Witley Park
From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
Coordinates: Witley Park was a 19th-century house and estate in Surrey, near Haslemere.
The estate was developed in 1890 by the fabulously wealthy J. Whitaker Wright, as part of extensive land (approx. 1,400 acres) he purchased in the Haslemere and Hindhead area.
The pre-existing house,originally named Lea Park, was developed into a 32 bedroom mansion, adjacent to artificial lakes and landscaped grounds. In one lake, Whitaker Wright famously built an underwater, glass-roofed billiard room, which still exists.[1]
Whitaker Wright committed suicide and his lands were auctioned, with much of Hindhead Common ending up in the hands of the National Trust.
Witley Park was sold to Lord Pirrie, famous for his role in the building of the SS Titanic.
The Lea Park mansion was burned down in 1952. The park remains, but it is a private home where uninvited visitors are NOT welcome.
