Overview

May we suggest you enter the satnav directions we offer, as this will take you directly to The Grove, as other satnav directions will take you to an entrance you cannot use, so follow these directions. “THE GROVE, CHANDLERS CROSS, WD17 3NL” After departing Crowne Plaza in Beaconsfield, we enjoyed a very nice 30 minute drive through the lovely countryside of the Chilterns, and with autumn colours all around us it is a delightful drive. The Grove is famous for its buffet lunch, as seen on TV, expensive yes, but an experience all should enjoy if possible. (READ OUR NEXT REVIEW FOR THIS WONDERFUL EXPERIENCE) This large 5 star luxury hotel and estate has an interesting history, with evidence of it having been inhabited during the Bronze Age, when a Neolithic polished stone axe was discovered, and remains of a pot found in a pit. Then traces of ancient oval and circular dwellings were found. But they also found traces of a Saxon settlement, rare in Hertfordshire, including eight sunken-floor buildings of this time period, and it is understood that during the 10th century the estate was a Royal Manor. Having been a medieval Manor House dating back to the early 1200’s, when the estate was known as La Grava, it seems it was at that time an Alien Priory of the order of Fontevrault. Then La Grava came to be the property of the Brittewell family, and by 1294-5 John and wife Sarah Brittewell conveyed, or transferred the property by a legal process, such as a deed or a contract, to Algeria de Brittewell and her two sisters, Alice and Ellen. A will found of a “Cassio” showed that in 1324-5 it was in the hands of a Thomas de Harpesfield and his wife Joan, when the Abbot of St Albans allowed them to become free from rent due to the Abbey. An inscription can be seen in the church close bye that showed by 1400 the house and estate belonged to John Hendon, a man of some means, and it was then that the estate and house was known as “The Grove” Over the next years, the Grove came into the hands of many families, so that by 1703 it was the property of Sir William Buck, and his son Sir Charles Buck, who had the house completely rebuilt. It was sold in 1753 to the Hon.Thomas Villiers who lived 1709-1786 the second son of the 2nd Earl of Jersey. In 1748 he became a Baron of the kingdom of Prussia, and on the 30th March 1752 he married the heiress of The Hyde family, Lady Charlotte Capell. His architect, Matthew Brettingham built a seven bay south facing front with two wings, between 1754-1756 for the Hon Matthew Brettingham, who became the first Earl of Clarendon in 1776. He served as chancellor of the Duchy of Lancaster. The Grove then underwent renovations in 1780, with the Brettingham wing and a family chapel being taken down and a two storey mansion was now built. During a visit by Captain Cook, he presented a black walnut tree to the Earl, and today it towers over the terrace , beside the lounges. The artist George Stubbs visited and painted his famous horse portraits here. A walled garden with a kitchen garden was built to grow their own fresh food for the house, this being divided into four sections, with greenhouses running the full length of the wall, here they grew the peaches, grapes, nectarines and figs. (PHOTOS 7 and 8) During 1870-75 a third storey was added to the house, and a grand ground floor area was created to help the Earl display his large collection of old masters. Having now been built as a English country house, it served as the family seat of the Earls of Clarendon, the Villiers family, from 1776 right up until 1920, when they sold the house and estate. By the mid to late 19th century, regular visitors included Queen Victoria, the Prime minister Lord Palmerston, and King Edward 7th visited in 1907 a year before the king died. By 1920, death duties placed financial burdens on many estates, and the Villiers family decided to sell the Grove, and left to live in Hampstead. However, they retained ownership for some time. after the sale it was used for many projects, becoming a gardening school, and a riding School. It was used for tennis, and One of the pupils miss Kat Stammers became known as a very good player and represented Britain in the Wightman cup against America. The house became a girls boarding school, and during the war years it was a training centre for British transport and then British rail. ====================================================================== LATER AND MORE MODERN HISTORY CAN BE READ ON OUR THIRD REVIEW FOR HOTEL. ====================================================================== Using our photos will help you see more of the estate and house. PHOTO ONE to FOUR The entrance to the estate leads you through high towers and invites you to come and see, then a very long pleasant drive across open meadowland with far views leads to the traffic lights at the very nice bridge over the canal before passing ponds that line the golf course that will guide you to the main house in the distance. PHOTOS FIVE AND SIX Disabled may park in the bays opposite the main mansion entrance, or continue ahead to the main car park, or may continue through that car park to reach the woodland car park. Our photo shows this carpark as it allows visitors to take a lovely stroll through the woods while their children may run from one set of metal bells set it to various designs of metal work, and may hit these bells with their sticks to hear them ring. PHOTOS SEVEN AND EIGHT Running around the walls for the old walled gardens you can walk to the entrance for the walled garden, through the arched gate, but we were rather disappointed with what can be seen and no way could a disabled person in a chair manage to get around inside to see it all. PHOTO NINE The main and attractively laid out main carpark. Photo TEN, and ELEVEN, TWELVE The round driveway for the main entrance to the hotel if you need help to unload suitcases or get the wheelchair out of the boot of your car, and require the help of the very willing valet that will welcome you and offer support by driving your car to the carpark. Of course, a small thank you would be appreciated by them. Hotels entrance pleasant enough with tall evergreen and deciduous overlooking the green that stands by the main door. PHOTOS THIRTEEN TO SEVENTEEN If you found car parking spaces and brought the wheelchair up to the main doors, your carer may enter through the main glass doors, or the valet will open the side door for easier entry for the wheelchair, and will offer to push the chair to whichever area you wish to go and see. Today we will be taken on a very long walk through various corridors by the valet who will take us for the buffet lunch at THE GLASSHOUSE. (PLEASE READ OUR NEXT REVIEW FOR “THE GLASSHOUSE” AND THE BUFFET LUNCH)

Transport & Parking

It is a pleasant drive to reach the entrance for the Grove hotel, and a nice long driveway opens up the scenery for you, with long distant views towards the house. As you arrive at the main hotels entrance, on your right you will See a couple of disabled bay, but if these are full, then the main car park lies ahead, then its a reasonable easy push for your carer across to the main entrance, which is level for you to enter the attractive reception area. However, if you feel you can not manage the walk from the main car park, then leave your car in the pull in area for the hotels entrance, and a very willing valet will take your car for you to the main car park, and a little thank you would be most welcomed.

Access

It’s nice and level throughout the hotels many rooms, and ramps will offer help where needed. It’s a long walk to reach some dining areas though with slight rises, but a strong pusher will cope well.

Toilets

Staff

We found all the staff were very kind and willing, and supported us so well. The welcome at reception was warm and polite, all the staff in restaurants were friendly and helpful.

Photos