agents, Messrs.

DANIEL SMITH, SON & OAKLEY, Land Agents, surveyors and Auctioneers,

10, Waterloo Place, Pall Mall, S.W.

 

In this advertisement the mansion house at Felbridge Place (formerly Felbridge Park) is described as ‘in Italian style, with stabling for eight horses, surrounded by charming gardens and grounds and about 80 acres of finely timbered park’, much as it had been in the 1855 sale.  It would appear that no sale was forth-coming and that for the majority of their ownership the Sayer brothers relied on an estate bailiff to manage the Felbridge estate, leasing out the mansion house, Park and grounds.  However, Alfred Leighton Sayer is recorded as potentially in residence in 1907 and 1908, as he appears ‘of Felbridge Place’ in newspaper articles.  However, in February 1909, there is a passing reference to Hubert F Sturdy as resident at Felbridge Place, although he is more associated with the Felcourt Estate [for further information see Handout, More Old Surrey, Burstow & West Kent Hunt Personalities and The Kennels, SJC 03/17].  In June 1909, Felbridge Place was advertised to let:

Felbridge Place, near East Grinstead.  To be let, furnished for three months, June to end of September.  Country house and grounds (surrounded by park); drawing room, dining room, morning room, library, sixteen bed and dressing rooms, bath room, good domestic offices; two tennis lawns; good stabling, lodge for coachman.  Or House, Furnished, with excellent pheasant and wildfowl shooting over 2000 acres for longer period – Apply Sayer, West-field, Sussex, or Felbridge Place, East Grinstead. 

In 1910, the Electoral Roll records a Mr Taylor at ‘Felbridge Place and Newchapel House’.  In 1911, when the Felbridge estate was being advertised for sale in the national press, the mansion house was occupied by Caroline Wheeler (further information to follow in the future Handout, Residents of Felbridge Park aka Felbridge Place), as caretaker, with her nephew Henry Arthur Wheeler as gardener, domestic.  In February 1911, a sale was negotiated between Alfred Leighton Sayer and Percy Portway Harvey , being finalised and registered in the name of Mrs Emma Harvey (wife of Percy Portway Harvey) and the East Grinstead Estate Company Ltd for the sum of £57,595 13s 6d [see Handout, Breakup and Sale of the Felbridge Estate, 1911, SJC 01/11].  The purchase included the ‘mansion house and park, buildings and land known as Felbridge Place, and all the messuages (dwellings), farms, and land situated in the Parishes of Godstone, Horne and Tandridge in Surrey, and in the Parishes of Worth and East Grinstead in Sussex, containing an estimated 2,116 acres 0 roods and 22 perches’. 

After the purchase, advertisements appeared in the national press with regards to the re-sale of the mansion house and Park and the estate known as Felbridge Place; the descriptions as follows:

A really beautiful and well-known

COUNTRY SEAT

of moderate dimensions

FELBRIDGE PLACE, EAST GRINSTEAD. 

The Mansion is grandly placed in fine old-world grounds and magnificently timbered parklands.  It contains 18 bed and dressing, fitted bath, fine suite of reception rooms, conservatory, excellent productive gardens, glasshouses, stabling, two lodges &c.  To be SOLD, with or without the home farm, a gentleman’s Residence and very excellent land the whole covering 385 acres, including the famous lake of 4½ acres.  Also will be SOLD in separate lots, the Advowson of the Living of Felbridge and commuted Rectorial Tithes of £74. 

And

BREAKING UP OF ESTATES 

IMPORTANT FORTHCOMING SLAE

AT EAST GRINSTEAD 

Felbridge Place Estate, East Grinstead, the stately old manorial domain at one-time in the possession of the Evelyn family, and for many years the residence of the late Dr. C. H. Gatty, is to be sold at the Whitehall, East Grinstead, on Thursday next [25^th May].  The lots include the imposing mansion standing in magnificently timbered park stretching to the famous lake known as Hedgecourt, of over 40 acres, and this will be offered with the other 104 or 386 acres.  The mansion is of moderate dimensions, and it is pointed out in the attractive particulars that whilst carrying the prestige of an old country seat, it is comparatively in expensive of upkeep.  The Advowson of the living of Felbridge and manorial rights will be sold with the mansion.  The other lots include several farms and small holdings varying in area of 15 to 160 acres…. 

The advertisements portray Felbridge Place as a ‘Country Seat’ or ‘Gentleman’s Residence’ with an ‘imposing mansion’ with ‘productive gardens’ set in a ‘magnificently timbered Park’ and give an indication of the interior of the house, and that between 1909 and 1911, the property had acquired two more bedrooms. 

On 25^th May 1911, the East Grinstead Estate Company Ltd held an auction for the whole of the Felbridge Place Estate, accompanied by at least two illustrated catalogues.  The general sale catalogue for the Felbridge Place Estate gave the description of Lot 1 as: ‘Felbridge Place, East Grinstead, the important Mansion, beautiful Pleasure Grounds, and grandly Timbered Park, with Stabling, Glasshouses, and Two Lodges’, along with 42 other Lots.  A second, supplementary sale catalogue was also produced for Felbridge Place, together with Lot 2 ‘The Home Farm’ (Park Farm), Lot 3 ‘Hedgecourt Lake & Mill’ and Lot 4 ‘Park Cottages’, in all 386 acres and this catalogue gives a more detailed description of the mansion house, Park and Gardens, together with the earliest known images of the property.  The description of Lot 1 in the supplementary catalogue, the mansion house, Park and Grounds of Felbridge Place, is as follows: 

THE WIDELY-KNOWN

Freehold Manorial Estate

“Felbridge Place,”

East Grinstead,

in the County of Surrey,

comprising

 

THE HANDSOME MANSION,

beautifully placed on an eminence some 350 feet above sea level, with lovely views, perfectly screened from the

roads by finely grown timber, approached by two Carriage Drives, with a

 

PICTURESQUE LODGE at each Entrance,

Together with

Excellent Stabling, Coachman’s Rooms,

Glasshouses, Productive OldGardens, and with the

Grandly-timbered PARK AND WOOD LANDS

Extending to an area of about

104a. 0r.11p.

together with the Advowson or Right of Presentation to the Living of Felbridge (as more fully described hereinafter),

and the Lordship of the Manors (or reputed Manors) of Hedgecourt and Felbridge.

 

THE MANSION, an imposing structure of a very substantial character in brick with tiled roof, in the Italian style,

with paved Loggia on the South-West side, is most conveniently arranged and contains:-

 

ON THE GROUND FLOOR – ENTRANCE PORCH opening into an excellent HALL, measuring 33ft. 6in.

by 13ft 11ft. pitch, with oak floor, fitted oak dado, slow combustion stove with tiled hearth, and

Galleried Staircase; excellent DINING ROOM, measuring 28ft. 6in. by 19ft., with serving door from

offices; handsome DRAWING ROOM, measuring about 27ft. by 23ft. 6in. (including bay), with very

handsome carved marble mantel and curb, tiled hearth, opening by three large casement windows to the

Loggia and beautiful Terrace: this room is expensively decorated and forms a very pleasant apartment

With a lovely outlook over the beautiful grounds and park; the comfortable LIBRARY, about 20ft. 9in.

By 18ft. 6in., opening also by casement windows to the Logia and Terrace; the handsome

LOFTY CONSERVATORY

With tessellated floor, approached from the Loggia, measuring 34ft. by 18ft., with pretty Rockery and

Two beds of handsome camellias; the GUN ROOM well fitted with cupboards, STRONG ROOM,

Lavatory fitted with hot and cold supplies, and W.C.

 

THE DOMESTIC OFFICES are well shut off and include spacious Kitchen fitted with “Eagle” range, Servants’

Hall, Scullery with sink, hot and cold, Store Room, Larder, Butler’s Pantry well fitted with

Cupboard, sink, hot and cold.

 

IN THE BASEMENT are very excellent and extensive Wine and Beer Cellars, a great protection from dampness.

 

Outside are Brew and Bake Houses, Wash-house with copper, Pump House with good well, Coal House

and Wood Shed, Gas House, Acetylene Gas Shed, Coke House with stoke hole.

 

ON THE FIRST FLOOR, approached by the fine Galleried Staircase aforementioned and Secondary Staircases, are

SEVEN Best BEDROOMS, measuring respectively about 21ft. by 17ft. 6in., 19ft. by 15ft. 6in., 21ft. by

17ft. 6in., 19ft. by 15ft. 6in., 17ft. by 16ft. 6in., 15ft. by 14ft. 6in., 21ft. by 9ft.6in. (one Bedroom has a

separate W.C. fitted in recess); TWO DRESSING ROOMS; a capital BATH ROOM fitted with hot

and cold supplies, and W.C.

 

ON THE SECOND FLOOR are NINE Secondary and Servants’ BEDROOMS (one fitted as a Linen Room) and

Housemaid’s sink.  Many of the Bedrooms are fitted with wardrobe cupboards.

 

THE LANDINGS are spacious and well lighted, and from the Principal Bedrooms very beautiful views are obtainable,

especially from those on the S.E. [sic] side which opens on to the Balcony.

 

COMPANY’S WATER IS LAID ON.

 

There are also wells and soft water tanks on the property.

THE DRAINAGE was recently overhauled, and is believed to be in a thoroughly satisfactory condition.

The Mansion is lighted by an Acetylene Gas Plant which is found to work with efficiency and economy.

The East Grinstead Gas Mains are laid within a short distance of the property and could no doubt be available

if required.

 

The Substantial Brick-built Stabling,

Mounted with clock turret, is conveniently placed, and comprises six Loose Boxes, Coach-house for four or five

Carriages or motors with loft over.  There is also accommodation for Coachman of two Bedrooms with modern stove

And iron mantel, Living Room with Range, Scullery with glazed sink; Groom’s Mess Room; Detached Harness Room.

 

THE TWO LODGES

At entrance are substantial structures in stone with tiled roofs, and are most a picturesque character, each containing

Five Rooms and Scullery.

 

THE KITCHEN GARDENS,

Enclosed by walls on two sides and fenced on the other sides, are extensive and well stocked with wall and other

Fruit Trees.

 The Glasshouses include heated Peach and Nectarine House about 60ft long, two Vineries and Forcing

House.  There are also three ranges of cold Pits and heated Greenhouse in small orchard.

 

THE REMARKABLY BEAUTIFUL OLD PLEASURE GROUNDS

Extending to some 6 acres include the

FINE BROAD TERRACE with Lawns and Flower Gardens,

Tennis and other Lawns and Lovely Woodland Walks,

Rustic Summerhouse.

The features of the Grounds are the unusually beautiful Banks of Rhododendrons and other shrubs, the fine old yew

hedges, the magnificently grown Coniferæ and the fine old Cedar, Oak, Beech, Elm and other trees which adorn

the same, and

THE PARK LANDS

Which latter slope toward the GrandLake described under Lot 3 and present a lovely vista from the Mansion and

Terrace.  In the Park stands the interesting Monument, erected by the late James Evelyn, and referred to

under the head of Remarks.

Conveniently placed there are Timber and Tile Cattle Lodge with Yard and Thatched Cow Lodge.

Schedule

Unfortunately, between 1855 and 1873 the fields/plots were renumbered on the Ordnance Survey maps and several of the plots from 1855 had been amalgamated by 1911 making it virtually impossible to make a direct comparison of plots from 1855 with 1911.  What is known is that the acreage of Felbridge Place in 1911 had increased from just over 83½ acres in 1855 (about the same size as the Park created by James Evelyn (see above)), to just over 104 acres, an increase of nearly 21 acres. 

It is evident that not all of the Felbridge Place estate sold in the auction of May 1911 as the following newspaper article reports:

THE LATE DR. GATTY’S ESTATE.

IMPORTANT SALE AT EAST GRINSTEAD

The Whitehall, East Grinstead, was the scene of one of the largest auction sales of property on Thursday afternoon, May 25^th, that has been held in the neighbourhood, when Messrs. Denyer and Collins submitted under the hammer the well-known manorial domain, Felbridge Place, East Grinstead, the estate of the late Dr. Gatty.  The commodious hall was well filled and it was estimated that 400 to 500 people were in attendance.  The auctioneer commenced the sale with a few interesting remarks, in which he stated that East Grinstead was probably the most favourite district in the county, and in the past the great difficulty in extending the town had been the land in the Felbridge direction had been held up, and the estate, now divided into 43 lots, offered just the opportunity required, and undoubtedly it would enable the town to very considerably extend.  The first lot comprised the handsome mansion, beautifully placed on an eminence in the midst of grandly timbered parkland, stretching to the famous HedgecourtLake of 40 acres.  Mr. Denyer drew attention to the grounds surrounding the mansion as comprising some of the most beautiful in the county.  This was first offered with Lots 2, 3 and 4, including the Advowson of the living of St. John the Divine, Felbridge, and bidding commenced at £12,000, and, amidst considerable excitement, was carried to £23,000.  This figure was not accepted and the mansion was then offered with 104 acres, finally being withdrawn at just under £12,000.  Considerable keenest was evinced in the Home Farm of about 167 acres, but this was withdrawn at £4,100.  The following lots were disposed of under the hammer: Lot 5, a Rectorial Tithe Rent charge, commuted at £171 12s 6d, £720; Lot 11, Yew Tree Cottage and ¾ acre £300; Lot 14, Oak Farm of 16 acres, £1,000; Lot 15 of about 12 acres of accommodation land, £380;  Lot 18, plot of building land, £50; Lot 19, pair of cottages, £490; Lot 20, plot of building land £70; Lot 22, 1¼ acres of building land £75; Lot 27, the Star Inn, £2,350; Lot 28, the smithy, £300; Lot 33, small holding of 3½ acres, £390; Lot 34, pretty country cottage and 3½ acres, £510; Lot 37, small holding of 18 acres, £400.  A considerable stir was caused when the auction arrived at Lot 27, the fully-licensed premises, the Star Inn, and as anticipate, the bidding became very spirited., commencing at £1,000, and quickly rising to £2,350, when it was knocked down to Messrs. Friary, Holroyd and Healy’s Brewery. 

As can be seen from the article, the intention of the sale of Felbridge Place was to include Lots 1, 2 3 and 4 (Felbridge Place mansion and Park, The Home Farm [now Park Farm, for further information see Handout, Park Farm, JIC/SJC 05/16], Hedgecourt Lake and Mill [for further information see Handout, Hedgecourt Watermill and Cottages, SJC 07/04] and Park Cottages [for further information see Handout, Park Corner Farm, SJC 05/09].  When this didn’t reach its reserve, they attempted to sell just Felbridge Place mansion house and some 104 acres of land but that was also withdrawn from sale at £12,000 as that too had not reached its reserve.  With Felbridge Place unsold, it was leased to the Earl of Egremont (further information to follow in the future Handout, Residents of Felbridge Park aka Felbridge Place), a newspaper article reporting in August 1911 that he had ‘entered into the occupation of the beautiful Felbridge Place mansion and grounds, East Grinstead, last Tuesday’ [1^st August].  

In February 1913, Arthur Smeeton Gurney esq. (further information to follow in the future Handout, Residents of Felbridge Park aka Felbridge Place) of Luxfords, East Grinstead, borrowed £10,000 from the East Grinstead Estate Company Ltd to purchase the mansion and park (including all the whole of the furniture of the mansion), as well as a plantation, Harts Hall [for further information see Handout, Eating and Drinking Establishments of Felbridge, Pt. 2, JIC/SJC 03/08] and Smithfield farm amounting to nearly 220 acres. 

In October 1914, the following advertisement appears in the newspapers for the sale of the household contents of Felbridge Place, on the instructions of Arthur Smeeton Gurney:

FELBRIDGE PLACE

EAST GRINSTEAD 

Important Sale of Valuable HOUSEHOLD

FURNITURE,

And effects comprising THE APPOINTMENTS OF 20 BEDROOMS AND RECEPTION ROOMS including Mahogany, Oak, Iron and other bedsteads, Mattresses, Feather Beds, Bolsters, Pillows, Blankets.  Mahogany, Satin Walnut and other Wardrobes.  Mahogany and other Chest of Drawers, Dressing Tables, Washstands, Dressing Chests, Toilet Glasses, Commodes.  Brussels, Axminster and other Carpets, Rugs, Pictures and Toilet Ware etc. ROSE WOOD DRAWING ROOM SUITE, Marquetorie and Ormolu Cabinet; Handsome Octagonal Carved Library Table.  GRAND PIANO; very Handsome Pair of Dresden Candelabra; Rose Wood and other Writing Tables; Mahogany Cabinets; THREE 4ft 6IN MAHOGANY BOOKCASES.  Mahogany Extending Dining and other Tables; Mahogany Sideboard, Dinner Waggon. Dinning, Occasional and other Chairs.   Barometers, Clocks, Overmantels, Glass, China and a large assortment of Domestic Requisites; also Garden Seats, Chairs and Tables, in all nearly 500 lots which

MESSRS. TURNER, RUDGE AND TURNER

have been favoured with instructions from A. S. Gurney, ESQ.  to Sell by Auction on the premises above on WEDNESDAY, October 14^th 1914 commencing at 10.30 precisely in consequence of the large number of lots.

On view prior to Sale and Catalogues may be had of the Auctioneers, 29, high Street, East Grinstead. 

It is interesting to compare this list of household items with the sale of household items in 1815 and 1825.  Once again there are mahogany bedsteads, feather beds, Brussels carpets, rose wood tables and mahogany bookcases.  Also, the advert informs the reader that there are 20 bedrooms now electing to include all servant’s quarters in the total number. 

This sale appears to be on the departure of Arthur Smeeton Gurney from Felbridge Place as Felbridge Place is recorded as unoccupied; owned by East Grinstead Estate Company Ltd in the 1915, Kelly’s Directory. 

In 1916, Felbridge Place, which included the mansion, Park, garden, Hedgecourt Lake and other pieces of land amounting to 218 acres 3 rods and 1 perch was purchased from East Grinstead Estate Company Ltd by Henry Willis Rudd [for further information see Handouts, Downfall of Henry Willis Rudd, SJC 11/02, Lutyens Grand Design for Felbridge, SJC 07/03 and Felbridge Remembers their World War I Heroes, Pt. II 09/16], for the sum of £11,750.  Henry Willis Rudd, described as an ‘American with means’ and his wife Mary, had purchased Felbridge Place with the idea of transforming it as a grand country estate on the expected proceeds to be gained from the manufacture and sale of the Lewis gun during World War I.  Thus in 1916/17 they employed Sir Edwin Lutyens to produce plans to demolish mansion house and replace it with a grand country house [for further information see Handout, Lutyens Grand Design for Felbridge, SJC 07/03].  Sadly, for the Rudd’s the ‘expected proceeds’ never materialised and Felbridge Place mansion house was afforded a stay of execution.  However, the non payment of expected proceeds meant that Henry Willis Rudd was forced to sell his land holdings in Felbridge, which included Felbridge Place mansion, Park and grounds.  Thus in 1924 Felbridge Place was back on the market, having been unoccupied for much of the Rudd’s ownership as they were living at Newchapel House.  First came the preliminary advertisement for the sale in April:

MESSRS. MATTHEWS, MATTHEWS, AND GOODMAN 

PRELIMINARY ANNOUNCEMENT 

EAST GRINSTEAD, AND LINGFIELD,

SURREY 

An important SALE of FREEHOLD PROPERTIES WITH POSESSION, comprising NEWCHAPEL HOUSE, a charming Residence with 30 Acres of Ornamental Grounds and Woodlands.  GOLANDS, a smaller Residence with 12 acres.  FELBRIDGE PLACE with 24 acres.  Expensively constructed RACING STABLES with BUNGALOW, a double galloping track of about 2 furlongs, san exercising ground, TWO FARM HOUSES, and about 300 acres of Arable and Pasture Land, affording many charming building sites, also some 300 Acres of Woodland and Hedgecourt Lake over which good shooting and fishing is to be obtained, together with a number of Cottages, the whole covering nearly 600 ACRES and possessing frontages of over two miles upon the main Eastbourne and Copthorne Roads, much of which is ready for building development. 

MESSRS. MATTHEWS, MATTHEWS, AND GOODMAN

are instructed to offer the above by Auction at the Mart, Queen Victoria-street, London, E.C. on WEDNESDAY MAY 7^th 1924, in 23 Lots, unless previously disposed of by private treaty. 

Illustrated Particulars with Plans and Conditions of Sale, are in course of preparation and when ready may be obtained of Messrs. Burgess, Taylor and Tryon, Solicitors, 1, New Square, Lincoln’s Inn, W.C., and with orders to view of the Auctioneers, at their offices, 35, Bucklersbury, London, E.C.4.  Tel.City 5637. 

EAST GRINSTEAD – WITH POSSESION – THE FREEHOLD PROPERTY known as WARD’S FARM, with Cottage, good Stabling and FarmBuildings, and about 30 Acres of PastureLand fronting on the main road to Eastbourne, also a stone-built Residence of moderate size, but very completely fitted.

MESSRS. MATTHEWS, MATTHEWS, AND GOODMAN will offer in two lots this PROPERTY in their SALE as above. 

Particulars with Plans of Messrs. Soanes, Edwards and Jones, Solicitors, Lennox House, Norfolk-street, Strand, W.C., of F. W. Bullock Esq., Solicitor, 7, Stone buildings, Lincoln’s Inn, W.C. and at the Auctioneers’ Offices, 35, Bucklersbury, London, E.C.4.  Tel.City 5637.    

This advertisement appears to down grade the importance of Felbridge Place and its mansion and there is no mention of it ‘magnificently timbered’ Park or ‘Pleasure Grounds’, which have decreased in size to just 24 acres.  

The ‘Illustrated Particulars’ were duly produced and the auction took place of the Felbridge Place and Newchapel House Estate on 7^th May 1924; Felbridge Place appearing as Lot 2:

The Well Built Family Residence

Known as

FELBRIDGE PLACE

Which possesses a frontage of about 1,000 ft. to the main Eastbourne Road and about 440 ft to the Copthorne Road as shewn on the plan…  It is picturesquely situated on high ground and is surrounded by beautifully timbered ornamental grounds and park like meadowland covering in all about 24.877 acres. 

The house is in fair substantial condition, but requires modernising and decorating through-out but could be made a charming residence, or it is eminently suitable for the purpose of a school or Private Residential Hotel, for which the demand in the neighbourhood is very great. 

Garden and Accommodation

The residence contains on

The Top Floor

3 family Bedrooms measuring about 18ʹ x 18ʹ, 21ʹ x 20ʹ and 16ʹ x 15ʹ, Dressing-room, 3 servant’s Bedrooms, linen room, Housemaid’s cupboard and sink.

On the First Floor

approached by 2 staircases, 2 best Bedrooms about 18ʹ x18ʹ both with dressing-rooms, 4 large Family Bedrooms, with good cupboards, Bathroom with h. & c. supply and lavatory basin, 2 W.C.’s and housemaid’s sink.

On the Ground Floor

Entrance Hall about 13ʹ x 20ʹ and Lounge Hall with stove and mantel from which rises the staircase, 3 large reception rooms, the Dining-room having casement doors opening on to a colonnade, and thence to the garden, large conservatory with tiled floor.  The domestic offices comprise large Kitchen, Scullery, Servant’s Hall, Housemaid’s Pantry, also large Brewery with store room attached.  In the basement are spacious coal and wine cellars. 

Out-Buildings and Park Land

In the rear is a brick-built dairy, washhouse and store.  Opening off the main road by double gates, into a quadrangle are the brick-built and tiled stables having on the upper floor 3 Living rooms and W.C., with cupboards on landing.  On the ground floor 7 loose boxes, Coach house for 2 carriages, harness room, cart shed, coal and woodsheds and washhouse, potting and boiler house for heating greenhouses. 

There are charming gardens, and ornamental grounds around the house covering about 7 acres planted with a great variety of flowering and specimen trees with extensive laws and shrubberies.  Large and very productive kitchen garden, walled in part, and having many well mature fruit trees.  These ornamental grounds are surrounded by a terrace wall separating them from the Park and Wood-land beyond in which are a number of fine old forest trees. 

Sadly, the catalogue doesn’t have a schedule of the 24.877 acres and there is a surviving plan so it has been possible to determine exactly what constituted Felbridge Place, mansion, Park and grounds in the sale.  What is apparent is that the majority of the original Park, which had disappeared from the extent of Felbridge Place, was being auctioned off in several Lots described as ‘valuable building sites’.  Again, as in 1914, not all the Lots sold in 1924 and Felbridge Place was not listed as occupied in the 1925 Electoral roll.  However, in 1926, Percy Portway Harvey of Moorgate Station Chambers, City of London, land agent, conveyed Felbridge Place to Ethel Maud Mary Ready, wife of Arthur Ready [for further information see Handout, Eating and Drinking Establishments of Felbridge, Pt. 2, JIC/SJC 03/08], both of East Grinstead.  Thus, in September 1926, Felbridge Place mansion and its surrounding 24.877 acres became a Residential Hotel known as Felbridge Place Hotel & Country Club, being run by Arthur and Ethel Ready for the next four years.  During this time the Evelyn Monument, that had once stood tall and proud in the original Park was purchased and re-located to grounds of Lemmington Hall in Alnwick by Sir Stephen Aitchinson and several of the ‘valuable building plots’ fringing the Copthorne Road, began to be developed. 

On its opening, Felbridge Place Hotel & Country Club must have been perceived a threat to one of the other residential hotels in Felbridge – The Felbridge Hotel (originally opened in 1919 at Ye Olde Felbridge Hotel [for further information see Handout, Eating and Drinking Establishments of Felbridge, Pt. 1, SJC 05/07]) as in 1926, the proprietor of The Felbridge Hotel placed the following statement in the national press:

FELBRIDGE

Will all please note that The Felbridge Hotel, the Original Family and Motorists’ Hotel on the London-Eastbourne road, near East Grinstead, with a World-wide Reputation for comfort, homeliness, and good English food, has no connection whatever with an hotel recently opened in the near vicinity called Felbridge Park Hotel or Felbridge Place Hotel and Country club.

The Felbridge Hotel was originally established by, and is still run under the personal supervision of Major T. S. Inglis D.S.O., etc. 

In 1931, Felbridge Place Hotel was under new proprietors – Kenneth George Ring and his wife Kathleen Mary, although within a year George William Newling Ward is listed as owning Felbridge Place Hotel.  However, from 1933 to sometime around 1944, George’s brother John Ward is listed as ‘Hotel Keeper’, with John’s wife Clementine Augusta Ann (known as Augusta) as ‘assistant hotel’ (further information to follow in the future Handout, Residents of Felbridge Park aka Felbridge Place). 

During the eleven plus years in the ownership of the Wards, several articles and advertisements can be found regarding the hotel.  In October 1934, an application was made for Beacon Motor Coaches to stop at the Felbridge Place Hotel en route between Rotherfield and London and vice versa, which had the potential to increase resident stop-overs.  In 1935, an advertisement appeared stating: ‘Felbridge Place Hotel, near East Grinstead; country house, beautiful grounds; fine old trees; comfort and good cooking; hard tennis court; garage; from 3½ guineas’ and in 1936, the hotel also came with recommendations from the AA and RAC.  In 1939, ‘c.h.’ and ‘h.c.’ had been added, presumably central heating and hot and cold water.  

With the onset of World War II a Register was taken of the population of Britain and from this we know that besides John and Augusta there were 10 residents and 4 live-in members of staff at Felbridge Place Hotel.  When war broke out, the advertisements changed slightly to read ‘Outside the Danger Zone but convenient for London and the coast.  Felbridge Place Hotel near East Grinstead; country house, beautiful grounds; fine old trees; comfort and good cooking; hard tennis court; garage; from 4gns; Double from 7.  Special terms for permanent residents’.  

Advertisements continued to appear during the war years such as, ‘Felbridge Place Hotel, situated in 17 acres beautiful grounds.  All modern conveniences. Riding, Tennis and Croquet. Terms 5½ to 6½ gns’.  As you can see riding had also been introduced as a pastime available from the hotel and as the war drew to an end, the ‘spacious grounds of the Felbridge Place Hotel’ hosted an ‘Old English Pageant and Fair’ with all proceeds going towards the Guinea Pig Club.  It was around this date that the Felbridge Place Hotel was purchased by Herbert Cartwight for the sum of £13,000, who had, the preceding year, purchased shares in the Felbridge Hotel and Investment Company Ltd, and, in the same year, had formed the Three Counties Hotels Ltd with Harry F. Gatward of the Felbridge Hotel. 

An illustrated brochure for the Felbridge Place Hotel produced around this date stated:

Felbridge Place Hotel

Situated on the borders of Sussex and surrey and on the edge of the beautiful Ashdown forest with its famous Golf Course.

The Hotel combines the comfort, and pleasant, happy surrounding of the old Manor House with the amenities of the modern hotel.

The Grounds

The beautiful grounds extending to eighteen acre are very popular with guests in search of peace and quiet.  There are some very rare and wonderful old trees, some of which are famous throughout the country.  Old walled gardens and orchards provide both pleasure to walk in, and good fresh things to eat.

From the Riding Stables, attached to the Hotel – Guests can hire, Hacks and Ponies, for rides through the lovely surrounding countryside.  Hunters can also be hired during the season, for this is great hunting country, and the “Old Surrey and Burstow Hunt” have their kennels opposite the Hotel, at which the “meet” is often held.

For those who prefer to walk, there are plenty of woodland paths, and splendid lakes with good fishing.

Tariff

Bed & Breakfast from 15/-         Luncheon   5/-

Afternoon Tea  2/-                        Dinner 6/6

Garage (per night) 1/-

En Pension  25/- per day

Winter terms or long periods  £1/1/0 per day

Terms include – Attendance, Early morning Tea, Breakfast, Luncheon, Afternoon Tea, Dinner, Bath.

No charge is made for Tennis

 

The new Lounge Bar is a very attractive and popular feature, and the Hotel boasts a first class cellar.

Our reputation for really good food is very high, and guests can always rely on a good table, well served, in pleasant surroundings and a friendly atmosphere.

BEDROOMS are all fitted with hot and cold running water, and electric or gas fires. 

A good Taxi Service is available day and night. 

The brochure also shows that ‘the substantial brick-built stabling, mounted with clock turret’, had since 1911, been given a ‘Mock Tudor’ make-over, perhaps in keeping with various other properties built in the vicinity of Felbridge Place at The Limes on London Road and Star Cottages on Copthorne Road in the 1930’s and 40’s by local builders W H Heselden & Sons [for further information see Handout, Builders of Felbridge – W M Heselden & Sons, MH/JIC/SJC 09/17].  Luckily the mansion house itself escaped the make-over.  Another photograph from the brochure shows the elegant dining room (formerly the drawing room) with its ornately plastered ceiling and elegant, carved marble fireplace and a comfortable lounge area (incorporating the former hall) with its dado rail and another ‘marble’ fireplace.  

By March 1946, the Felbridge Place Hotel was offering a range of social events that had probably not been seen at the property since the 19^th century, with the introduction of dinner dances (open to non-residents) and performances in a newly created open air theatre that attracted several major acts of the era including the Russian Ballet League under direction of Madame N Nicolaeva-Legat.  Other attractions were the introduction of a Polo Club in 1946 and in 1947 the invitation to join the Woodgate Country Club and Swimming Pool at Pembury, another of Herbert Cartwright’s business ventures.  This new injection of social life at the Felbridge Place Hotel came to an end in 1949 when Herbert Cartwright sold the hotel for £19,500 to Chambré B Ponsonby (known as Col. Ponsonby) [for further information see Handout, and Drinking Establishments of Felbridge, Pt. 2, JIC/SJC 03/08]. 

Chambré B Ponsonby changed the name of the hotel from Felbridge Place Hotel to the White Duchess and in 1950, had the stable block converted into staff quarters and an annexe, in which he and his wife resided.  Photographs from around this date show the exterior ground and first floors of the mansion house painted white with the second floor left as un-painted brick; perhaps a reflection of the name ‘White Duchess’.  Amazingly the mansion house plot appears to have remained virtually unchanged since its depiction on the Ordnance Survey map of 1873, except that the glass houses along the north wall of the kitchen and fruit garden had been removed sometime between 1938 and 1955. 

The White Duchess Hotel closed its doors in the summer of 1955 and in the spring of 1956, Chambré B Ponsonby, still residing in the annex, applied for consent to ‘convert Felbridge Place mansion into 10 flats’ and to convert the of existing domestic building into 3 self-contained flats; approval was granted in both cases, the 10 flats on 30^th January 1956 and the self-contained flats on 5^th March 1956.  One of the builders who worked on the conversions was Ken Housman [for further information see Handout, Builders and Architects of Felbridge, Pt. 4, JIC/SJC 09/21] who recalled that when Felbridge Place mansion house was being converted into apartments, timber framing was discovered behind some of the Victorian interior, which he though could possibly be some of the original Heath Hatch building dating to 1670/90 that is known to have stood near or on the site before Felbridge House was re-modelled/re-built in 1763.  Other local residents have suggested that the house constructed in 1763 was faced with bricks during the ownership of the Gatty family in 1860 to provide work for the estate workers and was greatly modernised to accommodate the Victorian way of living, although this cannot be corroborated.  What is known is that by 1957, Felbridge Place and the afore mentioned domestic building had been converted and were both under multiply occupancy (further information to follow in the future Handout, Residents of Felbridge Park aka Felbridge Place). 

The closing years of Felbridge Place

Felbridge Place mansion survived as a series of flats until 1965 when the site was purchased by the Worshipful Company of Mercers for the re-location of Whittington College [for further information see Handout, Whittington College, SJC 10/00], which was under threat from a road-widening scheme at its location in Highgate.  The re-sited Whittington College opened in December 1966, at the cost of £250,000, the money for the project being obtained from the sale of the almshouse at Highgate, providing a village-like set up of 28 almshouse dwellings, with a Chapel dedicated to the Holy Ghost and Blessed Virgin located at the centre of the College.  The Chapel was originally built to seat forty-eight people but with later expansions of WhittingtonCollege, additional pews were added and it now seats eighty; a new porch was added in 1984.  During the extensive works, the original site of the Evelyn Chapel was discovered, which had been demolished as a condition of the construction of St John the DivineChurch in 1865; the site is now marked by a plaque. 

 

Around 1967, Whittington College purchased the property known as Arkendale, which had been built for Kenneth Gerard Frazer, south of the mansion house in 1937/8 on ground that had once been part of Felbridge Park (for further information see Handout, Shaws and Hodgehorne Farms, JIC/SJC 11/17).  By 1970, 7 single storey almshouse dwellings had been built to accommodate extra residents and in 1972, WhittingtonCollege was again expended, which sadly resulted the demolition of the mansion house, although the old stable block and some of the outbuildings were retained.  In 1978, Ebbisham Court was added which has twenty-one units.  This was purpose built to provide care for the more elderly residents of WhittingtonCollege and is west of the staff block that is housed in the former coach and stable block of Felbridge Place.  In 2015, the garages were demolished and replaced by 14 more almshouse dwellings, with an extension to the former Coach House to form a community space with associated landscaping and the formation of 10 parking spaces.  

Today, WhittingtonCollege sits within 22 acres of grounds, including parkland, woodland walks, a lake, an orchard and shrubberies, all once forming a small part of the original FelbridgePark.  Some of trees planted by the Gatty family are still standing and remnants of a wall hinting at the old ‘fruit-full’ walled garden can still be seen [for further information see Handout, Garden Designers & Horticulturalists of Felbridge, Pt. 1 – The Horticultural Legacy of the Evelyn and Gatty families, SJC 05/19]. 

Bibliography