Burford Bridge Hotel
Encyclopedia
Burford Bridge Hotel is an historic hotel in the village of Mickleham
, Surrey
, England. It is to the south of Leatherhead
and north of Dorking
at the foot of Box Hill
on the River Mole. It is now owned by Mercure Hotels
.
Public Trust purchased it from Sir Trevor Lawrence, it changed permanently to the Burford Bridge Hotel, later merging with Trusthouses in 1948.
On a fresh November day the young poet, John Keats
escaped from London and took a room overlooking the gardens and found inspiration to complete his epic poem ‘Emdymion’ on 28 November 1817.
The beauty to be found in this small section of Surrey did not inspire John Keats alone. It provided sanctuary for many visitors weighed down by their responsibilities of the World: Queen Victoria, Jane Austen
. Wordsworth, Sheridan
and Robert Louis Stevenson
have all frequented the Burford Bridge over the years.
It was here too that Lord Nelson spent secret hours with his love Emma Hamilton, before going to vanquish Napoleon's fleet at the Battle of Trafalgar
, during which Admiral Nelson met his untimely death.
The 16th century Medieval Tithe Barn
with beams allegedly from ships of the Spanish Armada
was re-erected adjoining the hotel in 1934. Before that it was originally in the neighbouring village of Abinger Hammer
. In the same year that the Burford Bridge acquired the Tithe Barn the outdoor swimming pool was opened.
The Garden Bedrooms were built in 1973 and adjoin the main Hotel.
Mickleham
Mickleham may refer to:* Mickleham, Victoria, Australia* Mickleham, Surrey, England...
, Surrey
Surrey
Surrey is a county in the South East of England and is one of the Home Counties. The county borders Greater London, Kent, East Sussex, West Sussex, Hampshire and Berkshire. The historic county town is Guildford. Surrey County Council sits at Kingston upon Thames, although this has been part of...
, England. It is to the south of Leatherhead
Leatherhead
Leatherhead is a town in the County of Surrey, England, on the River Mole, part of Mole Valley district. It is thought to be of Saxon origin...
and north of Dorking
Dorking
Dorking is a historic market town at the foot of the North Downs approximately south of London, in Surrey, England.- History and development :...
at the foot of Box Hill
Box Hill, Surrey
Box Hill is a summit of the North Downs in Surrey, approximately south west of London. The hill takes its name from the ancient box woodland found on the steepest west-facing chalk slopes overlooking the River Mole. The western part of the hill is owned and managed by the National Trust, whilst...
on the River Mole. It is now owned by Mercure Hotels
Mercure Hotels
Mercure Hotels are a brand of hotels run by French multinational corporation Accor.Most Mercure hotels are positioned between Ibis and Novotel in the Accor estate. There is also a five star branch of Mercures known as Grand Mercures...
.
History
The Hotel was founded in 1254 as the 'Fox and Hounds', and parts of the existing hotel date back to 16th century. In 1882 the hotel become the Hare & Hounds (commonly known then as the Burford Bridge) when in 1905, SurreySurrey
Surrey is a county in the South East of England and is one of the Home Counties. The county borders Greater London, Kent, East Sussex, West Sussex, Hampshire and Berkshire. The historic county town is Guildford. Surrey County Council sits at Kingston upon Thames, although this has been part of...
Public Trust purchased it from Sir Trevor Lawrence, it changed permanently to the Burford Bridge Hotel, later merging with Trusthouses in 1948.
On a fresh November day the young poet, John Keats
John Keats
John Keats was an English Romantic poet. Along with Lord Byron and Percy Bysshe Shelley, he was one of the key figures in the second generation of the Romantic movement, despite the fact that his work had been in publication for only four years before his death.Although his poems were not...
escaped from London and took a room overlooking the gardens and found inspiration to complete his epic poem ‘Emdymion’ on 28 November 1817.
The beauty to be found in this small section of Surrey did not inspire John Keats alone. It provided sanctuary for many visitors weighed down by their responsibilities of the World: Queen Victoria, Jane Austen
Jane Austen
Jane Austen was an English novelist whose works of romantic fiction, set among the landed gentry, earned her a place as one of the most widely read writers in English literature, her realism and biting social commentary cementing her historical importance among scholars and critics.Austen lived...
. Wordsworth, Sheridan
Richard Brinsley Sheridan
Richard Brinsley Butler Sheridan was an Irish-born playwright and poet and long-term owner of the London Theatre Royal, Drury Lane. For thirty-two years he was also a Whig Member of the British House of Commons for Stafford , Westminster and Ilchester...
and Robert Louis Stevenson
Robert Louis Stevenson
Robert Louis Balfour Stevenson was a Scottish novelist, poet, essayist and travel writer. His best-known books include Treasure Island, Kidnapped, and Strange Case of Dr Jekyll and Mr Hyde....
have all frequented the Burford Bridge over the years.
Battle of Trafalgar
The Battle of Trafalgar was a sea battle fought between the British Royal Navy and the combined fleets of the French Navy and Spanish Navy, during the War of the Third Coalition of the Napoleonic Wars ....
, during which Admiral Nelson met his untimely death.
The 16th century Medieval Tithe Barn
Tithe barn
A tithe barn was a type of barn used in much of northern Europe in the Middle Ages for storing the tithes - a tenth of the farm's produce which had to be given to the church....
with beams allegedly from ships of the Spanish Armada
Spanish Armada
This article refers to the Battle of Gravelines, for the modern navy of Spain, see Spanish NavyThe Spanish Armada was the Spanish fleet that sailed against England under the command of the Duke of Medina Sidonia in 1588, with the intention of overthrowing Elizabeth I of England to stop English...
was re-erected adjoining the hotel in 1934. Before that it was originally in the neighbouring village of Abinger Hammer
Abinger Hammer
Abinger Hammer is a village situated on the A25 between Dorking and Guildford in Surrey, England. It lies with the parish of Abinger which includes Abinger Common and Sutton Abinger...
. In the same year that the Burford Bridge acquired the Tithe Barn the outdoor swimming pool was opened.
The Garden Bedrooms were built in 1973 and adjoin the main Hotel.