Great Fosters

Great Fosters is a 16th century mansion which once lay within Windsor Great Park. In 1930, it became an hotel. It is adjacent to the village of Egham, Surrey. It is a Grade I listed building, close to Heathrow and the M25 London orbital Motorway, junction 13.

History

Judge Dodderidge who was Solicitor General to King James I, and Sir Robert Foster owned the house in 1639. When he died in 1663 he left the house to his son, Sir Thomas Foster. Great Fosters remained in the family following his death in 1685 when it passed to his daughters. In 1715, Sir Charles Orbey resided here, and it was not until 1787 that one of Sir Thomas’ great grandsons sold the property to a Mr Wyatt for £700.

Early in the 20th century, Great Foster was owned by Baroness Halkett, Queen Alexandra’s lady in waiting. Later it passed to the Earl of Dudley and then to the Hon. Gerald Montague. Today it is owned by the Sutcliffe family. [ [http://www.greatfosters.co.uk/docs/history.htm History] ]

The front of the house was used in the opening title sequence of the 1950's TV comedy series "Whack-O!"

The house

In about 1550, the original house was built as a symmetrical U-shaped Elizabethan homestead. It is probable that it was extended in the early 1600s because there is slightly larger brickwork in the porch. It was at this time the initial tall chimneys were built. However, these pinnacles were removed during World War II after a bomb blast. They have been replaced by replicas.

A dominant feature of the house is the windows, all of which are stone mullions and transoms with leaded lights.

References

External links

* [http://wikimapia.org/3132863/Great_Fosters Aerial view]
* [http://www.greatfosters.co.uk/ Great Fosters hotel]
* [http://motiontours.com/content/fosters/video_preview.php?p=1&v=9&c=7 Video tour]