Burford Bridge Hotel

The Burford Bridge Hotel

Burford Bridge Hotel is a historic hotel in the village of Mickleham, Surrey, England. It is to the south of Leatherhead and north of Dorking at the foot of Box Hill on the River Mole. It is now owned by Mercure Hotels.

History

The Hotel was founded in 1254 as the 'Fox and Hounds', and parts of the existing hotel date back to the 16th century. After leaving London, John Keats took a room overlooking the gardens, and found inspiration to complete his epic poem Endymion in November 1817. Other prominent visitors included Queen Victoria, Jane Austen, Wordsworth, Sheridan and Robert Louis Stevenson. It was here too that Lord Nelson spent secret hours with his love Emma Hamilton, before going to vanquish Napoleon's fleet at the Battle of Trafalgar.

In 1882 the hotel became the Hare & Hounds, and was commonly known as the Burford Bridge. In 1905, Surrey Public Trust purchased it from Sir Trevor Lawrence, and it changed permanently to the Burford Bridge Hotel,[1] later merging with Trusthouses in 1948.

A 16th century mediaeval tithe barn from the nearby village of Abinger Hammer was re-erected adjoining the hotel in 1934, and an outdoor swimming pool was added. The barn is alleged to include beams from ships of the Spanish Armada. The Garden Bedrooms were built in 1973 and adjoin the main hotel.

References

  1. ↑ Nathaniel Newnham-Davis's Gourmet's Guide to London (1914)

Coordinates: 51°15′15″N 0°19′19″W / 51.2542°N 0.3219°W / 51.2542; -0.3219

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