Cost:  £50.00

Today we have the opportunity to visit Dorneywood House, which is used by the Chancellor of the Exchequer, Philip Hammond, and is not often open to the public. 

The Dorneywood estate was purchased by Sir Courtauld Thomson in 1919 from Charles Palmer, whose family had owned the Dorney estate for more than three centuries. Over the years Courtauld Thomson, and his sister Winifred, began to build on and decorate the house, and to fill it with the imposing works of art that fill the house to this day.

In 1942 Sir Courtauld Thomson decided to donate the estate to the nation in the care of the National Trust, and in particular to the incumbent Prime Minister, to provide a residence for a Secretary of State or senior Minister of the Crown appointed by him.

The house and gardens are maintained by the Dorneywood Trust and we will have access to the ground floor of the main house, hosted by the Secretary, Tim Price.  We will then have an introductory talk by the Head Gardener before exploring the extensive gardens.

Finally, weather permitting, we will have a cream tea, including sandwiches and cake in the garden

This is a half day visit and we will leave Mitcham at 12 noon, Wimbledon at 12.30 and Raynes Park at 12.40 pm.  We should be back in Raynes Park by 6 pm.

PHOTOGRAPHY IS NOT PERMITTED.