Report - Broadoaks Manor, West Byfleet, Surrey, April 2013

[Weeble]

Visited with Catullus and a non-member.

Unfortunately I couldn't get any decent externals as it was snowing at the time! The inside of this place is in surprisingly good condition.

History (from English Heritage):

Detached country house, recently in use as offices. 1876 by Ernest Seth-Smith for his elder brother Charles, incorporating part of an older house on the ground floor; early C20 additions for Sir Charles Tennant including, c1905 the south projecting Drawing Room, c1908 the east projecting Ballroom. 1970s office extension not of special interest. In 1898 the house was sold to Sir Charles Tennant, wealthy industrialist and patron of the arts who, aged 75, had just married his 2nd wife Marguerite who was to bear him 4 children. The main Tennant property was in Scotland but this house appears to be an out of London house for entertaining, Surrey becoming very popular at the time. The brewery owning Charrington family owned Broadoaks from 1911 to 1946 when it was sold to the Ministry of Supply. In 1948 it housed the Army Operational Research Group and was in military occupation until 1996.

Photos:

 

[TennantAsquith]

Wow!! On searching Family History I found a 'very distant' relative Sir Charles Tennant lived in a house listed as 'Broakoaks' in his probate details. I was curious if this was a spelling mistake & I was right it was 'Broadoaks Manor'. I clicked on your website in a 'Search', so pleased I did, as this is history!!! Fabulous record of such an amazing building. The house & gardens must have been incredible when looked after by a fleet of Staff all those years ago. Can't thank you enough for braving it out & getting in there!!!

 

[LeeOAW]

This is stunning!

 

[dweeb]

If there more to the inside than the fireplace?
More photos please!