The Chairman opened the meeting with the usual report of actions undertaken since the last meeting, including highlighting Sue Lambert’s success in coming first in the London Marathon in her age cohort on 17th April; this was Sue’s 66th Marathon! Jill & Richard Williams of Runnymede Historical Society were the main speakers giving an illustrated talk on ‘Great Fosters’, one of the three Grade 1 Listed Buildings in the Borough (the other two being Holloway College and the Ex Holloway Sanitorium). Originally known as ‘Foster House’ and situated in Stroude not Egham, it has probably changed ownership every generation. It was built on marshy land with similar properties nearby, though isolated by today’s standards. Adam Foster, who lived on the property in 15th century Denham House, named after Sir John Denham, was Lord of the Manor at the time; his role then controlled Great Fosters. Denham House has now been demolished under the route of the M25.
In 1550, William Warham, who owned Great Fosters, was knighted by Queen Mary. In the 1600s the Parliamentarians stole 14 properties in order to receive any money that should have belonged to the estate. The owners were therefore denied any revenues from their tenants. Robert Foster, who died in October 1663, gave the property the name it has today. After his death, two of his unmarried daughters, Avis and Margaret, took over the property, though in a dilapidated state. They eventually sold the house to William Woodward for £1,444. He had Jacobean sympathies so the house was frequently raided by the Government.
Great Fosters eventually became a lunatic asylum and in 1767 was subsequently run by a family with the name of ‘Irish’. In 1774, it became necessary to have a licence to run such an establishment. Great Fosters Asylum continued until 1854, nursing 17 patients (with a maximum of 33 patients); some were regularly discharged whilst other died there. Some patients came from Chertsey, including two husbands whose wives sent them there! It eventually became dilapidated and closed when Thomas Holloway had a more up-market establishment at Virginia Water for privileged society.
Another owner was Thomas Knight who was distantly related to Jane Austen. The Honourable Gerald Montague bought the house after WW1 and spent a large amount of money to restore it. He began the Black Lake Chicken Farm, selling his produce to local people. He sold Great Fosters in 1927 when it became a hotel. One bedroom was furnished in Tudor style. A tithe barn from Ewell was relocated in its present position. Queen Mary, King George VI’s mother, stayed at the hotel in 1931. The building was slightly damaged by bombs in WWII. It is often used today to auction of larger properties or for weddings, TV / Film sets or other large social gatherings.
Stephanie M Hunt
For details of the hotel today see their website.
