Albury Park, Surrey
Albury Park house. Once the Surrey country home of not one, but two of England’s most prominent ducal families.
Contents
Overview
Albury Park house is a little-known former home of not one, but two of England’s most prominent ducal families.
A Victorian era ‘Tudor manorial’ makeover by Augustus Pugin included features which Pevsner and Nairn described, harshly, as some of “the worst things he ever did”.
Tatler described Albury Park as “one of Surrey’s most important country houses of the last 500 years”.
In August 1950, Country Life Magazine described it as “seated in a most romantic wild place”.
The location is easy to overlook, and this makes it enticing. Thousands of people drive within a few hundred metres of it every day, with only Albury ‘new’ village’s ornate Tudor-style chimneys hinting at something substantial tucked away.
Facts and figures
Owners
Who owned Albury Park House?
Albury Park House as we recognise it today had multiple owners, but it was shaped by two successive families:
- banking family scion Henry Drummond and his daughter
- and the 7th and 8th Dukes and Duchesses of Northumberland.
The tenure of these custodians lasted the period 1819-1965.
Drummond acquired the estate in 1819 and was responsible for commissioning the Tudor manorial makeover that’s so characteristic of Albury today.
His daughter, Louisa Drummond, married the heir of the dynastic Percy family in approximately 1845 (year of the written marriage settlement).
With this, Louisa became sequentially Lady Lovaine, then a Countess, and finally Duchess of Northumberland to the 6th Duke.
She inherited the Albury Park estate on her father’s death in 1860, and the estate remained in the Northumberland family after her own death in 1890.
The death in 1965 of Helen, the Dowager Duchess of Northumberland to the 8th Duke, ended three generations of Percy occupancy at Albury Park house.
The house was empty for a small number of years before being converted into retirement flats by the Country Houses Association. As that company wound down from 2002, the property was bought in 2004 by Nigel Whalley. Nigel and his wife were the last private owners of the house as a whole before the couple partially-renovated and sold off the property to multiple owners, including further developers.
Albury Estate had a number of different owners before the Drummonds and Northumberlands, most notably junior members of the Howard family (of Earl of Arundel and Duke of Norfolk namesake).
It was Henry Howard, later 6th Duke of Norfolk, who commissioned the vast, sloping semi-formal grounds and waterways we still see evidence of today (these having survived the ‘curated naturalistic’ style of landscaping that came to dominate similar houses in the 18th century).
Timeline: Albury Park House owners and residents
When was Albury Park House built?
In its current guise, the mansion at Albury Park was completed between 1846 and 1852.
Inside however, two drawing rooms and a staircase from 1800-1810 also survive. See ‘interior’ for images. In addition, a single library designed by George Evelyn dates from approximately 1648, and survived the devastating fire of 1697.
Finally, according to a description written by Charles Walmsley (FRICS) in 1974, the “impressive vaults go back to a much earlier period still”. This would make them at least as old as Tudor half-timbered house that Pevsner and Nairn describe as “something like Great Tangley Manor”, which is in nearby Wonersh.
Previous periods of building are shown below.
Architectural style
The exterior of Albury Park that we see today is a “mock Tudor”/Tudor revival architectural style from 1852.
Architect
The architect of the current building style was Augustus Pugin, famous for his impact on the current UK houses of parliament (including the Elizabeth tower).
However, Albury Park was one of his later works. His son Edward Pugin is known to have carried out some of the work after Pugin senior’s health began to fail part-way through the project. Charles Walmsley repeats speculation that the final execution may owe more to Edward than Augustus. This speculation is fuelled by Nairn and Pvesner, who again described the current outside elevations very unfairly as “some of the worst things Pugin (snr) ever did”.
The list of builders and architects responsible for previous building at Albury reads like a ‘Who’s who’ of great and good architectural practitioners.
Architects who worked on Albury pre-Pugin included:
- George Hakewell, who contributed gothic-style remodelling (still partly evident in the castle-style towers today)
- John Soane, who was responsible for the previous classical-style frontage
- George Evelyn, who largely rebuilt the house circa 1697
- John Evelyn, who designed the enchanting semi-formal grounds we still see evidence of today (of which more below).
Parkland
The traditional ~320 acre/130 hectare parkland at Albury now has split ownership and access:
- approximately 5 acres/2 hectares are private lawns for Albury house residents
- approximately 14 acres/5.5 hectares contain the 17th century semi-formal pleasure grounds, largely intact to the designs of John Evelyn.
- about 40 acres/16 hectares are occupied by mixed woodland, with public footpaths through to Shere
- approximately 170 acres are given over to sheep grazing.
The remainder is not accounted for.
Estate size
How big is Albury estate?
Historic estate size (1883)
In 1883 Albury estate ran to approximately 3,565 acres.
This figure is given by John Bateman’s “The Great Landowners of Great Britain and Ireland”, as being The Duke of Northumberland’s “Surrey” acreage (but excludes Syon house).
Present day estate size
Since its conversion into flats, the immediate grounds of Albury Park House extend to only 5 acres.
However, we mustn’t confuse the land belonging to Albury Park House, and the land belonging to the remaining Albury Estate.
Albury Park House’s adjoining formal gardens remain in the hands of the intact Earl Percy Southern Estates.
According to a recent but now archived page on the Albury Estate Fisheries website, the estate still runs to “3,000 acres” today.
This figure includes farmland and wooded hills, the fishery and ornamental lakes, and an organic vineyard producing its own wines. All this is not to mention much of Albury village: the post office, village hall and more.
Interior
Albury House Drawing Room
This image shows one of the two surviving drawing rooms at Albury Park house. It contrasts a 1950s image from Country Life Magazine with a photo of its appearance today.
What is Albury Park known for?
What was Albury Park House famous for?
Albury Park was famous as the location of King George III’s 1761 coronation banquet.
At the time, the property was owned by Heneage Finch III, 3rd Earl of Aylesbury.
It was also famous for it’s great John Evelyn terraces, described by Country Life in 1950 as “still it’s finest feature”, along with “fine immense trees” of cedars, tulip trees, oaks, limes and spanish chestnuts that are now approximately 400 years old.
What is Albury Park House famous for now?
Albury Park is now known for its luxury apartments, featuring 63 enormous Tudor-style brick chimneys which have been replicated throughout Albury village.
While Pevsner and Nairn criticise these chimneys as “culled from every imaginable Tudor source”, they have undeniably given rise to a style that characterises the attractive village today.
The mansion house at Albury also featured in episode 4 (series one) of the 00’s Channel 4 show, ‘Country House Rescue’. This can be found on YouTube.
Little discoveries
The most tantalising discoveries at Albury Park lay in the adjoining semi-formal garden.
As mentioned, these gardens are part of Earl Percy Southern Estates, and much of it is reserved for use by Albury Estate Fisheries. However, when the site is opened to the general public on selected days of the year, it offers some treasures.
Ghostly remnants of John Evelyn’s designs of the 1660’s remain. Evelyn was the most important English garden theorist of the seventeenth century. Features from Evelyn’s 1660s design which survive include the terrace, pool, bath house and a tempting and inconspicuous tunnel. Evelyn had been in France during Charles II’s exile and had become interested in introducing elements of the High Renaissance and Baroque styles of garden design to England.
The surviving elements are to be enjoyed and cherished as rarities that escaped the almost universal mania for “natural romantic” makeovers that characterised the Capability Brown and Humphrey Repton treatments of the 18th and early 19th centuries.
Finally, take a look in the former church of St Peter and St Paul to spot two things. The mediaeval wall paintings are a satisfying sample for the much more striking – even daring – Victorian-gothic mortuary chapel for Henry Drummond by Augustus Pugin. It is a sight to behold with richly coloured clashing patterns and textures.
Visiting Albury Park House
Is Albury Park House open to the public?
Albury Park house is not open to the public. The only way to get access is by invitation of a resident. Even the former road to Shere that runs immediately south of the house is now closed to the public.
The immediate grounds are also reserved for residents, though the extended former park is accessible via footpaths.
The semi-formal gardens with remnants of John Evelyn’s 1670s designs are normally closed off unless you are part of the Albury fisheries syndicate, but typically open to the public a few days per year as part of the National Garden Scheme (NGS).
Visiting for free
Despite restricted access, you can get to the gates and inside the extended grounds of Albury Park House for free.
The grade 1 listed former church of St Peter and St Paul’s Church is open to the public, and backs on to the north eastern corner of the house.
The track leading to it is, deceptively, freely accessible to the public. Find it by looking for the lodge on the corner of Albury Street and New Road (opposite the edge of the Tillingbourne-fed Weston Fishery).
A 10km walk also starts at this point (mapped below).
Nearby walks
Albury Park walk (10km/6.2 miles)
A three hour walk of 10km (6.2 miles) starts at the old Saxon church of St Peter and St Paul (which itself backs on to the north-eastern corner of Albury Park House).
From there, walk out and left up a hill into Albury Park woods. Follow the path for about 20 minutes until you meet the former estate driveway lined with giant ancient trees. When you reach Park Road, turn right and follow it for about 200 metres to Albury Heath.
Albury Heath is all open to the public, so make your own way across it (aiming slightly left as you look for the path over a railway track at the south western corner.
Cross the railway and follow all lefts on the path. You will briefly enter Blackheath Forest before re-entering farm land via the public footpath. Follow this into Brook village, and turn right on Brook Hill road. Take the first left off the road, and follow all available lefts, including the one at Dilton Farm. You will now find yourself on Ponds Lane track.
Follow this for about 25 minutes until you cross the railway line again, and enter Shere Heath. All Shere Heath is open-access, so cross it, over the road, and follow footpaths into Shere.
Walk down Shere High Street. The Wiliam Bray is a handsome Georgian pub with great proportions, and expensive-looking furnishings. A memorable place to stop and eat.
Continue down Shere High Street, and take the footpath left just before the Tillingbourne river. Continue, and turn right at the ford. Follow the track, cross the road, and continue for about 20 minutes. You will pass through Albury Park’s Silver Wood and eventually meet Albury Street (with the ornate former catholic apostolic church to the left). Turn left.
Follow Albury Street for about 5 minutes until it bears right. Then turn left onto New Road, and left again at the lodge so you return down the private-looking track back to the start.
Picnic spot
The best spot for a picnic near Albury Park house is on the green immediately outside the church of St Peter and St Paul. It backs on to the walled garden and ha-ha, and gives a dreamy view of church, house and woods.
Car parking
There’s ample parking for a couple of dozen cars in a triangular patch between St Peter and Paul Church, Albury Park House, and where the driveway to both splits in two.
Pubs nearby
The obvious pub to visit on a walk around Albury Park is the William Bray – a handsome Georgian building with large windows, high ceilings, generous proportions, and expensive-looking furnishings. Despite the fashionable aesthetic,it is essentially a traditional English pub, so visitors in wellies and wax jackets will feel perfectly at home. The William Bray pub is directly on a walk that circles the Albury Estate.
An alternative to the William Bray would be The Drummond at Albury. This traditional pub is often quieter inside and out. Despite the name, it is not as convenient for Albury Park visitors because it sits 1.5km/1 mile away in the main “new” village.
Nearest tea room/cafe
The nearest recommended cafe to Albury Park is The Dabbling Duck, on Shere high street. It’s a smart stop for tea and cake, and has its own rear garden. Like the William Bray, it’s directly on the route of a 10km walk that starts and ends at Albury Park. Note, The Dabbling Duck can get very busy at peak times.
Places to visit near Albury Park
To make a long weekend of your walk around Albury Park, the below places should complement your itinerary:
- A Loseley Park walk with Watts Gallery (7 miles away, 17 minutes by car)
- West Horsley Place (6.5 miles away, 14 minutes by car)
- Denbies Wine Estate (9.5 miles away, 22 minutes by car).
Loseley Park is a forgotten film star with a scenic secret garden.
West Horsley Place is the definition of faded glory in a country house, and has offered some limited access via specific open days. It has been under the care of a trust following the 2014 death of Mary Innes-Ker, Duchess of Roxburghe.
Denbies Wine Estate is a picturesque site in the shadow of Box Hill. A former 265 acre/107 hectare country house estate itself, it is Britain’s foremost vineyard and supplies award-winning products to Sainsbury. The huge French-chateau style building at the core is a picturesque site for a tour and dining.
Sources
Websites
- npg.org.uk
- alburyestatefisheries.co.uk
Physical sources
- Country Life Magazine (25th August, 1950)
- Surrey, Nairn and Pevsner (The Buildings of England)
- A description of the mansion and grounds at Albury Park, R Charles Walmsley
- Misc records, Surrey History Centre, Woking.
Written by: Nearly Noble
Lost footpath explorer & country house-snooping cretin. Declining triathlete. Eternal hobbyist.