•  Oatlands, Surrey

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In 1870-72, John Marius Wilson's Imperial Gazetteer of England and Wales described Oatlands like this:

OATLANDS PARK, a chapelry in Walton-on-Thames parish, Surrey; adjacent to the E side of Weybridge, to Weybridge r. station, and to the river Thames at thoboundary with Middlesex, 3 miles S E by E of Chertsey. It has a post-office under Weybridge Station, and a goodhotel. A stately palace was built here by Henry VIII.; stood in a splendid park; was inhabited, at times, by Elizabeth; became a favourite residence of Anne of Denmark; was the scene of a gorgeous entertainment by her, to the Venetian ambassador Busino; under went numerous additions by Inigo Jones; was the birthplace, in 1640, of " Henry of Oatlands, " Duke of Gloucester, and youngest son of Charles I. ...

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and Henrietta Maria; and was destroyed in the civil wars of Charles I. The estate was given by Charles I. to Henrietta Maria; passed to Henry Jermyn, the Herberts, and the Earls of Lincoln, who afterwards became Dukes of Newcastle; was purchased in 1794, and much improved, by the Duke of York; changed hands again after the Duke of York'sdeath; and, inclusive of the greater part of the park, has, since about 1850, been broken into fragments, and let in lots for building. A mansion, near the site of Henry VIII.'s palace, was built, about the beginning oflast century, by the Earl of Lincoln; and was destroyedby fire, soon after going into possession of the Duke of York, in 1794. Another mansion was then commenced, by restoration and reconstruction; but great part of it was taken down after the Duke of York's death; and therest, with alterations and considerable additions, was converted into the Oaklands Park hotel, opened in 1858. A brick gateway in the garden-wall, and some remains of vaults in the grounds, are the only relics of Henry VIII. 's palace. A famous grotto, formed by the Duke of Newcastle, at a cost of about £40,000, is in the grounds of J. Drake, Esq.; was the scene of a luxurious petit souper, by George IV., when Prince of Wales, to a select party of his friends; and was a favourite retiring-room of the Duchess of York. About 60 monuments of the Duchess's favourite dogs stand around a circular basin, once a pond for gold fish, near the grotto. The acreage and the pop. of the chapelry have not been separately returned. The living is a p. curacy in the diocese of Winchester. Value, not reported. Patrons, Trustees. The church was built in 1862, at a cost of £2, 400; was opened in December 1867; is in the decorated English style; consists of nave, S aisle, and apsidal chancel; and contains 350 sittings.

Oatlands through time

Oatlands is now part of Elmbridge district. Click here for graphs and data of how Elmbridge has changed over two centuries. For statistics about Oatlands itself, go to Units and Statistics.

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