Michael D.Heath-Caldwell M.Arch.

Moorhurst Manor

Watercolour of Moorhurst Manor, near Holmwood, Surrey. 

Moorhurst Manor, near Holmwood, Surrey. One of the Heath houses.

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Friday 6 January 1854
British Army Despatch

Marriages
On the 8th inst. a St.Paul's Church, Malta, by the Venerable Archdeacon Le Mesurier, Commander Leopold G. Heath, Royal Navy, of Moorhurst, Surrey, to Mary Emma, fifth daughter of the late Arthur Cuthbert Marsh Esq., of Eastbury, near Watford, Herts.

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Tuesday 16 December 1873
Hour

Messrs Johnson and Dymond have been favoured with instructions from the Trustees of Mr Lawson to sell by Auction at the Mart, Tokenhouse yard, on Tuesday December 23, at 1 o'clock for half past, the valuable Lease of that charming Residence and Property consisting of 10½ acres, known as Moorhurst, Holmwood, near Dorking, held for an unexpired term of 12 years at the very low rental of £104 10s. per annum, together with the shooting over a well stocked neighbourhood of about 130 acres, comprising the following viz., Great Capel Field, Randal's Copse, Butcher's Copse, Woodfield Shaw, Little Woodfield, Coney Croft, Kiln Field Shaw, Long Pond Field, Cow Barn Meadow, Willin's Cart-house Field, Meadow Barn Field, orchard, Mail Field, Mail Field Shaw, Hard Wood, and others.

The house is surrounded by an ornamental flower garden, tastefully laid out, and a spacious croquet lawn. The kitchen garden is well-stocked, and contains an abundance of vegetable and choice fruit-trees.

The property is pleasantly situate, and commands an extensive and picturesque view of the surrounding country. The dormitory apartments are well appointed, and consist of seven spacious bedrooms, with water-closet on the first floor landing.

On the ground floor is situate the drawing  and dining rooms, also the large hall, which is paved with encaustic tiles. Attached is a large kitchen and pantry, newly built within the last six years, a scullery, large dairy &c.; capital cellarage accommodation, fitted with bins for wine; a dry harness-room, with coachman's room over, &c.

The outbuildings comprise a greenhouse and conservatory, fitted with flues and hot water pipes, a potting-house, coach-house, and stabling, fowl-houses, piggery, aviary, &c. 

Further particulars may be obtained from Mr Dolman, Solicitor, 45 Cornhill; or at the offices of the Auctioneeers, 38 and 39 Gracechurch St, E.C.,

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Diary of Arthur Heath  - December 1873

Moorhurst has been let to a Mrs Elliot, £700 a year. She is going to enlarge it very much and has given up the shooting which I am very glad of indeed, rents are therefore increasing very much as per years ago it was let with the two fields and the Trouts shooting for £194, that £180 without the shooting.

She has a 21 year lease with power to break it at 14 years. When the latter ends I shall be 33, Papa 70, Mama 61.

There have been various penny readings, at one of which Papa took the chair. Nicholls sang four very good songs.

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Friday 24 July 1987
West Sussex County Times

Refuge for War Victims
Horribly wounded Iranian casualties from the Gulf war are taking refuge in a secluded country mansion near Beare Green and prompting mounting concern from worried villagers. Villagers are being terrified as the come face to face with the maimed and crippled foreigners when out walking along the narrow country lanes in the area. - - - In fact the historic Moorhurst Manor is the temporary home for about 15 Iranian war victims, mainly civilians, who are being treated in Britain for horrendous injuries caused by chemical warfare and shrapnel.

The house is run by the Shahid Foundation, funded by the Iranian Government. They insist they are non-political and only interested in the medical welfare of patients. Surprisingly there is no obvious security surrounding the house. An open driveway leads straight to the heavy wooden front door. Inside the house is strictly functional. Pictures of Ayatollah Khomeini abound. Director Hossein Safari was happy to dispel some of the mystery surrounding the group's activities.

He was aware of a potential clash of cultures but said: "I thought we had better keep away from the villagers. The people might not like the atmosphere of us being in the village. We have kept away from the village but we had in mind to come and talk to the churches. We could get together and have a meeting."

He explained: "The foundation was created to help the poor and the people who are from the cities who have been bombed." The foundation was set up in England about four years ago and Moorhurst was bought just under a year ago to act as a rehabilitation centre and shelter for those coming to this country for treatment by London doctors. They have their own chef and 24-hour nurse to care for the patients, currently numbering 156. - - - At the moment no new patients are being received because of the relationship between the governments.

Mr.Safari explained: "We had a great bombardment on residential cities and a great problem with shortage of hospitals. The purpose of sending people is to get them treated in England. The Surrey area we chose because these people must have enough privacy."

He emphasised that both the British government and the police are aware of their presence and praised the Surrey force who patients who was found wandering lost in the lanes. He said: "They have done their best to have us in this place."
He also thanked the Foreign Office saying: "They co-operated very well. We wanted visas for the critically injured and they supplied us with them. We are not concerned with any political things, we only deal with patients medically."
He could not say how long the group would be staying at Beare Green, it depends on the relationship between governments. "For the time being it is not known whether this place is going to be left open, or closed up." he said.
Moorhurst House is set in a secluded position at the end of Moorhurst Lane and has a long history dating back to when it was built in 1830. Local historian Bill Smith catalogued its story in a book a wrote about the village in 1982.
Many prominent families have lived in the manor and at one time church services and confirmation were held here. It was the home of Admiral Sir Leopold Heath for many years.
His son, Cuthbert, was the great figurehead of Lloyds Shipping and Insurance and the Heath family were influential local landowners. In addition to Moorhurst they also owned Anstie Grange which became an officers' hospital during World War I.
At the beginning of World War II it became army property once again, and was an officers' weapons training school.