Great Fosters
Encyclopedia
Great Fosters is a 16th century mansion which originally lay within Windsor Great Park
and is still adjacent to the town of Egham
, Surrey
, England. It is a Grade I listed building, close to Heathrow and the M25
London orbital motorway.
, and Sir Robert Foster owned the house in 1639. When he died in 1663 he left the house to his son, Sir Thomas Foster. Great Fosters remained in the family following his death in 1685 when it passed to his daughters. In 1715, Sir Charles Orbey resided here, and it was not until 1787 that one of Sir Thomas’ great grandsons sold the property to a Mr Wyatt for £700.
Early in the 20th century, Great Foster was owned by Baroness Halkett, Queen Alexandra’s lady in waiting. Later it passed to the Earl of Dudley
and then to the Hon. Gerald Montague. Today it is owned by the Sutcliffe family.
The front of the house was used in the opening title sequence of the 1950s TV comedy series Whack-O! set at a minor public school.
Also used in the Rank Organisation movie about the Titanic "A Night to Remember".
Frederick Furnivall was born at Egham, Surrey, the son of a surgeon who had made his fortune from running the Great Fosters lunatic asylum. Dr Furnivall had two other partners, one of whom was Sir John Chapman, one of the 300 founder members of The Royal College of Surgeons. Prior to the formation of this college, surgeons belonged to the Guild of Barbers and Surgeons. Sir John was one of “the modern thinkers” who believed that mental illness was not solely related to physical illness. No doubt his methods of treatment for mental illness were therefore quite revolutionary. Great Fosters thus became a lunatic asylum and despite this radical thinking he was described in local documentation as “Doctor to the Poor” in Windsor. It is believed, although not confirmed by Windsor Castle records, that Great Fosters was where King George III was housed when he was being treated for his insanity.
work in the porch
. It was at this time the initial tall chimney
s were built. However, these pinnacles were removed during World War II
after a bomb blast. They have been replaced by replicas.
A dominant feature of the house is the windows, all of which are stone mullion
s and transoms
with leaded lights.
It is now a 4-star hotel.
Windsor Great Park
Windsor Great Park is a large deer park of , to the south of the town of Windsor on the border of Berkshire and Surrey in England. The park was, for many centuries, the private hunting ground of Windsor Castle and dates primarily from the mid-13th century...
and is still adjacent to the town of Egham
Egham
Egham is a wealthy suburb in the Runnymede borough of Surrey, in the south-east of England. It is part of the London commuter belt and Greater London Urban Area, and about south-west of central London on the River Thames and near junction 13 of the M25 motorway.-Demographics:Egham town has a...
, 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 a Grade I listed building, close to Heathrow and the M25
M25 motorway
The M25 motorway, or London Orbital, is a orbital motorway that almost encircles Greater London, England, in the United Kingdom. The motorway was first mooted early in the 20th century. A few sections, based on the now abandoned London Ringways plan, were constructed in the early 1970s and it ...
London orbital motorway.
History
Judge John Dodderidge who was Solicitor General to King James IJames I of England
James VI and I was King of Scots as James VI from 24 July 1567 and King of England and Ireland as James I from the union of the English and Scottish crowns on 24 March 1603...
, and Sir Robert Foster owned the house in 1639. When he died in 1663 he left the house to his son, Sir Thomas Foster. Great Fosters remained in the family following his death in 1685 when it passed to his daughters. In 1715, Sir Charles Orbey resided here, and it was not until 1787 that one of Sir Thomas’ great grandsons sold the property to a Mr Wyatt for £700.
Early in the 20th century, Great Foster was owned by Baroness Halkett, Queen Alexandra’s lady in waiting. Later it passed to the Earl of Dudley
Earl of Dudley
Earl of Dudley, of Dudley Castle in the County of Stafford, is a title that has been created twice in the Peerage of the United Kingdom, both times for members of the Ward family. This family descends from Sir Humble Ward, the son of a wealthy goldsmith and jeweller to King Charles I...
and then to the Hon. Gerald Montague. Today it is owned by the Sutcliffe family.
The front of the house was used in the opening title sequence of the 1950s TV comedy series Whack-O! set at a minor public school.
Also used in the Rank Organisation movie about the Titanic "A Night to Remember".
Frederick Furnivall was born at Egham, Surrey, the son of a surgeon who had made his fortune from running the Great Fosters lunatic asylum. Dr Furnivall had two other partners, one of whom was Sir John Chapman, one of the 300 founder members of The Royal College of Surgeons. Prior to the formation of this college, surgeons belonged to the Guild of Barbers and Surgeons. Sir John was one of “the modern thinkers” who believed that mental illness was not solely related to physical illness. No doubt his methods of treatment for mental illness were therefore quite revolutionary. Great Fosters thus became a lunatic asylum and despite this radical thinking he was described in local documentation as “Doctor to the Poor” in Windsor. It is believed, although not confirmed by Windsor Castle records, that Great Fosters was where King George III was housed when he was being treated for his insanity.
The house
In about 1550, the original house was built as a symmetrical U-shaped Elizabethan homestead. It is probable that it was extended in the early 17th century because there is slightly larger brickBrick
A brick is a block of ceramic material used in masonry construction, usually laid using various kinds of mortar. It has been regarded as one of the longest lasting and strongest building materials used throughout history.-History:...
work in the porch
Porch
A porch is external to the walls of the main building proper, but may be enclosed by screen, latticework, broad windows, or other light frame walls extending from the main structure.There are various styles of porches, all of which depend on the architectural tradition of its location...
. It was at this time the initial tall chimney
Chimney
A chimney is a structure for venting hot flue gases or smoke from a boiler, stove, furnace or fireplace to the outside atmosphere. Chimneys are typically vertical, or as near as possible to vertical, to ensure that the gases flow smoothly, drawing air into the combustion in what is known as the...
s were built. However, these pinnacles were removed during World War II
World War II
World War II, or the Second World War , was a global conflict lasting from 1939 to 1945, involving most of the world's nations—including all of the great powers—eventually forming two opposing military alliances: the Allies and the Axis...
after a bomb blast. They have been replaced by replicas.
A dominant feature of the house is the windows, all of which are stone mullion
Mullion
A mullion is a vertical structural element which divides adjacent window units. The primary purpose of the mullion is as a structural support to an arch or lintel above the window opening. Its secondary purpose may be as a rigid support to the glazing of the window...
s and transoms
Transom (architectural)
In architecture, a transom is the term given to a transverse beam or bar in a frame, or to the crosspiece separating a door or the like from a window or fanlight above it. Transom is also the customary U.S. word used for a transom light, the window over this crosspiece...
with leaded lights.
It is now a 4-star hotel.