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James Gray: This large Victorian house called Mount Harry stood in a spacious garden and was screened from view by a high wall. I do not know when it was built, but I believe this to have been in 1882. It was the first house to be built in Surrenden Road and could originally only be approached from Varndean Road, which may account for the fact that it was sometimes listed as in Preston Road. Here is the front of the house that faced west over the Preston Valley. jgc_20_179
James Gray: [See caption for jgc_20_179 above.] The coach house, which was quite a substantial building with a clock tower. This also faced west. jgc_20_180
2019: There are no longer any distinguishing visual landmarks to match to the original image of the coach house belonging to Mount Harry. However, map coordinates taken from the 25 inch OS map dated 1914, clearly pinpoint the coach house as situated just between and behind 80-84 Surrenden Road, seen here looking eastwards. This row of houses was built after Surrenden Holt and completed in 1968. (Photographer: Jane Jordan)
James Gray: [See caption for jgc_20_179 above.] This view is of the rear of the house, facing east, with a view of the side of the coach house. The photographs were taken during 1959. The site was cleared in 1960 and in succeeding years the blocks of flats known as Surrenden Holt were built here. jgc_20_181
2019: Looking north towards the rear of 1 Surrenden Holt, built in the 1960s on the site of Mount Harry. The building in the middle distance is on the site of the old coach house. (Photographer: Jane Jordan)
James Gray: Another of the very large houses in extensive grounds built in this part of Surrenden Road when it was outside the Borough boundaries and land consequently cheap. Built in 1901 as Robson House it continued in private occupation until 1934. In 1935/6 it became [following reconstruction] Whittingehame College, a school for Jewish boys. Additional Information: Despite comments by JSG, Whittingehame College was a 1930s development in the Internationals style, structural engineers F J Samuely And Partners. jgc_20_182