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Cedar House
When viewed from the river, Cedar House has the appearance of being 18th century in date. However, it is basically 15th century, altered and enlarged in the 17th and 18th centuries. Major Benton Fletcher, who during his ownership had made a number of "improvements" to the building, gave it to the National Trust in 1938 to endow the Trust's music centre in London.
The front elevation, facing the river, dates from the mid to late 18th centuries and hides much of the older building. The wrought iron ornamental gate is 18th century: it came from the house of Sheridan, the playwright, at Eltham, and bears his monogram.
The main entrance to the house is now on the east side and here one can see what remains of the original building. The large traceried window came from another building and was incorporated as part of the improvements in 1927. The brick wall on the northern boundary of the garden bears the inscription "ED 1792".
The dining hall at Cedar House has an opened-timbered curve roof of unusual construction, the oak collars being carved. It is difficult to know how much of this is original to the house and how much was imported by Benton Fletcher. At one end of the hall, above the screen passage, is a "minstrels gallery" probably constructed by Benton Fletcher from a bedroom above the hall.
There are a number of local legends connected with Cedar House. One tells of a supposed passage that runs under the road to the mill. Another is that Lord Nelson stayed at the house and, indeed, one room is still known as "Nelson's Room" This may be linked to the fact that the house was once owned by the Balchin family and that Admiral Sir John Balchin (d. 1744) served on H.M.S. Victory IV.
It is possible that Cedar House was the building known in 1737 as "Tan House" which leads to the theory that the place was once a tannery. At that time the building appears to have belonged to the Manor of Ham.
In 1765 the property came into the hands of Joseph Moss, a partner in Charrington's Brewery, and later passed to the Balchin family. Mrs. Balchin had the misfortune of being robbed by a highwayman when travelling in her coach over the Fairmile Common.
In the late 1830s part of the house was occupied by Joseph Stedman, a brewer, whose grandson, Richard Wallis Ashby, founded the Cobham Brewery.
Since the war Cedar House has been a Residential Home and is now a Hotel and Restaurant.
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The Walk
Church Gate House | St Andrews | Church Stile House | The Old Bear | Cobham Mill | Cedar House| The Running Mare | Korea Cottages | Stile Cottages | Ash Ford Bridge | St Michaels | The Cricketers | The Plough