Michael D.Heath-Caldwell M.Arch.

1983 - 1987 - 1990

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.