HISTORIC ELTHAM Lemonwell
John Kennett traces the story of a former Victorian house on Bexley Road.
Bexley Road stand two blocks of fl ats in Lemonwell Drive which were erected in
Next
to the Pippenhall allotments on the
rose garden, terrace shady walks, well- shrubbed carriage drive to the house; two productive and well stocked kitchen and fruit gardens, range of glass houses, hot and cold pits, fowl houses and runs; model stabling for eight horses, harness room, coach house for six carriages, and two sets of rooms for men, all arranged round an enclosed yard; gardener’s cottage, laundry, cow house and sheds, and two park-like paddocks in an area of about 8 acres.’
The terrace and garden of Lemonwell, 1909
the early 1960s following the demolition of a substantial house and garden backing on to Avery Hill Park. Lemonwell was built in the early 1870s on a piece of Crown land with a 98 year lease at a rental of £104 per annum. The earliest known occupiers were William Brander followed by John Smithers. The house was put to auction in 1895 and as the sale details survive we have a vivid description of the property.
The house is described as ‘In a charmingly rural position, opposite the new Warren Golf links, ten minutes from the celebrated Eltham Golf Club (now Royal Blackheath), a mile and a quarter from Well Hall Station on the new direct line, via Blackheath, to the City and West End.’
The description continues with these details,
‘Comprising a
very attractive well planned house, standing on a terrace, and containing all necessary accommodation for a gentleman’s residence. Surrounding it are the pleasure grounds with a capital tennis lawn for two or three sets,
20
On the ground fl oor the inner hall led to the ‘Handsome drawing room’ about 45feet long and 17feet wide with two bays
with casements opening to a verandah and on to a conservatory heated by hot water and leading to a fernery. The dining room was about 28feet by 15feet and the other rooms were used for a library, and billiard room, with the convenience of a lavatory with hot and cold supplies and a WC. The kitchen had an open range for cooking; near the cook’s larder was a tradesman’s covered entrance while the servants’ hall had a dovecote above, a WC, and a garden entrance.
In the basement
was the dairy with slate shelves and a force pump for water supplies, two wine
cellars, larder, apple room and a large coal cellar. Near to the house, communicated by electric bell, stood the yard with stabling which included two stalls, harness room, coach house for six carriages, men’s room and large loft over and two sets of three rooms for the coachmen. There was also a span-roof vinery, peach house all heated
SEnine
Major Harry North
Main hall and front staircase at Lemonwell during the North occupancy051
by hot water, fowl house and potting shed. Since 1891 John Smithers had rented, on a yearly lease from the Crown, some fi fteen acres of adjacent open land where now stand the Pippenhall allotments and Pippenhall open space. The property was purchased by the newly married Harry North, son of ‘the Nitrate King’ Colonel North who constructed nearby his vast Avery Hill mansion and died in 1896. Harry was born in 1866 and completed his education at Jesus College, Cambridge. He had business interests in the City and was created one of his Majesty’s Lieutenants for the City of London. He was a Master of the Company of Gold and Silver Wire Drawers, associated with the military including holding the offi ce of Lieutenant Colonel of the City of London Royal Engineers Cadet Training Corps, and a member of a number of Masonic lodges. He was knighted in 1905. In Eltham he took a keen interest in the emerging Boy Scout movement and allowed the newly formed 2nd Royal Eltham troop to have their headquarters above his stables with a hut in the grounds where the cubs were to meet, with candles for illumination.
We are proud of Eltham
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