King Henry III introduced rabbits to the county of Surrey, with early documents referring to the excellent rabbit warren on Heiwude land’.
A thriving rabbit population still resides on the estate today.
The splendid stately house of Heywood Manor, an exquisite example of Palladian-Georgian architecture, has entertained royalty, such as Queen Victoria, in addition to noblemen and financiers.
Previous owners of the home include the Bridges family, including Anne Bridges and Arthur Onslow, Speaker of the House of Commons, in 1712, Prince Leopold of Saxe-Coburg (later to become King Leopold I of Belgium and owner of nearby Claremont) in 1820 and The Honourable Henry Lorton Bourke in 1886.
When the latter acquired the property, the right-wing of the house was extended and the columns were placed further apart, among other architectural developments.
In addition to the main building, there is a wealth of other impressive structures in the extensive grounds.
The Gate Lodge, for instance, was built for the gatekeeper and his family at the same time as the main house. The original wrought-iron gate has been restored, however many other gates were melted down to make equipment in World War II.
An air-raid shelter – which can still be seen today – was constructed during the war, when the house was contracted to the Fairmile Marine Company, manufacturer of torpedo boats.
Today, ACS Cobham enrols 1,300 students aged two to 18 from over 60 countries.
Its fascinating past provides a unique backdrop for learning, with students offered both the International Baccalaureate (IB) Diploma and an American curriculum, including Advanced Placement.
