Sandown House

Elements of the building may dated back to the late 17th century. However, much of the significant development of the house took place after it was acquired by the East India Company trader, Richard Barwell, in the mid-18th century. A degree of re-modelling took place when Barwell commissioned Sir William Chambers to re-design much of the interior in 1762.{{cite book|url= https://books.google.com/books?id=Y3fzWeaOPI0C&pg=PA200 |title=Sir William Chambers Architect to George III |year=1996|publisher=Yale University Press|first1=John|last1=Harris|first2=Michael|last2=Snodin|isbn=978-0300069402}}{{cite web|url=https://www.metmuseum.org/art/collection/search/384143| title=Designs for a Chimney-piece for Richard Barwell's Drawing Room at Esher, Surrey|publisher=The Met Fifth Avenue| access-date=5 July 2024}} It then became the home of a local magistrate, James Nugent Daniell, in the first half of the 19th century.{{cite web|url= https://books.google.com/books?id=QyYAAAAAQAAJ&pg=PA32 |title= Biographical history of the family of Daniell or De Anyers of Cheshire, 1066–1876 |page=32|first=Philip|last=Daniell|year=1876}}{{cite web|url= http://www.machadoink.com/Daniell%20Memorials%20St%20Pauls%20Canterbury.htm |title=St Pauls Church Memorial's, Canterbury|publisher=Historic Canterbury| access-date=5 July 2024}} Various sources state that the mathematician and writer, Ada Lovelace, lived at Sandown from 1841 until her death in 1852.{{cite web|url=https://www.exploringsurreyspast.org.uk/themes/people/women/ada-lovelace/|title=Ada Lovelace (1815–1852)|publisher=Exploring Surrey's Past|access-date=5 July 2024}}{{cite web|url=https://openplaques.org/plaques/53464 |title=Augusta Ada Byron Countess of Lovelace|publisher=Open Plaques| access-date=5 July 2024}}{{cite web|url=https://esher-residents.com/heritage/ |title=Blue Plaques|publisher=Esher Residents|access-date=5 July 2024}}{{cite news|url=https://www.yourlocalguardian.co.uk/news/8405246.queen-victorias-favourite-sculptor-honoured-in-esher/ |title=Queen Victoria's favourite sculptor honoured in Esher |date=22 September 2010|newspaper=Your Local Guardian| access-date=5 July 2024}}{{cite web|url= https://people.elmbridgehundred.org.uk/biographies/augusta-lovelace/ |title= Augusta Ada Lovelace|publisher=The Elmbridge Hundred| access-date=5 July 2024}}{{cite news|url= https://www.getsurrey.co.uk/news/surrey-news/78-inspirational-women-from-surrey-17870062 |title= 82 inspirational and influential women from Surrey's past and present you should know about|date=8 March 2020|newspaper=Get Surrey| access-date=5 July 2024}}{{efn|Despite the blue plaque on Sandown House, Ockham Parish Council claim that Ada Lovelace actually lived at Ockham Park, not Sandown House.{{cite web|url= https://ockhamparishcouncil.gov.uk/history |title=A brief history| publisher=Ockham Parish Council|access-date=5 July 2024}}}}

The house was then became the home of the Governor of the Bank of England, James Pattison Currie, in the mid-19th century.{{cite web|url= http://edlhs.co.uk/wp-content/uploads/2018/11/HOW-ESHER-CHANGED-BETWEEN-1850.pdf |title=How Esher changed between 1850 and 1918|first=Pamela|last=Reading|page=1|publisher=Esher District Local History Society| access-date=5 July 2024}}{{cite book|url= https://books.google.com/books?id=YUtNAQAAMAAJ&pg=PA358 |title=A Genealogical and Heraldic History of the Landed Gentry of Great Britain & Ireland |volume =1 |first1= Bernard|last1= Burke|first2= Ashworth Peter|last2= Burke |year= 1898|page=358|publisher=Harrison & Sons}} In around 1880, some of the land around the house was sold to Sandown Park Racecourse.{{cite book |title=A History of the County of Surrey: Volume 3 |date=1911 |publisher=Victoria County History |location=London |url=https://www.british-history.ac.uk/vch/surrey/vol3/pp447-451 |access-date=4 July 2024}}

After Esher Urban District Council was formed in 1894, it was initially based at Brabant Villa in Thames Ditton; however, by the end of the First World war, these premises were inadequate and, in 1922, the council acquired Sandown House to serve as Esher Town Hall.{{cite news |url= https://books.google.com/books?id=Cjk6AQAAMAAJ |title=New council offices for Esher U.D.C. |work=Municipal Engineering and the Sanitary Record |date=30 November 1922 |access-date=4 July 2024}}{{cite book |url= https://books.google.com/books?id=OIseAQAAMAAJ |title=Mansion for a Municipality|date=22 February 1924|publisher=The Municipal Journal and Public Works Engineer| access-date=4 July 2024}} The house continued to serve as the headquarters of the council for over half a century, but it ceased to be the local seat of government when the enlarged Elmbridge Borough Council was formed at Walton-on-Thames in 1974.{{cite book|title=Local Government Act 1972. 1972 c.70|publisher=The Stationery Office Ltd|isbn=0-10-547072-4|year=1997}}{{London Gazette|issue=46812|page=1594|date= 30 January 1976}} The new council continued to use Sandown House as a base for the delivery of local services until 1992.{{cite news|url=https://www.newsshopper.co.uk/news/6453296.travellers-could-face-court-order/|title= Travellers could face court order|date=6 October 2000|newspaper=News Shopper|access-date=4 July 2024}}

The house was subsequently sold to a developer, Active Office, and, in April 1998, after the building became dilapidated, Active Office was fined £5,000 for neglecting to undertake repairs.{{cite news |title=Review of the year: The stories that made the headlines in Kingston, Richmond and Elmbridge in 1998 |url=https://www.newsshopper.co.uk/news/6487242.review-year-stories-made-headlines-kingston-richmond-elmbridge-1998/ |access-date=4 July 2024 |work=News Shopper |date=2 January 1999}}{{cite book|url= https://books.google.com/books?id=KW7vCgAAQBAJ&pg=PA176 |title= Survey and Repair of Traditional Buildings A Conservation and Sustainable Approach|first= Richard|last= Oxley |year=2015 |page=176|publisher=Taylor and Francis|isbn=978-1317742135}} It was bought by Latchmere Properties and Countryside Residential in May 2000 and was then converted into apartments in the early 21st century.{{cite web|url= https://issuu.com/fineandcountrysurrey/docs/sandown_house_2_ |title=Sandown House|publisher=Fine and Country| access-date=4 July 2024}}

The five-bay central section of the building is three storeys high, with attics above, while the four-bay wings are of two storeys. It is built of brick with stucco finish. It features a central pedimented portico, formed by Ionic order columns supporting an entablature and a pediment, and it is fenestrated with sash windows. The bays are separated by banded pilasters supporting a modillioned cornice and balustrade at the eaves. There is also a square cupola built of brick, housing a clock. To the left is a five-bay extension. Inside, the entrance hall has a grand staircase. The house was grade II listed in 1969.

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Category:City and town halls in Surrey

Category:Esher