Villa Bellaggio Estate (Dormans Park Estate) West Sussex

A villa now being erected for Dr Thomas Pigg on the Bellagio estate, from the designs of Mr William Dawes, Oxford Circus-avenue, London, and Cooper-street, Manchester, is approaching completion. It is in the Old English half-timbered style, and is roofed with red tiles. The walls are of red brick and the dressings of stone from local quarries. The half-timbered work begins at first floor, and is here and there broken up by tiling and the brickwork of chimneys. Mr. Alfred Foster is the contractor for the work. [Building News 18 October 1889 page 545]

Dormans Park was built following the arrival of the railway and the opening of Dormans railway station in 1884, thereby making the area easily accessible from London. In 1887 the Bellagio Estate Company bought 218 acres of farmland and coppiced woodland for housing development. The names of at least two of the old woods have survived in the road names: Swissland and Furzefield. The vision was to create an exclusive residential area with lakes, hotel, cricket ground, racecourse (now Lingfield Park) and even a toboggan slide. Potential house owners were tempted by the offer of membership to a large and well-equipped Club House on the estate. The hotel opened in 1888 and the estate grew steadily during the early 20th century. However, hotel business was slow in the post Second World War years and never recovered. The elaborate building was difficult to manage and was demolished in 1960, to make way for a further 14 houses. The Bellagio company failed after about 10 years and the name was changed to Dormans Park. Apart from the club house and church, only about 20 private residences had been built by then, but most of these remain amongst the newer properties. The estate continued to grow steadily during the early 20th century, subject to mutual restrictive covenants to keep large plots in a wooded setting.

BELLAGGIO, Surrey – Bungalow Club and Town – One hour from Victoria and London Bridge (London Brighton and South Coast Railway), five minutes from Dorman Station. Freehold sites for sale from £50, a Freehold Bungalow for £150. Easy terms for payment. Free conveyances. Club houses for residents with every convenience. Boating, bathing, trout fishing, skating tobogganing, hunting, lawn tennis, cricket, polo, etc. Extensive recreation grounds, lovely woodland walks and rides, south and south-west aspect. A “Paradise in Surrey” – vide the Sportsman, June 22. For prospectus and press extracts, apply 47 Pall Mall SW or the resident surveyor, Bellaggio, East Grinstead. [Times 27 July 1887, page 15]

ACCIDENT TO MRS HODGSON BURNETT – Mrs Hodgson Burnett, who is residing at Bellaggio, on the East Grinstead estate, met with an accident on Saturday, whilst driving to the station to meet a friend, suffering a slight concussion. [Times 8 October 1889 page 9].

Reference    Building News 18 October 1889 page 545
Reference    Times 27 July 1887, page 15 – prospectus Bellaggio Estate