Heritage

A contribution by Krish Gunatunga head of development

We have to balance our role as the custodians of this historical site with what is best for our pupils. The mansion is a grade II listed building, we have taken great care over the years to restore, preserve and showcase some of the mansion’s beautiful features. Working with specialists we hope to be able to continue to enhance this unique teaching space whilst remaining faithful to the historic setting.

Our in-house architect is currently looking at a number of heritage projects for the coming years. One of the larger projects will be the restoration of the inner hall including the main staircase and the glass dome above. Given the central location, this renovation will take more time to plan to minimise disruption. The proposal for the inner hall includes stone repair and new carpeting, alongside replacing the bannisters and mesh on the main staircase and the glass dome above. At present, the glass panels are discoloured and cracked, as well as the protective cover over the dome, dulling what should be a magnificent light source for the heart of the Mansion. We are looking at potential options to bring back this magnificent light feature. Three rooms currently in use also require varying degrees of restoration, Princess Charlotte and Henry Holland rooms, and the room known as Capability Brown, currently the Head’s Pa’s office. These rooms require expert restoration of the interior and fabrics as well as modernisation to function as classrooms, such as upgrading the lighting.

Historical features beyond the mansion require restoration, including the icehouse and the recently uncovered “necessary”. The icehouse situated on the outskirts of the Mansion site is currently closed off due to structural safety concerns and needs significant work to repair having been left out in the cold for so long.

During early 2022, some routine site maintenance by our head groundsman around the ha-ha north of the mansion, uncovered a “necessary”. A “necessary” is an outdoor toilet, origins and further details when the structure was built are yet to be determined. Also uncovered in 2021 was the much talked about outdoor stage, following some tree clearances. This presents a future restoration opportunity to revive a space once used to stage school plays such as “A Midsummer Night’s Dream”. As custodians of this historical site we continue to work to ensure Claremont can be enjoyed by our pupils and the Claremont community for the next 100 years.

HERITAGE UPDATES

The outdoor stage

Something that can never be underestimated about Claremontians is their enthusiasm. Thanks to the help of multiple alumni who remembered and sent us photos of an outdoor stage, it has recently been unearthed.

Particular thanks to Susanne Tunnicliff who came and led us directly into the under-brush to find it. The outdoor stage was first referenced in 1939, although regular drama productions are written about from 1932 onwards. We believe the first performance was of “A Mid Summer Night’s Dream”. Over the years performances of Greek tragedy, Shakespearian drama and even Alice’s Adventures in Wonderland have graced this fine stage. With the hard work of our grounds team led by Stuart we plan to share updates of landscape and heritage projects such as the stage.

The Milestone: RevisIted

This article originally appeared the December 2020 issue. Since then, the Milestone area has been cleared and made much more accessible. Once again, we would like to thank Stuart and his team for working tirelessly to preserve the Claremont Estate.

In 1768, the year the Dukeof Newcastle died, a milestone was placed beside the driveway running in front of Claremont House. The milestone is a scheduled ancient monument (SU 130) and is grade II listed. It gives the distance to Cornhill, Westminster Bridge and Newcastle House by Hyde Park Corner (17 Miles, two furlongs and eight poles). It is commonly thought that

Claremont Drive and Blackhills were part of the route for the original Portsmouth Road rather than running directly through Esher as it does today, however this is not correct. The driveway was in fact never part of Portsmouth Road, it was an estate road built by the Duke of Newcastle to convey guests and visitors to and from Claremont.

The Portsmouth Road has always hugged the north-west boundary ofClaremont Fan Court and Claremont Landscape gardens. Indeed, it was so close to the lake and grotto that, for tranquillity’s sake, Robert Clive decided to move it back and drive cutting through Horseshoe Clump Hill which is the route still used today. An 18th century survey of Claremont gardens and parkland shows the road in roughly the position it is in now but before Lord Clive had it moved slightly to the west to make room for his enlarged lake, which is now part of the National Trust’s Claremont Landscape Garden site. We are proud to announce the introduction of Banstead house! Banstead is a new addition to the house system and pays tribute to the original location of Fan Court School. Banstead’s symbol is of the mighty oak which is in Banstead woods. Banstead is 14 miles south of London and was a private house Guy Snape and Geith Plimmer (the founders of Fan Court) rented as a temporary location for the school for one year, until September 1933, for £350. It was in this house the foundations of the school were started, the motto “be strong” which comes from Daniel 10:19 was decided and the lion was drawn by the art master Mr Charles Chowne. There were multiple designs for the new house before we settled on the oak tree, including a well, a stag and a ram. Ultimately it was decided a strong oak tree which evokes images of wisdom and strength was most appropriate. We are sure the new members of Banstead house will do us and their teammates proud.