Brewing fortunes and botanical passions shaped South Lodge. Frederick Du Cane Godman built this grand estate in 1883. He inherited his wealth from the Whitbread and Co brewing company. Yet, his true passion lay in the natural world.
Godman stands as one of Britain’s most remarkable naturalists. His bronze tablet resides in the Natural History Museum foyer. Inspired by Darwin’s Origin of the Species, he studied Central American fauna and flora with a close friend. Their work culminated in the “Biologia Centrali-Americana”. It took decades to complete this comprehensive book. It described 50263 species. An impressive 19263 were new discoveries.
Beyond the natural world, Frederick collected Islamic pottery. It became one of the finest collections globally. His travels spanned the Eastern Mediterranean. He even witnessed the Crimean War in 1855. His collection expanded to include artifacts from the West Indies, Egypt, South Africa, Rhodesia, and Iran.
Dame Alice, Frederick’s second wife, matched his zeal. She explored and gardened with enthusiasm. She gathered rare orchids, alpine plants, and magnolias at South Lodge. The estate rivaled Leonardslee in Rhododendron hybrid planting. Alice earned a D.B.E. for her Red Cross service during the Great War. Later, she became deputy president of the Society. She also served as Girl Guide commissioner in Sussex.
Upon Frederick’s death in 1919, his pottery collection remained at South Lodge. His wife and daughters, Eva and Edith, cared for it after World War II. Growing up here, the sisters acquired varied interests. Eva co-authored a book on Somaliland birds. Both daughters became joint Girl Guide commissioners from 1945 to 1960. They welcomed scholars and visitors from around the world.
Eva passed away in 1965. Edith then managed the Islamic collection and the house. True to her father’s wishes, she bequeathed the Godman Collection to the British Museum. Edith died in 1982 while waiting for a taxi to the Chelsea Flower Show. Her bequest marked the largest private donation to the British Museum in decades. You can still view it today.
The estate was then sold by Frederick’s great-great-nephew. In 1984, Christie’s auctioned the house contents. The catalogue spanned 100 pages with 902 items. These included Vertu objects, paintings, furniture, textiles, and Islamic art. The family discovered the value of Du Cane Godman’s drawings at this time. The naturalist had acquired original watercolours for John Gould’s “The Birds of Asia”. He also bought illustrations for Gould’s British and Australian bird books.
The family sold the bird illustrations a decade later. In 1985, Exclusive Hotels Group transformed South Lodge into a hotel. Today, South Lodge balances contemporary updates with traditional charm. The lounge was refurbished with restored wallpaper and new furniture. Original William Morris wallpaper still lines the corridors.
South Lodge strives to maintain its country house feel. It blends history with a great hotel experience. The Sussex Wing offers modern rooms. The main house retains traditional features. Natalia Phillips, the Tea Sommelier, offers hundreds of tea options.
The Pass, South Lodge’s Michelin-starred restaurant, gained recognition under Head Chef Matt Gillan. The hotel also champions English wine. Nyetimber wine is a popular choice. South Lodge hosted financial leaders during the G20 summit in London. High security marked the event. Treasury Secretary Tim Geithner and Chancellor Alistair Darling were among the guests. South Lodge welcomes all for lunch, afternoon tea, or dinner. You do not need to stay here to enjoy the hotel.