Our History

History of Kingswood House

Before the House

King's Wood was part of Dulwich Manor, likely originating in the medieval period, and first recorded in 1576 as King's Coppice. The land belonged to the College of God’s Gift, later known as Dulwich College, after being granted to it by Edward Alleyn, founder of the college, in 1619.

1811-1831: William Vizard

In 1811, lawyer William Vizard leased land from the College and built Kingswood Lodge, completed in 1814. Vizard became prominent in politics and law, notably defending Queen Caroline in 1820. The original house was smaller, consisting of a rectangular building with a carriage drive and an eastern entrance. This core structure survives within the current Kingswood House.

1831-1891: Multiple Owners

Vizard sold the property in 1831 to James Hannen. It passed through several owners, including Johann Conrad im Thurn (1854-1868), who possibly expanded the house. During this period, the nearby Sydenham Hill railway station was established, enhancing access to London. The property passed to Thomas Tapling in 1868, who likely added the billiard room.

1891-1900: John Lawson Johnston

In 1891, the lease was sold to John Lawson Johnston, inventor of Bovril, who commissioned significant alterations to the house. Architect Henry Vaughan Lanchester expanded the building with a "Great Hall" and a glass-roofed "Palm Court," and added a "Castle Ruin" in the garden, earning the house the nickname "Bovril Castle." Inside, the house featured lavish woodwork and historic fixtures sourced from France. Johnston passed away in 1900.

1908-1919: Serge de Bolotoff and William Dederich

Following Johnston’s death, the house passed to Russian Prince Serge de Bolotoff, a colourful figure and early aviation pioneer, who lived there with his mother until 1912. The property was then taken over by William Dederich, a wealthy railway contractor, who hosted lavish parties, including one attended by explorer Ernest Shackleton. In 1916, Dederich rented the house to the Canadian Massey-Harris company, which set up a convalescent home for wounded soldiers during WWI.

1919-1946: The Vestey Family

In 1919, shipping magnate Sir William Vestey bought Kingswood House. The Vesteys, who made their fortune in refrigerated shipping, made substantial changes to the house, particularly to its interior. In 1921, Sir William was made Baron Vestey of Kingswood. During WWII, the house was used for military purposes, including a reinforced concrete air-raid shelter and housing a barrage balloon. It suffered some damage from bombing, though it remained mostly intact.

Post-War and Development

After WWII, the second Baron Vestey proposed using Kingswood as a hostel for displaced employees. However, in 1946, the London County Council issued a compulsory purchase order, planning to redevelop the 37-acre estate for housing. The surrounding area was transformed into a housing estate, with 789 homes built around the house, which was preserved for community use. The design of the estate was influenced by the house, incorporating mature trees and maintaining the house as a focal point.

Canadian Soldiers in WWII

Library reopening 1956

Lord Vestey

To learn more about the vast history of this house please take a look at Patrick Derby's "A History of Kingswood House"

SEASONS OF KINGSWOOD LIFE

In 2024 we undertook a wonderful history and heritage project called "SEASONS OF KINGSWOOD LIFE" funded by Historic England. Volunteers from the local community led by the "Friends of Kingswood House" and members of Kingswood Arts' team set out to research and document stories from our house and it's history!

The result of months and months of work can now be seen on a beautiful mural in our Kingswood Cafe, created by Kremena Dimitrova. A version of it is shown below but please do visit our lovely cafe on site, open Mon-Fri 11-4pm, have a coffee and check out the fascinating stories of this brilliant building and the people that made it so!

See above: The "Seasons of Kingswood Life" team who pieced everything together

See below: Some of the residents and local community members throughout the years at Kingswood House