Thorpe Lea House
In 1794 Edward Blackett, the 4th Baronet Blackett (born 1719), purchased Thorpe Lea House and estate from Richard Wyatt and sold it for £1500 to James Ludovic Grant in 1802[1]; he then moved into a mansion also called Thorpe Lea House which he had built nearby and where he lived from 1802 until his death in 1804 and where other members of the Blackett family lived throughout the 19th century (see item 4 of the display for various views of the latter house).
The new Thorpe Lea House which Edward Blackett had built was bequeathed by him to his son, Sir Willian Blackett (1758-1816, 5th Baronet Blackett), who bequeathed it to his son, John Charles Blackett “but with the proviso that Sir William’s widow could live there for as long as she wished or alternatively sell it and reinvest the proceeds for John Charles”[2]. The house was put up for sale in 1831 [see item 1 of the display] but Lady Mary Anne Blackett, the mother of John Charles bought the House and other parts of the Estate from the trustees and subsequently gifted them back to John Charles before her death in 1859 (perhaps to ensure that they were kept in the family). John Charles, who became an Admiral in the Royal Navy, had been living in New Zealand for a number of years and on his return to England he “lived at Thorpe Lea House until his death in 1896 following which the house and estate were offered for sale” [3].The house and estate were put up for sale in 1897 [see item 2 of the display]. According to one source it was sold and became the property of Maria Radcliffe who subsequently leased it to John Cross[4]. Another source states that “although some sources maintain that the house was sold after the death of John Charles Blackett in 1896, his widow continued to live there until her death in 1899, and it seems to have remained in the family until at least 1911” [5]. In the 30s the house became a hotel owned by Mountcombe Hotels Ltd but after the outbreak of the Second World War it was requisitioned by the War Office. In the post-war period it was for a time a Jewish College and the residence of Rabbi Weingarten. In the 1970s the house, by then a ruin, was demolished to make way for the construction of a section of the M25 [6].
The original Thorpe Lea House purchased by James Ludovic Grant had in the ensuing years a number of owners or tenants, a list [7] of which was given to Frederic Turner by George Perkins who became its owner after the house was put up for sale in 1909 (see item 8 of the display for a catalogue of the contents of the house at the time of that sale). George Perkins was still the owner of the house, and living there, in the 1920s and 30s. At a later stage the house became vacant and in the post 2nd World War period it underwent a number of changes including a brief existence in the late 1960s as a night club and ultimately, when it had become totally derelict following a fire[8] which destroyed much of the property (see item 10 of display), its conversion to business premises after it had been rebuilt in its old style and renamed Thorpe Lea Manor (see item 11 of display). It is today
occupied by Kerry Foods.[9]
ITEMS ON DISPLAY
1. Freehold estate of Thorpe-Lea, Egham consisting of a mansion, gardens and the free public-house known as The Old Pipe-House together with 103 acres for sale by Daniel Smith & Son on 20th October, 1831. Solicitors: Messrs Hall, Thompson, & Sewell. Sale brochure.
2. Estate known as "Thorpe Lea", Egham ... also a plot of freehold land adjoining Hummers Lane will be sold by Mullett, Booker & Co. on 28th April, 1897. Solicitors: Messrs. Long, Durnford & Lovegrove. Sale brochure.
3. A newspaper cutting of the details of John Charles Blackett’s will extracted from The Illustrated London News, Sept. 19, 1896
4. Various 19th century views of the Thorpe Lea House which Edward Blackett had built after he had sold the original house.
5. Photograph of John Charles Blackett. Born 1813. Died 1896
6. Verses on Thorpe Lea House, its inmates, and surroundings. The family described are Mr & Mrs John Charles Blackett and their children and grandchildren. c. 1880.
7. Photograph of a large family party at Thorpe Lea House showing John Charles Blackett on the right.
8. By orders of the executors of Lady Milford, deceased and T.J. Eyre, Esq, deceased … "Thorpe Lee", Egham … Catalogue of the valuable contents of the mansion … Gale & Power have been honoured with instructions to Sell by Auction on the Premises, as above, on Sept. 14th, 15th, 16th, 17th, 1909. [Catalogue of the contents of the original Thorpe Lea House purchased by Edward Blackett in 1794].
9. Photograph of the Thorpe Lea House built by Edward Blackett around 1800 showing it as it was c. 1900. The identity of the group is unknown but are likely to be upper servants of the household.
10. Photograph of the Thorpe Lea House built by Edward Blackett around 1800 showing it in derelict condition in the 1970s.
11. Photograph of Thorpe Lea Manor, the rebuilt version of the Thorpe Lea House built by Edward Blackett around 1800.
November 2017
[1] Williams, J. The Thorpe Picture Book, by Jill Williams in collaboration with Mercer Bolds (Egham: Egham-by-Runnymede Historical Society, n.d.), p.52
[2] Kirtley, A., and others. A History of the Blacketts, by Allan Kirtley, Patricia Longbottom, and Martin Blackett (Great Britain: The Blacketts, 2013), p.101
[3] Ibid, 101
[4] Williams, op.cit, p.50
[5] https://www.theblacketts.com/ Click on Blackett Properties>Thorpe Houses.
[6] Williams, op.cit p.50
[7] Turner, F. A history of Thorpe in the County of Surrey (Issued Privately, 1924), p.83 where the people listed are: 1727, W. Shorston; 1742; Timothy Isaacs; 1802. Jas. Ludovic Grant; 1809. Sir Hen. Tempest, Bt.; 1821. Col. J. Stapleton; 1845. Miss Watson; 1845. Lady Bowyer Smith; 1868. W. Hill; 1873. Count Eyre; 1912. Geo. Perkins.
[8] https://www.theblacketts.com/ Click on Blackett Properties>Thorpe Houses
[9] Williams, op.cit. p.52
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