| Ray Knowles |
| 07977 2191647 |
I was lucky enough to have someone
buzzing on the entry phone late last year.
The knock was from a chap called Goran
Fermén Sandquist who makes some really
good hand built furniture in Sweden (e-mail
him on butikbordet@swipnet.se if you want
some).
Anyway Goran apparently lived here with his
mum and dad in the 60's and he was over
here on holiday and wanted to see the
house.
Apparently his father was some big-wig with
SKF who as you'll recall owned Frihsden
House at the time. After I let him in and he
took some pics, Goran kindly sent me the
above black and whites of the house in the
60's
He says he remembers the servants, the big
cars that picked his Dad up, the massive
gardens and how cool he thought it all was
at just 19.....
buzzing on the entry phone late last year.
The knock was from a chap called Goran
Fermén Sandquist who makes some really
good hand built furniture in Sweden (e-mail
him on butikbordet@swipnet.se if you want
some).
Anyway Goran apparently lived here with his
mum and dad in the 60's and he was over
here on holiday and wanted to see the
house.
Apparently his father was some big-wig with
SKF who as you'll recall owned Frihsden
House at the time. After I let him in and he
took some pics, Goran kindly sent me the
above black and whites of the house in the
60's
He says he remembers the servants, the big
cars that picked his Dad up, the massive
gardens and how cool he thought it all was
at just 19.....
Frithsden Copse, Berkhamsted, Herts HP4 2RG
One of Hertfordshire's most magnificent
houses set in 5 acres of totally secluded
gardens in natural trust woodland
in an area of outstanding natural beauty
and archaeological significance, 5
minutes from Berkhamsted
station
houses set in 5 acres of totally secluded
gardens in natural trust woodland
in an area of outstanding natural beauty
and archaeological significance, 5
minutes from Berkhamsted
station
Sometime around 1940 Commander
Tankerville got himself a mortgage for nearly
£4000 with the National Provincial bank
guaranteed by no-one less prestigious than
Lady Cayzer and Sir Alfred Baker.
Baker was Chairman of the London County
Council and Labour Adviser, Lord Cayzer
was the MP for Chester and a member of
almost anything worth being a member of.
He died in 1940 just a few months before
Lady Cayzer acted as guarantor. As a matter
of interest Lady Cayzer didn't depart this
mortal coil until 1981.
In 1946 the Lieutenant Commander finally
sold out to a Mrs Margaret Alice Mead the
wife of a company director called George
Albert Ronald Mead. Unfortunately I haven't
been very successful in tracing the Meads -
so if you have any information please don't
hesitate to let me know at my e-mail. The
purchase price by the way was £13000.
In 1953 Mrs Mead sold out to an (originally)
Swedish company the Skefko Ball bearing
company for £16,500. - what must have
been a reasonable profit in those days.
SKF as they became known as bought the
house for it's top employees to live in the
style and luxury they undoubtedly deserved,
laying on a maid, gardener and God knows
what else.
SKF was going through some serious
expansion at the time, moving their offices
from Leagrave road (Luton) to Sundon
(Luton).
If you'd like to know a bit more about SKF
take a look at their website at
Tankerville got himself a mortgage for nearly
£4000 with the National Provincial bank
guaranteed by no-one less prestigious than
Lady Cayzer and Sir Alfred Baker.
Baker was Chairman of the London County
Council and Labour Adviser, Lord Cayzer
was the MP for Chester and a member of
almost anything worth being a member of.
He died in 1940 just a few months before
Lady Cayzer acted as guarantor. As a matter
of interest Lady Cayzer didn't depart this
mortal coil until 1981.
In 1946 the Lieutenant Commander finally
sold out to a Mrs Margaret Alice Mead the
wife of a company director called George
Albert Ronald Mead. Unfortunately I haven't
been very successful in tracing the Meads -
so if you have any information please don't
hesitate to let me know at my e-mail. The
purchase price by the way was £13000.
In 1953 Mrs Mead sold out to an (originally)
Swedish company the Skefko Ball bearing
company for £16,500. - what must have
been a reasonable profit in those days.
SKF as they became known as bought the
house for it's top employees to live in the
style and luxury they undoubtedly deserved,
laying on a maid, gardener and God knows
what else.
SKF was going through some serious
expansion at the time, moving their offices
from Leagrave road (Luton) to Sundon
(Luton).
If you'd like to know a bit more about SKF
take a look at their website at
Lounge about 1960
Hall about 1960
Dining room about 1960
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