Joseph King and Maude Egerton King moved from Sandhouse, Witley around 1923 to a new home, Hill Farm, Camelsdale. Hill Farm is less than a mile away from the Weaving House on Kings Road, Haslemere where the Kings ran the Haslemere Weaving Industry.
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| Hill Farm, Camelsdale from Country Life, 15 April 1982 |
I wonder why the Kings left Sandhouse to move to Hill Farm? Hill Farm seemed to signal a change in architect but not architecture for the Kings. Having commissioned F.W. Troup to build the workshops and houses on Kings Road, and also their country house in Witley, King must have commissioned Matthews and Ridley to build Hill Farm around 1923. It was built by G. H. Coles.
Trotter (The Hilltop Writers, The Book Guild, 1996) reports that in 1930 George Bernard Shaw addressed a gathering at Joseph King's home, Hill Farm to celebrate the elevation of two locals to the peerage.
Tucked away on the edge of Marley Woods it is hard to see Hill Farm from the road, the only pictures I had seen of it were from Trotter (ibid) and in Country Life (15 April 1982) "Rustic Renaissance: Arts and Crafts in Haslemere by T. D. L. Thomas". However Hill Farm is now for sale and this provides a few more views of the building which seems equally as substantial as their former home, Sandhouse.
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| Hill Farm, Camelsdale from The Hilltop Writers, The Book Guild, 1996 |
I understand that the two beams in the dining room have lovely carving with the initials of Joseph and Maude Egerton King, and a heart in the middle. Looking at the photograph online of the dining room very closely you can just make out what appears to be a twisted cable pattern on the furthest beam, and clear initials "MEK".
The property is for sale through Savills for offers in excess of £3,000,000. The black wooden building that is pictured amongst the 20.5 acres is reminiscent of some of the weaving houses built for the Peasant Arts movement.
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| Hill Farm, Camelsdale |
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| Hill Farm, Camelsdale |
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| Hill Farm, Camelsdale |
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| Hill Farm, Camelsdale |
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| Detail on carved wooden beam, with M.E.K. initials towards the right, Hill Farm, Camelsdale |
Another amazing find! Well done- not like they were downsizing!!
ReplyDeleteThanks Dunc. Yes, I didn't realise how substantial Hill Farm was until I saw the estate agent photographs.
ReplyDelete