Woodcote Park

Woodcote Park is the home of the Royal Automobile Club in Epsom, Surrey. It was built in 1679 and was bought by the RAC Club in 1913. After it was badly damaged by a fire it was rebuilt in 1930 by the architects Mewès and Davis (who designed the Ritz Hotel in London). It was used during World War I for military training, and during World War II, Woodcote Park was again taken over for military use, being used as a training centre. The ornamental gardens were ploughed up to grow food for the war effort. In the summer of 1940, during the height of the Battle of Britain, a Hawker Hurricane fighter aircraft was forced to land on the golf course of Woodcote Park. The pilot received medical assistance in the RAC clubhouse, having first proved that he was not an enemy airman by waving a packet of Players cigarettes at nearby golfers!

When the children were little they used to enjoy swimming there, and today the boys enjoy playing golf there. Today Luke went to the gym while I wandered around the grounds taking photos. They were lucky enough to become members when membership was first offered to children for a nominal fee. It now has a very active childrens' program and is less stuffy than it used to be!

My extra photo is of the view from the house onto the golf course