The house certainly suggested well-to-do owners. Despite extensive grounds, and an imposing exterior the building was not large by the day's standards and was, perhaps, bought as a seaside villa for the warm months. Interesting features that disappeared during the war (WW2 ) were the very handsome wrought iron railings and main gates, which had an arch over them. These divided the property from St Peter's Road. They were a slightly more modest version of the railings round Buckingham Palace and very impressive! Looking back, I would guess the height of the railings to have been about 10 feet - though I was a very small boy at the time so size could have been deceptive! The gates were considerably higher, with the arch at a height that could allow safe passage for coachman and footmen riding outide a carriage. The old stable had been converted to a garage by the time I knew the house (1936) but the paddock for horses remaoined and was used as a playing field
When the railings/gate, like so much ironwork all over the country was cut down by the Government to provide raw materials for weapons, there was something of an outcry.
Another feature was the lovely garden that strecthed from the front of the house to the boundary with Selwyn House ie running parallel with St Peter's Road. It retained much 18th century elegance, with an avenue of very fine cedars (6 or possibly
running its length. I wonder if this had been the original main entrance with a gate in what became the boundary wall with Selwyyn House, which was a rather later building. One tree fell in a storm c. 1948
The exact location of the grounds is found by visiting Maxine Gardens and Wayne Close on the right as you walk up St Peter's Road toward the church.
Crossing Sowell Street you pass a shop and then after passing a small development of houses (in the grounds of the former St Christopher's House), come to Selwyn Court - the old Selwyn House School. Selwyn Drive opposite occupies that school's former playing fields. Then Maxine Gardens.
Hildersham Barn (dated c.1805) marks the end of the Claringbold property.: a right of way existed into Claringcold here. Hildersham House had been another gracious house that was converted to a Prep school by its owners c. 1900. Harrow Dene and Hildersham Close mark its former existence.
Will try to find the picture - and make a rough plan of the place as I knew it.
Hope this isn't too long!
Giles4