The Durdans and Lord Rosebery

The Durdans in 1746

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The Durdans house is approached along Chalk Lane and Woodcote end, in Epsom in the county of Surrey. Its name can be traced back to 1375, to its first owner, Richard Diridenne or Dirden, it is likely that this first house was visited by Samuel Pepys, John Evelyn and Charles ll, but many changes would have been made to its original structure. The present house could be the fourth on this site. The second house was erected by Lord Berkeley and may have contained materials sold from Nonsuch Palace. These would only have been lead from the roofs and plaster figures. This mansion was for a time, the home of Frederick, Prince of Wales, father of George lll.

The building shown in this print replaced the third house, which was destroyed by fire before completion. This, the fourth house, was built in 1764, and purchased in 1819 by Sir Gilberts Heathcote, M.P. for Rutland. A very keen sportsman and racing enthusiast he was a member of the Jockey Club, and bred Amato, which won the 1838 Derby. The estate spread right up the hill adjoining the racecourse and for a while included the parade ring and part of the paddock. When he died the house passed to his son Arthur.

Lord Rosebery, Prime Minister from 1894 to 1895, purchased the Durdans from Heathcote’s heirs in 1874. He carried out extensive alterations, building a whole wing and re-siting the entrance on the opposite side of the house. In 1818 he had the riding school built, designed by George Devy, an Art an Crafts architect of much renown.

In 1956 the large wings were demolished and the house passed to Lord Irwin, nephew to the Lord Rosebery. It became part of an inheritance to Lord Halifax. The freehold remains in his control today.

A Calendar showing Lord Rosebery, top, Matt Dawson, Trainer, right, and Sam Loates, Jockey, left.

These graves, including one out of sight are of four horses, Amato, Ladas, Cicero and Sir Visto.

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Caroline Baldock ©2023