20th century Somerhill House

memorial window sarah d avigdor-goldsmid in saints church, tudeley

in 1912, there army camp held in grounds of somerhill. soldiers housed in bell tents. on sir osmond s death in 1940, passed eldest son sir henry. during second world war, somerhill site of prisoner of war camp, known pow camp no. 40. italian pows amongst housed @ somerhill. army in possession of somerhill 1940–49. squatters occupied of 40-plus huts in 1948, locked in colonel in charge of camp @ time.

post-war, house scene of lavish entertaining. lady rosemary d avigdor-goldsmid likened hotel, except guests didn t pay! amongst distinguished visitors john betjeman, hugh casson, david niven , enoch powell. house listed on 20 october 1954. assessed grade i. on 19 september 1963, d avigdor-goldsmid s daughter sarah drowned in accident, occurred off rye, east sussex. artist marc chagall commissioned design set of stained glass windows in saints church, tudeley, in memory.

in 1976, somerhill passed sir henry s surviving daughter chloe, lived @ hadlow place farm, hadlow. sold somerhill in 1981 , sold thrice more in next 8 years. sale of contents of somerhill held sotheby s on 23 , 24 june 1981. bought mr , mrs watts opened weddings parties etc somerhill advertised sale in may 1984 @ price in excess of £1,500,000. beginning in 1988, house extensively restored assistance english heritage. works undertaken r. durtnell & sons of brasted, celebrated 400th anniversary in 1991 party held @ somerhill restoration completed. fielden , mawson architects work.

in 1993, schools @ somerhill moved somerhill house, having been @ tunbridge wells. schools @ somerhill comprise 3 schools in 1 location. somerhill pre-prep boys , girls aged 3 – 6. derwent lodge girls aged 6 – 11 , yardley court boys aged 6 – 13. in 1998, attic rooms converted provide classrooms , art room. former granary has been converted classrooms, whilst stables have been converted workshops. in year, bridge on lake in grounds of somerhill added buildings @ risk register tunbridge wells borough council, in area somerhill falls. in 2000, central span between old stable courtyard , stable courtyard reinstated @ cost of £720,000 provide accommodation somerhill pre-prep school , administrative offices. in year, planning permission granted building of sports hall on top sports terrace.