Where did the "Heatherwood" name come from ? and when was it first
used ?.Using on-line resources, old newspaper articles and census
information we chart the early history of the site and it's tenants.
Heatherfield 1869
The ground where Heatherwood was built was originally part of the
Englemere estate. The first house built on this, was at the end of the
1860's and was named "Heatherfield".
Along with the lodge these can be seen on an ordnance survey map from
1869-1871.
In addition to the map an advert placed in the morning post in May and
June 1869 details the house up for rental for the race week.
It is not known for sure who built the house and who were the original
landowners of Heatherfield.
Heatherfield 1871
In early April adverts in the Reading Mercury and Windsor Express
advised of a sale of Effects of the Late Colonel John Temple. In
addition the auctioneers were advertising the rental of the property.
Heatherfield Sale of Contents
HEATHERFIELD, ASCOT.
Furniture & Effects of the late Col. Temple.
MB. MASON (Late Mason and NEATS) Is instructed by the
Executors of the late Colonel Temple, to SELL by AUCTION, on
the Premises as above, on TUESDAY, April 18th, 1871, at 11
for 12 o'clock,
The household furniture of the above Residence, comprising
japanned wardrobes, chests of drawers washstands with
fittings, iron bedsteads, spring mattresses, feather beds
and bedding, etc. walnut tree, polished birch, and other
tables, a cottage pianoforte by Cramer and Co., a pair of
marqueteire cabinets, chimney glasses, a drawing room suite
in green damask, mahogany sideboard, set of dining tables,
six chairs, mahogany hall table, oil cloth, Brussels and
other carpets, a quantity of linen, China, glass, etc. two
riding saddles, and out-door effects May be viewed the day
preceding and morning of sale; and catalogues had of Mr.
Mason, auctioneer and valuer,Windsor. The above
RESIDENCE to be LET. Apply to Mr. Mason. Extract Windsor & Eton Express
01/04/1871
Heatherfield 1872
New adverts in November and December this year were carried by the
local papers for the sale of contents.
Heatherfield 1874
We jump ahead here to 1874 and the new tenants/owners shown in
newspaper articles to be "Hon Ashley GJ Ponsonby JP".
The Ponsonby family held the estate until 1896 when they were due to
move abroad.The house was put up for sale and sold to Sir Thomas
Lucas.
Heatherfield 1876
July this year and the Hon Ashley Ponsonby took the oath to become a
Justice of the Peace.
1881 England, Wales & Scotland Census listed the Ponsonby family and
servants.
Englemere Heatherfield, Sunninghill, Windsor, Berkshire, England
Household members (9 people)
Hon Ashley G J Ponsonby & Wife Louisa Ponsonby they were supported by
Housekeeper,Lady's maid,House maid,Kitchen maid,House maid,Head
footman,Under footman. In addition living at the lodge were their
Coachman,and Groom.
Heatherfield 1886
Ascot grand stand. Grand amateur theatrical performance under
Distinguished Patronage, in aid of the Funds of the Ascot Cricket
Club, on Thursday and Friday evenings, March 4th and 5th, and Saturday
afternoon, March 6th. Extract Reading Mercury 20/02/1886
The family were supporting the funding of the cricket club.
Heatherfield 1887
Chrysanthemum show. The fourth annual show in connection with the
Ascot Sunninghill, and District Horticultural Society, of
chrysanthemums and other autumn flowers, fruit, and vegetables was
held on Wednesday and Thursday at Ascot Grand Stand. The Hon. Ashley
Ponsonby is the president of the society, and takes great interest in
it. Extract Berkshire Chronicle 12/11/1887
Ashley Ponsonby's Gardener Mr R. Saunders picked up prizes at the show
for chrysanthemums in pots, and a number of other awards.
Heatherfield 1890
"Ascot.-On Friday, last week, at Heatherfield, Ascot, an Association
designated the East Berks Women's Liberal Association was inaugurated
under the auspices of the Hon. Mrs. Ashley Ponsonby, who was chosen
president." Extract Reading Mercury 11/01/1890
September this year the eldest son announced his engagement and would
be Married in All Saints Church the following year.
Heatherfield 1891
Wedding of Mr. Claude Ponsonby to Miss Haller Horwitz.
A special train from Waterloo conveyed a large and distinguished
company to Ascot on Wednesday to witness the wedding of Mr. Claude
Ashley Charles Ponsonby, eldest son of the Hon. Ashley Ponsonby, of
Heatherfield,Ascot, and 9, Prince's-gardens, nephew of Lord de Mauley,
to Miss Haller Horwitz, youngest daughter of the late Mr. Orville
Horwitz, of Baltimore, U.S.A. Extract The Gentlewoman 31/01/1891
The ceremony was attended by the, whose who of the Ascot society and
local papers covered the wedding.
Mary Ann Dunster, a cook in the service of Mr. Ashley Ponsonby, at
Heatherfield House, Ascot, was before the Berkshire Magistrates at
Windsor, on Saturday, charged with stealing a collarette, a silk scarf,
a blotting book, and a box of dye; and William Giles, from London, was
charged with stealing some knives, forks, spoons, and other articles,
from the residence, which at the request of the Prosecutor had been
watched by the police. Mr. Brummel Smith de fended. On September 23,
Giles, who had been visiting the cook, was arrested while leaving the
premises with two brown paper parcels.
Upon his being taken to the house, Dunster said it was all right, as he
was a friend, and Giles offered the constables a sovereign to let him
go. Dunster's boxes at Heathfield and Mr. Ashley Ponsonby's town
house in Prince's-gardens were searched, when the articles appropriated
by the female Prisoner were discovered. The Prisoners had previously
borne good characters.
The Bench fined Dunster £5 and Giles £2.
Extract The Standard 30/10/1895 & Brecknock Beacon & South Wales
Gazette 04/10/1895
Heatherfield 1895 "Gentlewomen at Home,"
THE HON. MRS. Ashby Ponsonby's Ascot Home- Under the heading
of "Gentlewomen at Home," the double number of the
Gentlewoman, published in October last, contained an
interesting article (with portrait), with reference to the
Hon. Mrs. Ashby Ponsonby and her houses at Prince's Gardens,
London, and at Heatherfield, Ascot. Ta describing
Heatherfield, Ascot, the writer says:- Mrs. Ponsonby's
charming country house Heatherfield" is situated in a most
picturesque part of Berkshire, close to the Ascot race-
course, and stands on the verge of the highest part of the
hill, overlooking banks of purple heather, bracken, and yellow
gorse, and further off woods of fir trees stretching far and
wide towards the distant view of the Hog's Back at Guildford.
The house is approached by a wide carriage drive from
the Ascot and Bracknell road, and stands surrounded by pretty
gardens, trim lawns and terraces, from which delightful
distant peeps of Frimley and the downs about Guildford are to
be seen, reminding one more of Scotland than an English home
within thirty miles of London. All the terrace front is in
autumn covered with roses and creepers, is also the verandah,
outside the garden entrance; and here is a favourite
resting-place where one can partake of tea in the
flower-scented air. The interior of the house is very
interesting; it contains some oak panelling in the dining-room
which was brought from France, and made from the "chêne
d'Auvergne," a specially hard and fine wood. A frieze of chins
with old portraits placed at intervals has been arranged at
the top. The chimney piece and sideboards are of oak dating
from the Seventeenth century. The morning-room is charmingly
tasteful with its French furniture of the time of Louis XVI,
and its curios and miniatures, and a beautiful old Venetian
mirror, carved in rock crystal, which in said to have belonged
to the Duke d'Alva, of Spanish fame. Mrs. Ponsonby has an
intense love for music, and thoroughly appreciates a
delightful addition which has been made to the house of late
years in the shape of a large music-room, to which an entrance
has been made from the garden. It is built with a due regard
to acoustic properties, it contains a Steinway grand, and in a
great source of pleasure to Mrs. Ponsonby and her many
friends. Extract Reading Mercury 28/12/1895
Heatherfield 1896
On the 4/1/1896 the Windsor & Eton Express repeated the above article.
On the 5th December this year the first of the adverts by Chancellors
and Co acting as agents to sell the contents of Heatherfield.
Sale December 14, 15, 16, 17, & 18.
"HEATHERFIELD," ASCOT HEATH, Within a few minutes' walk of the
Hallway Station, and nearly opposite the Royal Hotel.
Messrs. CHANCELLOR and SONS Having sold the Estate, are
instructed by the Hon. Ashley Ponsonby, who is going abroad,
to SELL by AUCTION, on the premises,
On MONDAY, December 14th, and Four following days at 12
o'clock precisely each day,
The antique and modern furniture including the Appointments of
18 Bed and Dressing rooms, 4 Reception-rooms, and the Domestic
Offices, including brass and iron bedsteads and bed- ding,
American walnut, birch, pine, and mahogany bedroom suites,
easy and occasional chairs, bird's-eye maple hanging wardrobe,
Indian, Brussels, and other carpets, fenders and freirons,
pier and other glasses, marqueterie chests of drawers,
rosewood and Inlaid writing and other tables, old Normandy oak
hanging wardrobes, mahogany inlaid chests of drawers, fine old
Sheraton card tables, engravings, pictures, miniatures, & ,
antique French and English clocks, very fine grandfather's
clock, a quantity of linen, books, glass, china, coppers, etc,
about 570 dozens of choice wines, a large collection of stove
and green-house plants, garden seats, tools, set of ladders,
etc., and a square-fronted double brougham and a bay gelding
16-2, a perfect hack, quiet in double and single harness, a
quantity of harnesses, donkey cart, etc.
On view Saturday, December 19th, from 10 till 4. Catalogues
may be obtained on the premises, and of Messrs. Chancellor and
Sons, auctioneers and valuers, 51, Pall Mall, S.W., 1,
King-street, Richmond, and at Ascot and Sunningdale, Berks
Extract Windsor & Eton Express 05/12/1896
Chancellors Sale of Contents
Heatherfield Contents 1896 This advert was carried by the Reading
Mercury
The advert was also carried by Richmond & Twickenham Times,
Morning post, & Standard. Click to Enlarge:-
Heatherfield 1897
"Heatherfield" this year and the following year were still shown on a
new Ordnance survey map published.The new map does show the addition of
the stable block adjacent to the lodge. In addition the gardens at the
back have been added to with new buildings. The shape of the house has
changed from the original in 1869 so a major re-build must have taken
place.
Heatherwood 1898
January this year the Reading observer listed the death of Hon Ashley
Ponsonby.
August September this year produced stories in the press and adverts for
staff. These carried the name now as "Heatherwood".
Stories about heath fires on the estate disclosed that the house had
been rebuilt as to what was changed is not clear, but I think we can
assume the Lucas family were responsible for the name of "Heatherwood".
These reports also carried the name of the new owners Sir Thomas Lucas
who was sold the property before Mr. Ashley Ponsonby death.
Windsor & Ascot Railway Platform at Heatherfield
In February this year the Reading mercury reported on moves to
bring the Windsor and Ascot Railway line to a conclusion with
a platform on the Heatherwood estate, allowing racecourse
visitors to arrive opposite.
"The proposed route this line would branch off from the main
line at a point north of Englemere Lake, in the property known
as Englemere Hill, owned by the rector of Ascot for many
years, and rented by Lord William Cecil, who has made
considerable additions to the house, on a 21 years' lease. It
then would cross over the public road and enter Englemere
Wood' by the lake, run up the entire length of this property,
which is rented by Mr. Charles Emmott also on a 21 years'
lease, and render his house uninhabitable for any one not
anxious to adopt the métier of signalman. After passing under
the Swinley and Bagshot road opposite the hotel, it would
terminate with a station near the grand stand in the grounds
of Heatherfield, now owned by Sir Thomas Lucas, who bought it
last year from the late Mr. Ashley Ponsonby," Extract Reading Mercury
12/02/1898
The proposals never made it due to opposition. The GWR who
owned the Windsor & Ascot Railway, decided to offer horse
drawn carriages from Windsor station direct to the racecourse.
This was included in the ticket price.
Comment:-Had the proposals been successful would that have
prevented the hospital as we know it from being built on the
site?.
Heatherwood 1869-1898 Summary
In this first section we learned that the house was built in or before
1869,the grounds were originally part of Englemere.
The first sale of contents indicated in 1871 Colonel John Temple was
the current tenant. Not been able to verify if he was the first.
In 1874 we had confirmation the estate belonged to Hon Ashley Ponsonby
JP. The family were the longest custodians of the estate remaining
until 1897. Throughout their tenure they played an active part in
Ascot community.
The census of 1881 clearly showed, what life was like in a Victorian
mansion as the amount of servants supporting the family, were nine in
all.
In 1890 the East Berks women's liberal association was inaugurated
under the auspices of the Hon Mrs Ashley Ponsonby who was chosen as
president.
The Ponsonby family had intentions to move abroad and thereby sold the
estate to Sir Thomas Lucas.
This wasn't to be as Hon Ashley Ponsonby died shortly after selling.
The proposed railway for the Racecourse on the land in 1898 would have
meant a completely different outcome for the future site of the
hospital.This would have cut the land in half.
Englemere Hill 1904
Durning Library Trust Publication Englemere Hill
1904 This map from 1904 shows the seriousness of the proposal
for the Windsor & Ascot railway as land is already purchased. Click to Enlarge:-
Heatherwood 1899-1922
The story continues on the next page which covers the years 1899-1922
where we find the hospital is developed and opened.
