Norrels Lodge North

One of a pair of lodges which once straddled Lord Lovelace’s historic driveway from Ockham Park to Horsley Towers.

After Lord Lovelace acquired the East Horsley Park estate in 1840, he built a private road to connect what would become Horsley Towers with his home on the Ockham Park estate, a drive of some 4 miles.  A pair of lodges, now called Norrels Lodge North and Norrels Lodge South, were located part-way along this drive, which became the private residential road now called Norrels Drive. Originally Norrels Lodge North was referred to by the Latin name ‘Salve Hospes’, meaning ‘Hello Guest’.

Today, both lodges are separate private residential dwellings which face each other across Norrels Drive, although the original iron gates, permanently open, still provide a reminder of their original function. A Grade II listing applies to both houses collectively.

The terracotta brickwork of Norrels Lodge North displays the customary corbelling and guilloche banding much favoured by Lord Lovelace whilst the slate roof is topped by an impressive twin-chimney chimney stack which dominates the western elevation.  

The precise date of construction of both lodges is uncertain since the dates on their plaques are unreadable. However, local historian, Pam Bowley, in her book ‘East Horsley: the Lovelace village’ suggests the decoration they display is fully consistent with their being built during the 1860’s.

LOCATION: On Norrels Drive some 130 metres from the Forest Road junction.

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