of Hide, which stood upon the site mentioned. It is quite clear that there were two principal houses, the one called Sanderstead Place, the other Sanderstead Court. We find the Atwoods described as of Sanderstead Court in 1568, at the time when the Place House was in possession of the Greshams. I can see nothing in the present mansion-house to warrant the opinion, commonly entertained, that any part of it is Elizabethan.[1] It belongs to the time of Charles II., as appears by the date on the south front, 1676, and was built by Harman Atwood, the second possessor of that name, whom Aubrey describes as "a singular benefactor to this and other churches by building houses for the incumbents. He was evidently fond of bricks and mortar, and in the quiet times succeeding the Restoration he was able to indulge his fancy.
The principal apartment is the hall, which occupies the centre of the house, and is carried up for two stories; the internal decorations date from the early part of the last century, the fluted columns with Corinthian capitals being similar in character to those in some of the civic halls in London of the same date. Considerable additions have been made on the north side of late years, and new offices and stables have been built. About two years ago a secret chamber was discovered behind the great chimney in the hall: it has since been partly closed up.[2]
The church, which stands within the inclosure of the park, is dedicated to All Saints. It had fallen some years ago into a very bad state of repair, and the restorations which it underwent in consequence in 1828 and 1832 have robbed it of all interest to the antiquarian. It contains several monuments to members of families who in former times lived in the parish.
- ↑ There is a tradition that Queen Elizabeth slept at Sanderstead Court on one occasion, and one of the bedrooms is called the Queen's room. There is nothing, however, about the room to give it an earlier date than the rest of the house, and if she ever stopped here, it must have been in an earlier house.
- ↑ In it was found a small blue and white jar of 17th century ware.
