No. in Party   Loads
Visited    September 2003

Undoubtably one of the most memorable weeks of my life!

A friend very kindly invited us to stay with his family and other friends to celebrate his birthday, during the finest spell of September weather imaginable. In these circumstances the house was firing on all cylinders and was the absolute perfect stage to set the week’s activities.

Goddards is beautiful and quirky in equal measure. It’s got film-star looks and oozes class - I defy anyone to take a bad photograph of the place. Goddards doesn’t occupy much space in the grand catalogue of Lutyens’ work but it is hard to imagine a more picturesque interpretation of the Surrey-style than this fabulous building.

Not being familiar with the area we used the week to explore deepest, darkest Surrey and found much to please, discovering grand houses by the bucket load. A trip to another, albeit quite different Arts & Crafts house, Standen, is highly recommended and gave us an opportunity to display our croquet “skills” - honed on the lawn at Goddards.

There is pleasant pub at Abinger and ample provisions to be found in Dorking.

Our stay there was so perfect I’m not sure that I would like to return.