The remarkable history of Upton Lodge, Vale Road, Broadstairs
PRICKETT / HEBELER OWNERSHIP
Researching Bernard Hebeler online, it transpired that his wife Caroline mother’s maiden name was Prickett, so there was a family connection, and a simple late seventeenth or early eighteenth-century cottage and field became a grand summer residence with ornate grounds of over six acres, with three follies one of which still exists. A second is remembered by locals.
Investigating the lost hamlet of Upton in Broadstairs and Hollicondane in Ramsgate, both in Thanet, led to the Lost Hamlets summary report, available online on the Kent Archaeological Society website. The author subsequently researched more fully details of the varying history of the Grade II listed Lodge: from a cottage to a “delightful summer residence”, the important early owners, the properties long slow decline, fire, recovery and subsequent owners; finally becoming a luxurious property to let, having gone full circle.
Investigating the lost hamlet of Upton, and the Goodson’s who farmed at Upton, elsewhere in Thanet and on the mainland, led the author to buying a copy of the 1822 map of the Upton Estate from the K.H. & L.C.[fn1] at Maidstone. Properties and fields belonging to the Goodson’s were shown, but only the names of the owners of the surrounding land. An owner to the immediate east (where the Lodge now is) was R. Prickett Esq. Mockett’s Journal of 1836[fn2] stated on the final page.
“Robert Prickett Esq. has made Upton Cottage a delightful summer residence”.
There were nine Upton cottages noted in documents held by Daniel & Edwards, solicitors, seen by the author – so which one? I knew, from the much-missed Kelly’s Directory, that a Bernard Hebeler was resident at the Lodge in 1849 and there was a serious fire more recently, but not much else at the time of the above report. The author felt that a more comprehensive history of the house was needed. The subsequent investigations have revealed an intriguing story.
Hebeler, looking for a summer retreat, probably had his wife suggesting the relation with land at Upton (in St Peters in the nineteenth century, but handily close to Broadstairs). Bernard Hebeler was born in Prussia on 2 April 1794 and became the Consul General to the Prussian King in London for over 30 years. An honourable and high-status profession which earned him the Order of the Red Eagle 2nd class by King Frederick William IV of Prussia in 1842.
[fg]jpg|Fig. 1 – Photograph of the Lodge “today” (2013).|Image[/fg]
[fg]jpg|Fig. 2 – Plan of grounds (with thanks to Mrs Williamson).|Image[/fg]
[fg]jpg|Fig. 3 – Photograph of surviving folly.|Image[/fg]
Perusal of old local newspapers from 1860[fn3] online led to more details of the house’s history – including mistakes! In that research R. Prickett popped up again.[fn4] Hebeler died on 27 March 1862, but his wife and two daughters continued living at the Lodge and were listed in later directories, Mrs Hebeler dying on 6.4.1899 aged 92 and her daughters in 1859 and 1895, learnt by finding a tombstone in St Peters churchyard. Strangely his death was not recorded in the local papers. After 1862 the Lodge was regularly offered ‘To Let’ so presumably the surviving Habeler’s were only occupying part of the house.
An 1863 entry is worth quoting in full:
– Sept. 5th: HARVEST HOME. A most excellent dinner was given to all the inhabitants of Upton by Mrs Hebeler of Upton Lodge and S. Goodson, Esq. The barn was so gaily decorated with flowers and flags, that it seemed like fairyland, and the smiling happy faces of the cottagers formed one of the pleasantest sights we have ever seen. Our Vicar, the Rev. C. Tarver was present and said a few words in reference to harvest homes, and the best means of making them occasions of joy to both young and old. The afternoon was spent in various old English sports, and with a merry country dance in the evening to finish the entertainment, the party separated having spent a very pleasant and enjoyable day.[fn5]
It would be interesting if we had been told what the old English sports comprised.
SUTTON OWNERSHIP
There was then a 33-year gap in the papers, but in 1899 following Mrs Habeler’s death, the Lodge was offered for sale including 6 acres and 24 poles and was sold to Mr Frederick Sutton JP for £3,500 after keen competition on 14 October, again as a summer home or weekend retreat. Sutton was a successful builder from south-east London who with his cousin built and rented out 4,000 working class houses.
The author had previously noted one of the more impressive tombs in a large plot in St Peters churchyard with SUTTON on the threshold. The local thought was that Sutton referred to the seed company. They, like the author, had not stood on tiptoe to read the two plaques in bronze on top, which has now been done. They stated:
First plaque:
FREDERICK SUTTON JP LATE
OF UPTON LODGE, BELOVED
HUSBAND OF MAUD SUTTON
& ELDEST SON OF THE LATE
GEORGE SUTTON OF BEDFORD.
Second plaque:
IN EVER LOVING MEMORY OF
EMILY ANNE THE BELOVED WIFE
OF FREDERICK SUTTON ESQUIRE
JP AND DAUGHTER OF THE LATE
JAMES SMALL OF EXETER DIED
20TH JANUARY 1902 A LOVING AND
DEVOTED WIFE AND MOTHER.
Other relative’s names were recorded around the sides of the tomb.
[fg]jpg|Fig. 4 – Photograph of medal.|Image[/fg]
[fg]jpg|Fig. 5 – Sutton tomb.|Image[/fg]
[fg]jpg|Fig. 6 – Detail of tomb inscription.|Image[/fg]
Strangely, Sutton had moved to Northwood 25 years before his death but chose to be buried with his first wife in St Peters. His second wife, like Mrs Hebeler, preferred to stay in Thanet. Through contact with Sutton’s great, great granddaughter⁶ we have a full story and a photo of Frederick Sutton JP with his son Gordon, and his wife. She wrote: “Probate was granted 27 April 1936 with effects of over £7,000 which is just over £500,000 in today’s money I believe. His son, my great grandfather, Gordon, died in 1940 (only four years after his father) with effects valued at £4,000 (about £250,000 now). His daughter Elsie died a spinster in 1961…with over £100,000 (approximately £2 million equivalent today)”. Sutton previously owned Willow Cottage, Brixton Hill and Updown House off Ramsgate Road, Margate.
(Assn., from 1924), host many garden sales at the Lodge and allowing locals to shelter in her tunnel” according to the local paper. Oddly, only Louisa Noott is ever shown at Upton Lodge but the deeds (in 1929) to another Upton property state: “Louisa Noott married woman”.
NOOTT OWNERSHIP
In 1910 Sutton sold the Lodge to Louisa Noott from Eltham and the land later in 1927.
ALL THAT pce or pcl of land on the West side of Gladstone Road … frontage of 100 ft and a depth of 150 ft … Vendor: Frederick Sutton of Thanet Lodge Kewferry Road Northwood Middlesex. Purchaser: Louisa Noott of 7 West Park, Eltham Kent 1/7/1910
[20/1/1927 land of 400’ frontage to Vale Road and depth of 200’ was sold to Louise Noott of Upton Lodge (by executors of the Upton Estate)]. [19/9/1927 180’ frontage to Vale Road and return frontage to Edge End Road of 190’ sold to Louisa Noott (also from Upton Estate)].
Both entries are from the deeds of Little Upton with thanks to the late owner Mr F. Ulldemolins who previously owned the bungalow mentioned in 1979 below.
Tragically, four years later, Mrs Noott’s son, Lt Mervyn, was killed in WW1. Noott was wealthy, paying for a “beautifully painted window in St Peters church dedicated to her son”. She was also popular, helping Thanet Women’s Aid Society.
It transpired that her husband was a surgeon William Noott, who lived in Kensington, London with a much younger ‘female companion’.[fn7] Mrs Noott died 21.5.1936 “Estate to the value of £126,858 has been left by Mrs Louisa Noott”. Her sons sold the Lodge to H.A. Beal on the 20th of July. From here the story grows increasingly murky and controversial.
LATER OWNERS
The newspapers record: 1939 December 5th The possibility of utilising land at Upton Lodge for cultivation as allotments to be investigated by Councillor Nobbs. It did not happen!
In 1941 February 7th Harry Alfred Beal sold Upton Lodge to an estate agent, Bertram John Pearson, for £1,942=10=0.
The trail becomes difficult from here as the Lodge is deteriorating and in multiple occupation. Pearson’s advertised bungalows on the former grounds and various efforts to get permission to demolish the building were rejected mainly through the efforts of the Georgian and Broadstairs Societies while some councillors thought it not worth saving!
[fg]jpg|Fig. 7 – Frederick Sutton senior with his son Gordon.|Image[/fg]
[fg]jpg|Fig. 8 – Lt Mervyn Noott.|Image[/fg]
For the next 20 years, many efforts to demolish the Lodge were rebuffed and plans for flats and/or houses were made but refused. In 1956 the property is recorded as being a vacant possession and was for sale by public auction. A plot on Gladstone Road was sold for £500.
In 1961 the papers report the death of “Miss Diana Grisewood (nearly 20) of Upton Lodge, the daughter of Capt. and Mrs Grisewood of Chislet”. Capt Grisewood is not mentioned again but Mrs Grisewood (amongst other mentions) appears to be busy, as in 1977 Mrs E Grisewood who lives at Chislet had a developer lined up to demolish and develop the site, but it fell through! Then “September 30th, 1977, Mystery blaze at Upton Lodge”. Coincidence?
This followed many further efforts by various parties to demolish the Lodge and develop the site, which were fought off by Thanet District Council and others, although controversial plans to turn Upton Lodge into 26 flats was okayed without discussion (incredibly) on 29th August 1975. Fortunately, it did not happen.
In 1979 a local builder – our knight in shining armour, David Kinnear – comes along and buys the wreck on March 9th “and aims to restore the listed building to its former glory”. In 1980 a planning application for a two-storey addition was lodged as he had to pull down a large portion of the building and roof before starting work but has retained the oldest part circa 1700.
A bungalow has since been erected between Upton Lodge and Weasel Cottage (formerly the gardener’s home who was employed by Mrs Noott. Weasel was the nickname of Frank M. Goodson [b. 1888, d. 2.3.1956] who probably had it built, his initials are in stone in the side wall). The former owner of the bungalow stated that Kinnear sold some of the land to finance the renovations. Consequently, much of the present building is modern but rendered to disguise this and appears to resemble the burning building[fn8]. It is now in excellent condition. The Lodge was sold again, before being acquired by the present owner, who “bricked up a tunnel to stop his children going down it”.
[fg]jpg|Fig. 9 – St Peter’s window in memory of Lt Mervyn Noott.|Image[/fg]
[fg]jpg|Fig. 10 – Newspaper headline: “Mystery blaze at Upton Lodge”.|Image[/fg]
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Gordon Taylor is a former Chairman of the Isle of Thanet Archaeological Society, a long serving member of the Kent Archaeological Society and an expert on Dutch and Flemish gables in Kent.
[fn]1|Kent History and Library Centre[/fn]
[fn]2|John Mockett, farmer at St Peters, his memoirs 1836 in Broadstairs Library.[/fn]
[fn]3|“East Kent Times & Broadstairs Mail”, “The Thanet Advertiser”.[/fn]
[fn]4|Also discovered – History of England Vol. 1 by John Adolphus 1840 was by subscription. The list of subscribers is impressive from Queen Victoria downwards including the Archbishop of Canterbury and for this research Bernard Hebeler Esq., His Prussian Majesty’s Consul General K.R.E., Robert Prickett Esq., 2 copies.[/fn]
[fn]5|Probably at Upton farm as mentioned by Rosemary Quested in The Isle of Thanet Farming Community to 1993.[/fn]
[fn]6|Jutta Beer via Wikitree, Spring 2021.[/fn]
[fn]7|From research by Sue Wainwright (Broadstairs Society) with thanks.[/fn]
[fn]8|The veranda timbers are 20th century as are the garage walls.[/fn]
All images courtesy of Gordon Taylor, and with permissions obtained, 2025