December Pictures
From Dittopedia
31st December
Imber Court was called Limeurde in the 11th century, becoming Immewurth (meaning 'Imma's Farm') by the 13th century.
Imber court was acquired in 1531 by lease from the affluent Dudley family by Robert Smythe.
William and Elizabeth Notte had a lease on Imber Court later in the 16th century. The estate went to the Carletons, an even more important family, in the early 17th century, when they were granted the manor and estate by Charles I. Dudley Carleton became Viscount Dorchester in 1628. He improved the house and entertained the King and Queen there. On his death in 1631, the estate passed to his nephew, Sir Dudley Carleton. He built a new Imber Court from designs by Inigo Jones.
The Carletons imported lime trees from The Hague for planting in the grounds.
In 1778, Lord Onslow sold Imber Court, together with a large estate including farms and gardens, and the Imber Court Copper Mills.
30th December
29th December
28th December
27th December
26th December
25th December
24th December
Does anyone know where Ditton Park was?
23rd December
22nd December
21st December
20th December
Boyle Farm Island is the second largest of the three islands. It contains a single house, home to just one family. It also enjoys its own postcode (KT7 0SJ).
19th December
Boyle Farm Island is directly opposite the historic mansion of Boyle Farm, which is now known as the Home of Compassion. Whereas its larger partner, Thames Ditton Island, has at times been administratively part of Middlesex, Boyle Farm Island has always belonged to Surrey.
18th December
The letters of Lady Frances Williams (1758-1766) are addressed to her daughter, the Hon. Charlotte Walsingham, wife of Capt. Robert Boyle Walsingham, R.N. They are interesting and contain a good deal of social and domestic news, for example, a row between two ladies because one of them did not leave 'card money' on the table for the other's servant, Lady Waldegrave ' cocking her cap ' at one of the Royal Family, advice to Mrs Walsingham to take ' one of Mr Hoare's notes for each [pound] payable to you or your order ', and on the servant problem - ' you know all Servts. chuse the best season for distressing those they serve '.
Fond of reading, Lady Frances frequently comments on the books she has just read. Swift's letters appear to have given her much pleasure, though she criticises Swift for not having destroyed Miss Vanhomrigh's letters with their ' strong passion and even blasphemous expressions '. She had strong political opinions and it is clear that she had no liking for the elder Pitt.
17th December
16th December
15th December
14th December
13th December
12th December
The Boyle Farm estate went to auction in July 1890 and was purchased by Herbert Robertson of Hampton Court. Within three years he had the Victorian stucco and external detailing removed, refacing the mansion with a classical pediment of well-laid red brick, with fitted brick window surrounds all under a complex hipped gable roof of green slate.
11th December
The Boyle Farm estate went to auction in July 1890 and was purchased by Herbert Robertson of Hampton Court. Within three years he had the Victorian stucco and external detailing removed, refacing the mansion with a classical pediment of well-laid red brick, with fitted brick window surrounds all under a complex hipped gable roof of green slate.
10th December
The Boyle Farm estate went to auction in July 1890 and was purchased by Herbert Robertson of Hampton Court. Within three years he had the Victorian stucco and external detailing removed, refacing the mansion with a classical pediment of well-laid red brick, with fitted brick window surrounds all under a complex hipped gable roof of green slate.
9th December
The Boyle Farm estate went to auction in July 1890 and was purchased by Herbert Robertson of Hampton Court. Within three years he had the Victorian stucco and external detailing removed, refacing the mansion with a classical pediment of well-laid red brick, with fitted brick window surrounds all under a complex hipped gable roof of green slate.
8th December
The Boyle Farm estate went to auction in July 1890 and was purchased by Herbert Robertson of Hampton Court. Within three years he had the Victorian stucco and external detailing removed, refacing the mansion with a classical pediment of well-laid red brick, with fitted brick window surrounds all under a complex hipped gable roof of green slate.
7th December
6th December
5th December
4th December
3rd December
2nd December
1st December
The railways transformed communications in north-east Surrey. The new era began in 1838 with the opening of the first section of the London-to-Southampton Railway from Nine Elms to Woking. In 1839, the company's name was changed to London and South Western Railway.
There had been strong opposition from Thames Ditton folk from 1833 to 1838, as some good agricultural land and commonland was lost. But financial compensation calmed many protesters, and there were large payments of local rates by the rail company to help public funds.
The line crossed Ditton Marsh, so that was the name given to the nearest station. The name was subsequently changed to Esher and Claremont, then Esher for Sandown and now just Esher.
In 1849 came the branch line to Hampton Court, with a proper station for Thames Ditton in 1851-2, an event occurred which was to transform life in the village. Initially the trains were pulled by horses from the junction at Surbiton station -- then called Kingston-on-Railway. They must have been a fine sight as they moved between cornfields. The new transport quickly led to the break-up of estates and to the large-scale development of houses. Old names likes Great Basing Field and Little Basing Field, Church Fields and Hoo Lane ceased to have any meaning. Only the elderly talked of Ditton Street and Ditton Marsh. Rare examples of old big houses which proved adaptable were Boyle Farm, Newlands and the Old Manor House.
