Sundridge Park is said to have originated in 1200 and was the first estate to be farmed by the Bishop of Rochester. There is no evidence of a manor house from this period but it is likely that one existed somewhere within the park. The site was predominantly used for farming with large areas of woodland.
1679
The park passed through several hands until it was purchased by Thomas Washer of Lincoln Inn Fields in 1679 and it is likely that the first house on the estate was dated from this time. Repton’s Red Book of the estate confirms this theory and contains an illustration of the first house, a three-storey brick house of late 17th Century appearance. The estate stayed in the Washer family for over 100 years before it was sold by Thomas Washer’s great grandson in 1792.
1793
The new owner of the estate, Mr. Edward George Lind, set about improving the site and hired the leading landscape architect Humphry Repton. A famous ‘Red Book’ was produced in 1793 which presented Repton’s findings and set out his recommendations to Mr Lind. Repton was critical of the existing building in terms of its size, location and style. Overall he considered it not worth improving and recommended that the building should be demolished and rebuilt. He also suggested that the landscaping should be converted from farmland to parkland, making it more fitting to a gentleman’s country seat.
1796
The estate was sold by Lind in 1796 but the new owner Claude Scott, a wealthy corn merchant, set about completing the work according to Repton’s Red Book. The old house was eventually demolished and a new one completed. William Angus records that John Nash became involved in the project on the recommendation of Repton. The duo had previously collaborated on various country house schemes between 1796 and 1800. However, their relationship became fraught over an argument related to the Brighton Pavilion and Nash abandoned the Sundridge project, leaving The Mansion as an empty shell.
Nash was replaced by Samuel Wyatt who completed the roof and undertook the grand interiors including the King’s Room where the ceiling was intricately painted and still remains today. Wyatt also created the coach house block , pleasure ground and open parkland. The collaboration between Nash and Repton on the Sundridge estate became a prime example of a picturesque design offering a romantic landscape.
1830
Between 1830 and 1869 the park changed hands multiple times with various additions made to the park and mansion including the constructions of a large conservatory, woodland grotto and ballroom. During this period pheasant rearing was introduced by Sir Samuel Edward Scott. Frequent guests during this period included the Prince of Wales and later King Edward VII.
1901
In 1901 the last Scott family member tried to sell the estate which marked a fundamental change of use from private estate to leisure. The Sundridge Park Golf club officially opened in 1903 and the remaining estate was leased as a hotel, which became extremely popular in the 1920s and 30s.
1956
The hotel was closed during the Second World War and remained empty until 1955. The Mansion reopened its doors in 1956 and was used to host residential management courses.
1970
The two storey Lodge House, adjacent to The Mansion, was built in the 1970s during the time when The Mansion was used as a training centre.
2004
Sundridge reopened as a hotel in 2004 until its closure in 2014.
2014
City & Country purchased the site in 2014.
2020
City & Country completed the renovation and conversion of The Mansion and residents started to move in.