The PoW as it looked in the 1940s, I think, when it was run by Mrs. Mitchener of 103 Holmesdale Rd. My greataunt Charlotte and Capt. Van Oppen imbibed there 1948-51.

I lived in Holmesdale Rd, and my Dad used to Drive Mrs Mitcheners car for her. I remember Charlotte, I think she lived with Mrs Mitchener at 103. I used to get invited there for supper sometimes and we used to have curry, it was delicious. I lost my Mum when I was 11 and I remember Charlotte being so kind and loving to me. What a lovely Lady. I think Mrs Mitchener used to run the Railway Hotel at the end of Holmesdale Rd. as well.

Beryl Newton is my cousin. I love this photo, as this is how I remember her: full of life, a great sense of humour, and full of stories about her overseas trips. I live in Australia, but hold very dear memories of Beryl.

Beryl Newton (or Mrs Newton, as we called her!) was my first teacher at Holmesdale CP, in 1958. She was a very nice lady!

Miss Newton was a lovely lady. When my Mum died in 1960 I was 11 and in my last year at Holmesdale, when she found out I had lost my Mum she came and held me in her arms for a long time ( something you would not be allowed to do now ) she really was the kindest, sweetest lady.

This is my photo. Beryl Newton became a family friend. 2 of the boys in this photo, myself and Richard Cripps, were privileged to speak at Beryl's funeral, about 3 years after we held a reunion (2008) in the former school's building which Beryl and some 36 pupils came to. Me front left, Richard front 3rd from left.

For Penny Stapley, Comment 1, and Roger Campbell Comment 3, above. I was in Beryl Newton's class when my father died in 1956. She wrote my mother a wonderful letter, and they became lifelong friends. She ended the letter: "if there is anything that I can do to help you, or Peter, please do let me know. Remember me to Peter (I was off school for a while) and give him my love."

Hi there, please could you let me know the original source of the above still and where I may be able to find a larger collection of Earlswood Asylum stills (exterior & interior) circa 1880 to 1997. With thanks and best

Hi Ginita. All I know about the above is that the picture appeared in the Illustrated London News in 1854. There are some displays from Earlswood Asylum in the Belfry Shopping Centre in Redhill. You might be able to find out more from the person who maintains them, but I'm afraid I wouldn't know who to contact. There has been a book published I believe on the history of the Asylum too. I think I've got a copy, but don't know if I can easily put my hands on it.

Hi there, please could you let me know the original source of the above still and where I may be able to find a larger collection of Earlswood Asylum stills (exterior & interior) circa 1880 to 1997. With thanks and best

Hi Ginita. All I know about the above is that the picture appeared in the Illustrated London News in 1854. There are some displays from Earlswood Asylum in the Belfry Shopping Centre in Redhill. You might be able to find out more from the person who maintains them, but I'm afraid I wouldn't know who to contact. There has been a book published I believe on the history of the Asylum too. I think I've got a copy, but don't know if I can easily put my hands on it.

This was in my Dad's family at some point in time - not sure of when but was there in Aug 2008 but only at the gate. Unfortunately, we could not get into the grounds. Would have been fab if we could have!!

My father in father - law's mother grew up here as daughter of the housekeeper and gardener and he often visited in his childhood in the 1930's. I would love to be able to take him back to visit so if anyone knows how that would be great!

@ Sandra Arthurs: if this British history website (www.british-history.ac.uk/report.aspx?compid=42950) is reliable, the Wonham family appear to have owned Wonham Manor only until 1646.

I am also a Wonham. we dont know much about our history but I would love to know more... Rumor through the family is that the Wonhams lost the Manor due to gambling debts?

I have always wanted to go and see Wonham Manor... Maybe one day :-)

My mother was born and grew up here in the 1930's. Her father was chauffeur and they lived in a cottage in the grounds. She told me many tails of life there.

I was the housekeeper and my husband was the chef from 1976-1980, we lived in a cottage in the grounds, ''wilkie'' was the butler and we worked for Mr De-Lazlo and Lady Sharples.

Gemma Knight or Linda Peirce from comments #2 and 5. Please contact me at Box 527, Golden, B.C. V0A 1H0. I'm fairly sure we have the same ancestors. Would love to verify.

My uncle was the Edward Wilkie The Butler at wonham Manor in the Mid Sixties up till he retired i think in the 1980 Approx,as a Boy I spent many School Holidays there along with My Sister Heather Burgess,we stay with My Uncle Edward Wilkie and Ethal Wilkie(Maiden Name :Burgess) in the Butlers Cottage,I remember Mr& Mrs De-Lazlo Very well there son,they had 3 Daughter's the Youngest being Charman De-lazlo, she had a pony called sailor, the Actor Oliver Read would come to stay sometimes, and my uncle Wilkie recovered him from the swimming pool a few time,after Mr Read had drake to much of the De-Lazlo's whisky,Princess Ann would come to stay and to go Horse Riding with the De-lazlo Girls,I can remember Mr Mac the Chef,and Mr Buzzbie the Gardener he had a wife and 3 boys 1 Daughter,they lived in the Cottage at the top of the main Drive way, I play in the Gardens with the Buzzbie Boy my sister Heather would Hang around the stables to get a ride on the Horse, she still Rides to this Day ,Thanks to the Free riding Lesson from the De-Lazlo Family I Learned to Swim in the De-Lazlo's Swimming pool,when they where away from the house,Very Happy Times, I would like to say thank you to the De-Lazlo Family for the kind way they treated my Uncle "Wilkie the Butler"

I have been at Wonham Manor now for 11 years.

FAO Jason Hughes: Jason, I hope you don't mind me contacting you via here, but I was hoping to get in touch regarding information about the Wonham Estate, and therefore wondered if you would kindly contact me please? Many thanks.

Your welcome to call or email me

(phone number removed by oldreigate)

You are welcome to come and visit at anytime. Just ring the bell on the Gates

Best wishes

Jason Hughes

Hi there Jason,

I was wondering if you might be able to advise what's happening in the grounds at the moment? Thanks!

My maternal grandmother was a Wonham and I am doing history into the family and wondered if anyone can give me any details of the history of the Manor, Mill and Lane

After reading the comments posted. Comment 8 Lesley makes reference to my uncle Arthur Busby, the gardener. As a small boy, our family spent time during one summer (late 60's?)at the gate house for our holiday. From a northern industrial town (Scunthorpe) days spent in the country, exploring the woods and riding in the grass box on the tractor was heavenly. If business takes me in that direction, I would love to have a look at the place again after all these years.

Hello Comment 9 - Jason Hughes, are you still living there? If so I am a photographer and I am doing a project on ancient places of beauty would you let me know if your interested in letting me come visit one day. I live in reigate :) Georgia

My grandparents lived in the gate house in the late 70s. Grandma being the housekeeper and grandad the gardener. As mentioned previously, i too swam in the pool, road my pony which was kept in the paddock next to the walled garden and walked across the stepping stones on the lake. I would wake up in the bedroom at the back of the bungalow with the horses looking threw the window. Does anyone remember the tortoise who used to pop up all around the garden? I believe my grandparents move when the De-Lazlo's moved on. I also remember 'wilkie' and Mr Mac but more by name than face as i was very young and enjoying the freedom of being an imaginary princess that the De-Lazlo's and this beautiful property allowed me to be. Such memories are priceless!!!

Hi, would love to know if anyone followed Jason Hughes invitation and visited the Manor. Do we know if anyone resides there currently? Would love to visit, the history is fascinating. Alex

I have lived at Wonham Manor now for 16 years with my Wife and three boy's. You are more that welcome to pop round for Tea or coffee and walk around the grounds. View the Manor. Great to hear the stories above. Just write a letter to Wonham Manor, Betchworth, Surrey RH3 7AD with your details and I will ring / email you back.

So good to read all of these comments. My father was a gardner and my mother one of the house keepers, approximately 1965. We lived in one of the Gardners Cottages on Wonham Lane. My father was Ronnie Skelton and my mum Isabella (Bella) I used to play with Charmian when she was home and the Busby children, I was very friendly with their daughter but sadly I can't remember her name. We rode to Redhill on our bikes one day and couldn't get back so Mr Busby had to come and collect us..I so remember Mr Mac and Wilkie, Mr Mac used to take my mum to Reigate to do her food shopping as we didn't own a car, they were all such lovely people. Sadly we were only there for approximately 1 year, we then moved onto Hadley Woods, Herts. My sister Margaret used to work in London with Damon De Lazlo. I was told the house had been demolished many years ago so it's good to hear it's still there and lived in. On my next visit to the UK I would love to visit the area, it's such a beautiful place.

Hi to anyone who lived in the Manor. I live opposite in Wonham Hill Cottage, built as service accommodation for 'Wonham Hill'. I'm trying to get a list of inhabitants of Wonham Hill Cottage since it was built c.1910. Any leads/info would be gratefully received.

will check my records tomorrow. Have paperwork going back to 1565 when wonham manor was built.

Hi i have cycled passed Wonham manor with my cycling club Anerley bc many times from about 1989 often wondered who lived there,how many deer are in the park,what the history of the place is.

This is so lovely to read, such a beautiful house with so much history.. great that you can all share stories and hopefully find some more information! It’s truest great how much information you can find now days and family history is especially important, so very nice to hear 😊 We walk past Wonham Manor to see the deer so often, they put such a smile on my face, especially at this difficult time! Would love to know how long they have been there? How many are there? They all look so happy, playing together and with the rabbits 🐇

I am a decendant of the Stable Familly who lived here in the late 18th early 19th century before moving to Moore Place. We have traced family back to the 15th century and the Munro;s in Scotland. We believe that Dorothy Stable was gifted the house by her father but not sure if he lived here. There is a plaque in the church. We would love to visit and learn anymore about the history and maybe meet any more familly members. Some familly paintings are in the National Portrait Gallary and there is a print of Dorothy with her daughters available. There son Edward was in the Coldstream Guards and was killed at the battle of Waterloo where there is a monument to him.

Sophie Molk the deer have been here from 1991. We have 280 Deer at the moment. They are Fallow Deer.

My husband lived in Betchworth during the war. He says there were deer in the park then. Do you ever open for visits Jason?

All you have to do is ring the bell on the gates. We put deer back in the park in 1992. During the WW2 the Canadian Army occupied the Manor. Lets get over the pandemic we are in first. How old is your Husband?

Thank you. He's 83. He was only in Betchworth from about 1940 until 1945. His father was the baker for the village.

I remember being in Betwchworth in 1987 and have cycled passed wonham manor many a time since im 52 now and have moved to the USA. IM COMING 2027, SEE YOU SOON ;) !! http://www.savewalterwhite.com/

Jason Hughes, I stated a while ago now that my husband and myself both worked at Wonham Manor in the late 70s (him as the chef and me as the housekeeper) and I was wondering if it would be possible if I could visit the manor with my daughter (who was a young child whilst we worked there).

Jason Hughes would it be possible to have a contact number or e-mail address so I can contact you to arrange a visit as I live in Bournemouth and I do not want to risk travelling from Bournemouth if there is no-one there. Many thanks.

This was demolished to make way for the current meeting house c 1980. It is built over the compacted graves of former Friends so as not to disturb their often unknown locations by digging foundations

This photo was published in the Surrey Mirror in about 1981 with a letter from Mr Ross. I wrote to him then and got an interesting letter in reply. I would like to be put in touch with him again if that is possible as I would like to have a copy of this image for my own records. Thank you.

Hi Peter.

I've emailed Michael with your contact details, so I hope that he'll be in touch.

Paul.

THis photo is from the Croydon Natural History and Scientific Society collection, and was scanned by me (you can see the tell-tale scanning streaks of my old rubbish scanner!) and forwarded to Adrian for his family interest. It is good to see it here, but I thought I should point out the true origin of the picture.

Hi Peter. Sorry for not labelling these pictures correctly with their origin. Thanks for correcting it. Hope that the use of the photos is okay.

This photo was published in the Surrey Mirror in about 1981 with a letter from Mr Ross. I wrote to him then and got an interesting letter in reply. I would like to be put in touch with him again if that is possible as I would like to have a copy of this image for my own records. Thank you.

Hi Peter.

I've emailed Michael with your contact details, so I hope that he'll be in touch.

Paul.

See my comments on the previous images.

William Albert Joy (far right) was my grandfather. He lived at Sheepwalk Cottage, The Clears for many years and I remeber it fondly.

I was born in Sheepwalk Cottage. My parents are Leonard and Diana Joy. I remember Brian and Kevin Joy from family holidays.

I was born, when my parents lived in SHEEPWALK COTTAGE, The Clears.My parents were Freda and Sid (Cedric)Joy. The above named Brenda and Brian Joy are my cousins both being children of my father's brothers, Brian Derrick Joy and Leonard Joy. My grandfather is pictured far right of this photo, Albert William Joy. Would love to contact either of the above or anyone who is part of the Joy Family. Contact me on: suzyaries263@hotmail.co.uk

Hello,

Its great to see so many of your posts regarding the photos of the Clears Hearthstone Mine that where so kindly made available by Peter Burgess "thank you Peter"

If anyone has any information or Photos, regarding the Joy family of Reigate & Godstone I would love to hear from you, and would be more than happy to share our tree with you, currently dating back to the late 18th century.

Please contact me by leaving a message here, or submitting a general enquiry in the contact link (above) marked for my attention.

Kind Regards

Adrian Joy

I am the grandson of Alice Joy and would love a copy of our family tree.

My names is Michael Smith, my mother was Phyllis Alice Joy, the daughter of Charlie Joy. Albert Joy was my great grandfather. My mother Phyllis Joy married Thomas Smith also of Reigate. Brian Joy was kind enough to take me up Sheepwalk several years ago. Would love to hear from any member or information on the Joy family. Please respond to email address below. Thank you. Mike Smith ontario1950@gmail.com