HILLCROFT COLLEGE. A TUNNEL TO SURBITON STATION?

Abstract

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.

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The Author

David A. Kennedy, PhD

About 20 years ago, I accompanied my late wife to some talks on the use of computers in historical research and began to help her with her genealogical studies. Later, I took part in a project, organised by the Centre for Local History Studies at Kingston University, to digitise the Enumerators’ Books for the Kingston Census of 1851-1891. This rekindled my interest in history, especially that of Kingston upon Thames, where I live. This website has been set up so that I can share my research findings, some based on digitised material, with others who may be interested in them.

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