- Witley Park
Witley Park was a 19th-century house and estate in
Surrey , nearHaslemere .The estate was developed in 1890 by the fabulously wealthy J. Whitaker Wright, as part of extensive land (approx. 9,000 acres) he purchased in the Haslemere and
Hindhead area.The pre-existing house, originally named Lea Park, was developed into a 32 bedroom mansion, adjacent to artificial lakes and landscaped grounds. In one lake, Whitaker Wright famously built an underwater, glass-roofed billiard room, which still exists. [http://www.flickr.com/photos/paulholmes/sets/72057594100695007/detail/]
Whitaker Wright committed suicide and his lands were auctioned, with much of
Hindhead Common , Witley Common, Thursley Common etc. ending up in the hands of the National Trust.Witley Park was sold to
Lord Pirrie , famous for his role in the building of theSS Titanic .The Lea Park mansion was burned down in 1952. The park remains, but it is a private home where uninvited visitors are NOT welcome.
External links
* [http://www.bbc.co.uk/southerncounties/content/articles/2006/03/15/witley_park_feature.shtml BBC Southern Counties on Witley Park]
* [http://www.lostheritage.org.uk/houses/lh_surrey_witleypark.html Lost Heritage - Witley Park - History and Gallery]
* [http://www.flickr.com/photos/paulholmes/sets/72057594100695007/detail/ A personal photo site of some remaining features]* [http://www.guardian.co.uk/Columnists/Column/0,5673,1136841,00.html The Guardian article on Whitaker Wright and Witley Park]
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