Harcourt House Tour

Harcourt House was built in 1887 as a family home called The Glade by local architect Walter Albert Williams in what was originally the Bromley Hill Estate.  The first residents, in 1890, were a family with five children and servants.  Between 1908 and 1940 it was a school, known first as the Glade Garden School and then Harcourt House School.  During World War II, part of the building was used as offices for the Red Cross and in the 1950s it was converted rather destructively into three flats.  The Davis family bought the top floor flat in 1981 and shortly thereafter they acquired those on the middle and ground floors since when they have spent much time, hard work and enthusiasm in restoring their home to its original Victorian glory.

The house has twenty four rooms over four floors, including the cellars.  It has been lovingly restored by exposing previously covered fire places, by replacing the stair case and by reproducing the style of original cornices, corbels and stained glass where they had been removed or damaged.  Freda and Peter have expended much energy in sourcing reclaimed radiators, fire surrounds, balustrades and a chandelier, and have furnished their home with many antiques, particularly antique clocks, the oldest of which is dated at 1680. The pictures below give some idea of the quality and extent of their work.

Click on an image below to see a larger version - you can then move forward or back using the arrows on either side.