Bentley, Rolls-Royce, or perhaps a humble Morris Minor? Woodcote Park has seen them all. This grand estate near Epsom boasts a rich history intertwined with powerful families and the dawn of motoring.
Woodcote Park started as part of the Manor of Horton. Back in 1440, the Abbot of Chertsey granted the land to John Merston and his wife Rose.
Fast forward to 1679. Richard Evelyn built the main mansion house. Even Samuel Pepys noted it in his diary. Later, Elizabeth Evelyn bequeathed Woodcote Park to Charles Calvert. He was the 3rd Baron Baltimore and governor of Maryland.
Celia Fiennes described Woodcote Park around 1712. She noted the walled entrance and the old but large house spread across the grounds.
In 1715, Benedict Calvert inherited Woodcote Park. His son Charles Calvert, the 5th Baron Baltimore, made significant changes. He added a Palladian facade. Though some family members thought he was pulling everything down.
Frederick Calvert, the 6th Baron Baltimore, inherited the estate in 1751. Horace Walpole claimed Frederick made the interior “tawdry” in the “French” style.
Moving into the 19th century, around 1828, Woodcote Park was described as impressive. The mansion had a stone-cased basement. Inside, Corinthian columns adorned the hall. The library was a splendid room with gilding on a blue ground.
The Royal Automobile Club purchased Woodcote Park in 1913. They wanted a country club with a golf course. Sadly, the RAC removed many of the fine interiors commissioned by the Calverts.
During the First World War, the War Office requisitioned Woodcote Park. It became a military training camp. Later, it transformed into a convalescent hospital. Over 20,600 patients were admitted in the first year. These patients included troops from Britain, Canada, Australia, New Zealand, and South Africa.
In 1916, the Canadian Army Medical Corps took over. It became the largest Canadian convalescent hospital in Britain.
After the war, in 1927, a drawing room from Woodcote Park was shipped to Boston. Today, you can see it at the Museum of Fine Arts.
Fire struck in 1934. It gutted the house. Fortunately, the outer pavilions remained. Mewès and Davis rebuilt the house. They restored the facade to its original design.
The military used Woodcote Park again during the Second World War. The gardens became farmland for the war effort. A Hawker Hurricane even made an emergency landing on the golf course.
Today, Woodcote Park is one of the Royal Automobile Club’s clubhouses. This Grade II listed building has two 18-hole golf courses. So, as you explore Woodcote Park, remember its past. From the Calverts to soldiers and daring pilots, Woodcote Park remains a place of stories.