Evidence suggests that The Grove’s earliest inhabitants were hunter-gatherers from the Palaeolithic and Mesolithic eras. Sedimentary deposits along the riverbeds tracing the valley floor offer clues to their presence.
Battle of Hastings
The St Leger family’s connection to The Grove dates back to the Battle of Hastings in 1066, when Sir Robert Sent Legere fought alongside William the Conqueror. Centuries later, their legacy lives on at The Grove, reflected in the private dining room “Donneraile,” named in honour of this historic lineage.
Royal Connections
Queen Victoria visited The Grove twice, first in 1842 and again in 1878, enjoying its peaceful surroundings. In 1909, King Edward VII also visited, continuing the estate’s tradition as a retreat for royalty.
War Time Role: Trams and Tactics
During the Second World War, a network of tram links was constructed across The Grove’s estate, playing a crucial role in the country’s wartime efforts. One of these tracks extended all the way to Churchill’s Cabinet War Rooms, providing a vital transport route for military operations and key personnel.
Wartime Role: Working the Land
During the Second World War and the period of rationing, The Grove was used to grow fresh fruit and vegetables, tended by the Women’s Land Army alongside German and Italian prisoners of war. Despite their circumstances, records suggest the prisoners integrated well with the estate’s workforce, contributing to its agricultural efforts.
The Grove’s Lost Follies
The Grove was once home to sixteen decorative follies, each with its own unique charm. The Ionic Temple, or ‘Eggshell,’ stood as a striking neoclassical rotunda until the 1960s, while The Hoggery paid tribute to the estate’s tradition of breeding prize pigs. Though these structures are long gone, their names live on through The Grove’s golf course, keeping their legacy alive for generations to come.
Book a stay to experience The Grove’s rich history firsthand.
