Pennyhill Park Hotel
Encyclopedia
Pennyhill Park is a 19th century five star
country house hotel and spa in Bagshot, Surrey
in the south east of England
.
Pennyhill Park is noteworthy for being the home training ground chosen for the England Rugby Team
until the end of the 2011-12 season. The team requested its own pitchside gym and fitness rooms, which were later constructed on the hotel premises.
in 1588. The construction of the country house itself was started in 1849 by James Hodges, an accomplished civil engineer who would later manage the construction of Montreal's Victoria Bridge
, the longest bridge in the world at the time. The buildings were improved in the 1880s to add in an Orangery, and again in 1903 with Bath stone
work. In 1935, then-owner Colin Goldsworthy Heywood developed the terracing of its formal gardens after being impressed by similar work at the Chateau de Villandry
in France
. The British government used Pennyhill Park's grounds and its accommodation buildings as lodging for military personnel in World War I
(the land is five miles (8 km) from Royal Military Academy Sandhurst
). This was mainly for commissioned officers. The country house opened its doors as a hotel in 1972; its restaurant is headed by celebrity Chef Michael Wignall, who has appeared on shows such as Great British Menu
during his time there.
in the south east of England
. The nearest airport
is London Heathrow Airport
and the nearest train stations are Ascot
, Sunningdale
or Bagshot's own station (Station Road).
Star (classification)
Stars are often used as symbols for classification purposes. They are used by reviewers for ranking things such as movies, TV shows, restaurants, and hotels. For example, one to five stars is commonly employed to categorize hotels.-Restaurant ratings:...
country house hotel and spa in Bagshot, 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...
in the south east of England
England
England is a country that is part of the United Kingdom. It shares land borders with Scotland to the north and Wales to the west; the Irish Sea is to the north west, the Celtic Sea to the south west, with the North Sea to the east and the English Channel to the south separating it from continental...
.
Pennyhill Park is noteworthy for being the home training ground chosen for the England Rugby Team
England national rugby union team
The England national rugby union team represents England in rugby union. They compete in the annual Six Nations Championship with France, Ireland, Scotland, Italy, and Wales. They have won this championship on 26 occasions, 12 times winning the Grand Slam, making them the most successful team in...
until the end of the 2011-12 season. The team requested its own pitchside gym and fitness rooms, which were later constructed on the hotel premises.
History
The first historical reference to Pennyhill Park Hotel's land relates to when the site was used as a warning beacon point in the national defence against the Spanish ArmadaSpanish 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...
in 1588. The construction of the country house itself was started in 1849 by James Hodges, an accomplished civil engineer who would later manage the construction of Montreal's Victoria Bridge
Victoria Bridge (Montreal)
Victoria Bridge , formerly originally known as Victoria Jubilee Bridge, is a bridge over the St. Lawrence River, linking Montreal, Quebec, to the south shore city of Saint-Lambert....
, the longest bridge in the world at the time. The buildings were improved in the 1880s to add in an Orangery, and again in 1903 with Bath stone
Bath Stone
Bath Stone is an Oolitic Limestone comprising granular fragments of calcium carbonate. Originally obtained from the Combe Down and Bathampton Down Mines under Combe Down, Somerset, England, its warm, honey colouring gives the World Heritage City of Bath, England its distinctive appearance...
work. In 1935, then-owner Colin Goldsworthy Heywood developed the terracing of its formal gardens after being impressed by similar work at the Chateau de Villandry
Château de Villandry
The Château de Villandry is a castle-palace located in Villandry, in the département of Indre-et-Loire, France.The lands where an ancient fortress once stood were known as Colombier until the 17th century...
in France
France
The French Republic , The French Republic , The French Republic , (commonly known as France , is a unitary semi-presidential republic in Western Europe with several overseas territories and islands located on other continents and in the Indian, Pacific, and Atlantic oceans. Metropolitan France...
. The British government used Pennyhill Park's grounds and its accommodation buildings as lodging for military personnel in World War I
World War I
World War I , which was predominantly called the World War or the Great War from its occurrence until 1939, and the First World War or World War I thereafter, was a major war centred in Europe that began on 28 July 1914 and lasted until 11 November 1918...
(the land is five miles (8 km) from Royal Military Academy Sandhurst
Royal Military Academy Sandhurst
The Royal Military Academy Sandhurst , commonly known simply as Sandhurst, is a British Army officer initial training centre located in Sandhurst, Berkshire, England...
). This was mainly for commissioned officers. The country house opened its doors as a hotel in 1972; its restaurant is headed by celebrity Chef Michael Wignall, who has appeared on shows such as Great British Menu
Great British Menu
Great British Menu is a BBC television series in which top British chefs compete for the chance to cook one course of a four course banquet. The first series banquet was for the Queen on her 80th birthday. The second series was to cook for the British Ambassador to France at the British Embassy...
during his time there.
Location
Pennyhill Park Hotel is located in Bagshot, 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...
in the south east of England
England
England is a country that is part of the United Kingdom. It shares land borders with Scotland to the north and Wales to the west; the Irish Sea is to the north west, the Celtic Sea to the south west, with the North Sea to the east and the English Channel to the south separating it from continental...
. The nearest airport
Airport
An airport is a location where aircraft such as fixed-wing aircraft, helicopters, and blimps take off and land. Aircraft may be stored or maintained at an airport...
is London Heathrow Airport
London Heathrow Airport
London Heathrow Airport or Heathrow , in the London Borough of Hillingdon, is the busiest airport in the United Kingdom and the third busiest airport in the world in terms of total passenger traffic, handling more international passengers than any other airport around the globe...
and the nearest train stations are Ascot
Ascot railway station
Ascot railway station is a railway station in the town of Ascot in Berkshire, England. The station, and all trains serving it, are operated by South West Trains. It is at the junction of the Waterloo to Reading line with the Ascot to Guildford line....
, Sunningdale
Sunningdale railway station
Sunningdale railway station serves the village of Sunningdale in Berkshire, England.-Location:The station is situated on the Waterloo to Reading line in Broomhall, which – prior to boundary changes enacted in 1995 – was part of the civil parish of Windlesham in Surrey.-Services:The...
or Bagshot's own station (Station Road).