HILLCROFT COLLEGE. A TUNNEL TO SURBITON STATION?

Hillcroft College, Surbiton KT6 6DF was built in 1877 as a mansion for Wilberforce Bryant, Chairman of Bryant & May, safety match manufacturers. There is a local tradition that there was a tunnel from the mansion to Surbiton Station. Later, Bryant built a theatre lower down on his grounds, and closer to the station, for the benefit of the local community. Known as The Gables, this was in use in 1885. It was established that there was a tunnel between the mansion and The Gables but there was no evidence that this extended as far as Surbiton Station. It is conjectured that this was the basis of the local tradition.