The ‘modern’ story of Dunsdale begins when the mansion had been converted into a V.A.D. hospital in 1914 having been unoccupied since 1911 when Francis Johnstone, the tenant, and Norman Watney, the owner, both died. From 1914 the Dunsdale Hospital (V.A.D. Kent 38) was fully occupied until 1917 when it was decommissioned from its V.A.D. status to ...
Reference: WH0990
This 1939 section of O.S. map shows the mansion – internally converted into several apartments and let to tenants – to be externally unaltered at this time, albeit run-down with the gardens and grounds in a sorry state. Note that the lake had dried up beyond the stone bridge carrying the coach road.
Reference: WH0991
In 1949 the Valence estate (only) was purchased by Kent County Council to rehouse Laleham School for girls that had outgrown its earlier premises in Hartfield, Sussex. In 1951 the status was changed to that of Valence School for physically handicapped children. In 1949 the run-down Dunsdale estate and Valence Wood were sold to Llewellyn Jones, ...
Reference: WH0992
Known officially as Kent 38, Westerham, Dunsdale was registered in 1911. On mobilisation the large empty house, then the property of the family of the late Norman Watney, was converted into a Voluntary Aid Detachment (V.A.D.) Red Cross hospital with fifty beds. By October 14th 1914 everything was ready for the forty-eight injured Belgian soldiers who ...
Reference: WH0997
Under the ownership of Norman Watney, the mansion of Dunsdale was reputed to have become the dower-house of Valence and was tenanted to retired merchant Francis John Johnstone and his family from the time of Watkins’ purchase in 1890 to the year of both Watkins and Johnstones deaths in 1911. It is somewhat ironic that ...
Reference: WH1006
This continuation reveals the extent of domestic staff that were employed by the Johnstones
Reference: WH1007
The position of the house raised on the bluff of a small valley was utilised to advantage by the landscape gardener Edward Milner. No landscape plans by Milner survive, but evidence comes from the Estate particulars of 1884 which mention him.
Reference: WH1008
The year before he died, Francis Johnstone moved the family to Sidmouth in south Devon. Dunsdale was not re-let and the empty house and gardens naturally went into decline.
Reference: WH1010
Upon retirement as Director of the Watney Brewery Company, Norman Watney became a J.P. on the Sevenoaks bench and Deputy Lieutenant for Kent, positions he held until his death in the autumn of 1911.
Reference: WH1011
Carved from Caen stone, the design of the doorway appears as free-form vegetation strings carved in a delicate, balanced way which is not unattractive and complements the rugged stone of the tower itself.
Reference: WH1012
Dunsdale Dunsdale was often considered the ‘dower-house’ of Valence and had a chequered history of ownership and tenancy. Earliest references to an original mansion at Dunsdale appear in 1823 with the owner recorded as one John Humphrey, who had purchased Dunsdale along with 142 acres of farmland when the Hill Park estate was split up in ...
Reference: WH1014
Comparing this black and white photo-postcard with the earlier aquatint one it is evident that the topiary work on the arches has grown. What beautiful surroundings for the convalescing soldiers to experience after the horrors of the trenches in France.
Reference: WH1015
This somewhat fairytale gothic mansion enjoyed an elevated, yet secluded position. In 1819 J. P. Neale, a noted author of the time, described the valley in which Dunsdale was situated as follows: “The scenery excites feelings in the mind, which, though perpetually experienced by the lover of nature, never have been, nor ever will be ...
Reference: WH1018
This view shows the central conservatory and the parterre to the south side of the house.
Reference: WH1020
This view shows the terrace to the frontage of the house with the distinctive evergreen wellingtonias in the near-distance.
Reference: WH1025
Cutmill Pond The waterwheel at Cutmill Pond is dated 1858, the same as the mansion at Dunsdale. It supplied water via a reservoir and five filter beds to Dunsdale. The wheel is described as an undershot waterwheel with a 2.56/1 step-up gear to 2 crankshafts which could drive a single cylinder pump. It was able to ...
Reference: WH1027
Of the three nurses standing together, the one in the centre is Blanche Theresa Warde.
Reference: WH1030
