Building record 1562900000 - Pollardswood Grange

Arts and Crafts-style house designed by James Edwin Forbes for Madame Katherine Dracopoli and built in 1907. In May 1918 Dracopoli sold the house to Edward Weldon, a publisher. In 1942 the property was sold to Dorothy Paget, who seems to have leased it out in the early 1950s. Following Paget's death in 1960 the property was sold on in April 1960, and was again on the market in 1983 (B1).
Pollardswood Grange was requisitioned by the War Department in 1942, becoming a Special Operations Executive (SOE) Operational Holding School (Station 20b) for the Polish section. Closed on 31st March 1945 and de-commissioned by the SOE in October 1945, when it was returned to the owner (B2).
By Forbes and of about 1907, Pollardswood Grange is like a large cottage with steep hipped and tiled roofs, swept almost to the ground over one wing. Rendered with small casements and a broad striped arched entrance on the garden front, characteristic of the period (B3).