Highbank

A four-bay open hall house potentially dating from the late 14^th Century, one of the oldest houses in West Horsley.

Highbank is a Grade II listed four-bay hall house with a core dating from the 15^th Century in the listing citation, although recent dendrochronology found timbers dating back to the early 14^th Century. There were also alterations recorded in the 16^th and 17^thCenturies and also in the 20^th Century when the house was remodelled significantly.

Unusually, Highbank is built of elm with the roof supported by crown posts. Typical of early medieval houses, it has an internal jetty in the open hall. The original name of the house was Isaacs, after the first owner Walter Isaacs who bought the land in 1387 from the Reeve of the Manor, Thomas atte Hulle.

Down the centuries this house had various names. ‘Songhurst’ was an early one after a master tailor living here and during the 16^thCentury multiple tailors may have lived and worked here. In the 18^th Century it became ‘Butlers’ after the name of a wealthy local landowner and that is still the name of the access road at the rear of the house. 

During the 19^th century, the house was owned by the Sumner family of Hatchlands Park who divided it into two properties for workers on their estate. In the early 20^th century, it became one house again and in 1937 it was bought by a German Baroness, Herta von Tucher, who sold it after the war.

Despite its considerable age this handsome house still appears in remarkably good condition.

LOCATION: Positioned between The Street and Butlers Hill, from where it is best viewed.