Wotton House, Surrey
Encyclopedia
Wotton House is in Wotton
near Dorking, Surrey
, England. It is a grade II listed building. Originally a country house and the seat of the Evelyn family, it is now a training and conference centre.
. Further extensions and alterations were made in the early 19th century by Francis Edwards. Following a fire in the 1870s the house was restored and enlarged by Henry Woodyer for John Evelyn in 1877.
(1620–1706) and his elder brother George created the first "Italian Garden" in England. Work on it started in 1643, was completed by 1652, and it is the house's most famous feature.
, a diarist, landscape designer, and collector, was born in it. He inherited the house and estates on the death of his brother George in 1699.
In the middle to late 20th century the house was leased to Home Office and used as the Fire Service College
between 1947 and 1981.
and the buildings are used as a hotel, training and conference centre.
Wotton, Surrey
Wotton is a small village located on the A25 between Guildford in the west and Dorking in the east. Neighbouring villages include: the Abingers of Abinger Common, Sutton Abinger, and Abinger Hammer; Friday Street and Westcott...
near Dorking, 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 II listed building. Originally a country house and the seat of the Evelyn family, it is now a training and conference centre.
Construction
The house was built in the early 17the century by the Evelyn family who extended it in the later 17th century. In the 18th century it was extended eastwards by William KentWilliam Kent
William Kent , born in Bridlington, Yorkshire, was an eminent English architect, landscape architect and furniture designer of the early 18th century.He was baptised as William Cant.-Education:...
. Further extensions and alterations were made in the early 19th century by Francis Edwards. Following a fire in the 1870s the house was restored and enlarged by Henry Woodyer for John Evelyn in 1877.
Gardens
John EvelynJohn Evelyn
John Evelyn was an English writer, gardener and diarist.Evelyn's diaries or Memoirs are largely contemporaneous with those of the other noted diarist of the time, Samuel Pepys, and cast considerable light on the art, culture and politics of the time John Evelyn (31 October 1620 – 27 February...
(1620–1706) and his elder brother George created the first "Italian Garden" in England. Work on it started in 1643, was completed by 1652, and it is the house's most famous feature.
Notable residents
Wotton House was the family seat of the Evelyn Family and John EvelynJohn Evelyn
John Evelyn was an English writer, gardener and diarist.Evelyn's diaries or Memoirs are largely contemporaneous with those of the other noted diarist of the time, Samuel Pepys, and cast considerable light on the art, culture and politics of the time John Evelyn (31 October 1620 – 27 February...
, a diarist, landscape designer, and collector, was born in it. He inherited the house and estates on the death of his brother George in 1699.
In the middle to late 20th century the house was leased to Home Office and used as the Fire Service College
Fire Service College
The Fire Service College is responsible for providing leadership, management and advanced operational training courses for senior fire officers from the UK and foreign fire authorities. It is located at Moreton-in-Marsh in Gloucestershire, England...
between 1947 and 1981.
Twenty-first century
Wotton House is currently owned by the Principal Hayley GroupPrincipal Hayley Group
Principal Hayley Group is a Harrogate, North Yorkshire based hotel and conference venue operator.Formed from a management buyout of a basic 6 hotel group in 2006, backed by Private Equity firm Permira, the company presently operates 25 locations, mainly in the UK...
and the buildings are used as a hotel, training and conference centre.