Wotton

 

Church Road

St.John the Evangelist’s church.  On a knoll avenue of chestnuts. The church is near an ancient droveway to the Weald – and stands on a spur overlooking a stretch of the Downs.  Excavations have found thick walls of a former church which had been burnt down and was probably late Saxon. Above this a small rubble church had ben built which lined to the present church tower- and this was extended as time went on. The tiny heads over the door refer to interdict of Pope Innocent III in 1213.  Horsham slate roof.  It is is in the Early English style with Tudor arches and has a Norman tower with three bells. The church contains the tomb of John Evelyn, the essayist, who died February 1706. (think it might be his son, and the head was stolen in the 1990s).  

Guildford Road

Wotton Hatch Hotel. Fuller Smith and Turner tied house in 1970s

Sheephouse Lane

Start of a long drove road which goes down to Leith Hill and Oakwood in Surrey.  It climbs the sandstone ridges as an unmetalled trackway.  Wotton Manor held a subordinate chapel at Oakwood and the whole system is related to sheep and swine pastures held by settlements on the downs.

Wooton House Estate

Wotton House, the residence of Mrs. Evelyn and consists of an irregular mass of things interesting as having been the birthplace of the great diarist and author of Sylva on 31 October 1620. Evelyn born ther. Attractive house.  Now Fire Service College (1950s)  The mansion is pleasantly situated in the valley and surrounded by plantations, with a stream flowing near it

Wotton had been acquired by George Evelyn in 1579 – he was a gunpowder manufacturer.  His younger son Richard succeeded and expanded the business followed by less enthusiasm by his son George, brother of the diarist.

Some of the garden remains intact.  20 acres of parkland featuring Italian garden created in 1640 by George Evelyn and designed by his brother John the eminent designer and diarist. Terraced mount, classical garden, temple statuary, tortoise house and grottoes. Recently restored and held to be the first example of an Italian style garden in England

Tortoise House. Folly plus terrapin pool

Ice House This is situated in the bank, close to where the footpath from Friday Street, which passes to the east of the ponds in Wotton House grounds,  turns to the right just above the house.

Gunpowder mill . traces have been found of 17th century wire mills and gunpowder mills connected to Wotton House. During the early part of the 17th century the works comprised a copper mill for converting copper ingots into brass, and a wire works for turning the brass into goods such as chains, fish hooks and curtain rings.

Comments

Post a Comment

Popular posts from this blog

Bromley by Bow

Post to the west (north west quarter) Mile End Post to the west (north east quarter) Post to the east Bromley by Bow Post to the north Old Ford Addington Road Addington Arms . Pub dating from the 1860s. It does not appear to be still there. Police stables . From 1938 twenty horses were located here. These stables were built in moderne style white concrete by police surveyor Gilbert Mackenzie Trench. There is a stable at the back as well as tack rooms and a chimney for the forge – there was a full time farrier. Above are two flats for married police officers. The white concrete wall is original.  Alfred Street 1-5 Inland Revenue Office . Sold off 1981. Has been used as a college an as offices Almshouses Way, This was once called Priscilla Street.  1 Drapers' Almshouses . These were built in 1706.  What remains is a brick group of four tenements with central raised and pedimented chapel. They were restored in 1982 but were originally part of a larger group funded by
Read more

South Norwood

Post to the south Woodside Post to the east Birkbeck Post to the north Anerley Albert Road This road is the earliest built here, first listed in 1855, and although the Croydon Canal was no longer in use it influenced the alignment of the road. From the junction with Portland Road looking the curve of the road reflects the line of the old canal which was to the north of the houses. It is named after Albert, the Prince Consort. 74-76 Stanleybury . Very large three-storey semis. Built for William Stanley, who moved to 74 in 1867. William Stanley’s works in South Norwood was complimented by his local philanthropy. His site is now a close of modern flats. Accidentally demolished. 67 small trading estate and MOT centre .  At one time this was home to a theatre transport specialist. St.Mark . This was the first church in the area and is the parish church by G. H. Lewis. The nave was built in 1852 and the church was extended in 1862 and in successive years until 1890. It is in Kentis
Read more

River Lea/Bow Creek Canning Town

River Lea/Bow Creek The Lea winds itself generally southwards towards the Thames TQ 39505 81448 Canning Town on the Essex bank of Lea/Bow Creek. This was, and is, a heavily industrialised area together with a very down market housing area with markets, shops, cinemas, pubs and many charitable and missionary organisations. In the 2000s public transport has been transformed and much housing renewed, and it is an area in a great deal of change. Post to the west Poplar Post to the south Leamouth   and Dome Post to the east Canning Town, Butchers Road Post to the north West Ham Station Appleby Road The road is named after a local ARP warden who was killed during the Blitz. A pre-war suburban ideal is demonstrated in this West Ham estate. Barking Road It was built by the Commercial Road Turnpike Trust from the East India Docks eastwards. Now the A124 it formed part of the original A13 before the building so the East Ham  and Barking Bypass in 1928. It was widened as part o
Read more