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Valentines Mansion 1900

Nestled among 130 acres of parkland in Ilford, east London the 17th Century Mansion, which once housed the Council's Public Health and then Housing Offices, has remained largely empty for the past two decades.

Its continued disuse meant that the historic Grade II* listed building fell into a state of dilapidation and was placed on the 'Buildings at Risk Register' by English Heritage.

But in 2005 a two million pound heritage grant was secured and restoration of Ilford's grand old sweetheart was able to begin.

In with the old… and the new

Work on the Mansion began in earnest in July 2007 and is due to be completed early in 2009 with a grand unveiling set for, rather aptly February 14th – Valentines Day.

Once the restoration work is fully complete the Mansion's revived features will include a re-instated Victorian kitchen and dairy, restored oak well staircase and replacement of the original stain-glass windows.

As well as the Mansion itself the surrounding historic gardens, parkland, shell grottoes, adjoining dovecote and canal are also being restored.

Plans for the use of the newly restored old Mansion and gardens will see a permanent exhibition on the building's history and educational programmes for schoolchildren, families and adults.

Visitors will also be able to watch artists at work in one of the six newly created artist studios in the old servant quarters and the Mansions many rooms will be available for use by the local community.

Valentine Mansion 1905

The History of Valentines Mansion

1669: Dating back to the reign of James II, Valentines Mansion was built in 1696 by - it is believed, the son-in-law of Elizabeth Tillotson. Mrs Tillotson was the widow of John Tillotson, Archbishop of Canterbury before his death in 1694.

1702: The Mansion was bought by George Finch following Mrs Tillotson's death.

1714: William Finch inherits the estate on his father's death. It is not known, if any, improvements to the house were made during this time.

1724: Robert Surman, a London banker and Deputy Cashier at the South Sea Company which had exclusive trading rights with Spanish South America. Though Surman lost much of his fortune in the South Sea Bubble crisis of 1720, he managed acquire the Mansion and is responsible for enlarging and improving the house and gardens. The Rococo landscapes were created during his time and the east bay window was added, probably so that he could see the gardens from inside the house.

1754: The house was sold to Charles Raymond who made his fortunes with the East India Company and was later created a Baronet in 1774. Raymond continued with the reconstruction of the house and also bought up the adjoining Cranbrook and Highlands Estates. During Raymond's time a Black Hamburg grapevine was planted, and in 1769 a cutting was taken to Hampton Court Palace where it still grows today.

Valentines Mansion 1775

1788: Donald Cameron is the new owner of the mansion and the greatly enlarged estates. Over 400 acres accompanied the house by this point. It's believed that during this time an original Hogarth print, 'Southwark Fair' adorned the walls of the Mansion. The work is now part of a collection at the Cincinnati Art Museum.

1797: Robert Wilkes acquires the Mansion but the estate was split up and only 174 acres was sold with the house.

1808: A decade later the Mansion is sold again to Charles Welstead. The building was substantially repaired and altered in 1811 by Welstead and it was at this time that the main entrance was moved from the south front to its present location on the north elevation. The porte cochere was added by Welstead to add grandeur and character to his new entrance.

1838: Following Welstead's death in 1830 the Mansion was purchased by Charles Thomas Holcombe who lived there with his wife Margaret, and their niece Sarah Oakes. Oakes married Clement Mansfield Ingleby in 1850 and went to live with him in Edgbaston where he practiced law in his father's legal practice.

Valentines Mansion 1854

1869: The Ingleby's moved back to Valentines. Mrs Holcombe had died in 1860 and a year later Mr Holcombe also passed. The house was left to his niece. A two-storey wing to the north east was added in 1871 and the sweep of the porte cochere is thought have been extended by adding a new bay at each end.

1897: Mrs Ingleby became a noted benefactress in Ilford until her death in 1906. During this year however, 47 acres of the park had already been sold to Ilford Urban District Council and in 1899 the parkland was opened to the public as Central Park.

1906: Mrs Ingleby's son Holcombe Ingleby donanted some more land following his mother’s death.

1912: By this time the Council had already purchased even more of the parkland and then in 1912 bought the remaining 37 acres and the Mansion.

Redbridge Museum: Sarah Ingleby

1924: Nearby land that had been used for farming was bought up by the Council thus creating all of what is now Valentines Park. The council were unsure what to do with the house once they'd bought. The farm buildings and stables just north of the house were demolished to make way for tennis courts and the house was used to accommodate Belgium refugees during the 'Great War'. It was also used as a hospital as the conflict progressed.

1925: The Council's Public Health department moved into the Mansion on a "temporary" basis but its occupation of the house lasted 40 years.

1964 When the London Borough of Redbridge was formed in 1964 the Mansion became the Council's Housing department until…

1993 The Council relocated to new offices leaving the Mansion empty and with no further use planned.

2005: Lottery Heritage Fund grants £2m to fund the restoration project of the old Mansion with Redbridge Council providing a further £1.2m needed to restore the building and parklands.

2007: Restoration of the parkland begins in February and five months later work starts on the Mansion itself.

Can you help tell the story of Valentines Mansion? Whether you have memories of Valentines Mansion during its time as a health clinic during the 1920s or from when it became the council's housing department in 1965 then Redbridge Museum wants to hear from you.

The museum particularly wants to find any photographs of the inside of the Mansion from this time. This will form part of the interpretation of the building when it opens in early 2009.

If you can help, please contact gerard.greene@redbridge.gov.uk