Tag: Richard Stilgoe

The Roman Invasion of Crockham Hill & Limpsfield Chart!

Posted on by thewordbird in History, Local Resident

In another delightful guest article, Richard Stilgoe recounts his unexpected journey into Roman history while undertaking a personal project to dig a lake at Trevereux Manor.

What began as a modern landscaping venture soon uncovered remnants of ancient Roman life, including a paved staging area believed to be used for changing horses—described humorously as the Roman equivalent of Clacket Lane Services.

With help from archaeologists and later a pair of enthusiastic detectorists, Dom and Matt, Stilgoe’s field yielded a surprising haul of Roman artefacts, from coins to a striking Hermes figurine.

Blending wit with historical insight, he brings to life the enduring legacy of Rome in the fields of Trevereux—and the very human stories buried beneath our feet…

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Trevereux Manor, Limpsfield, courtesy of Richard Stilgoe

Trevereux – the House They Cannot Spell

Posted on by thewordbird in History, Local Resident

Following on from our article on Mary Emma Cox’s Victorian Photo Album, in this brilliant guest article, Limpsfield Chart resident and national treasure, Richard Stilgoe traces the colourful and often chaotic history of Trevereux Manor—the grand old house whose name has baffled spellers for centuries.

Eschewing a dry account of architectural changes, Stilgoe focuses on the people who shaped its story, from Roman settlers and medieval knights to Jane Austen-style romances and fifties pop stars. Through tales of wartime sieges, thunderstorm courtships, and Rolls-Royce rebuilds, we meet a cast as diverse as the house’s many spellings. With warmth and wit, Stilgoe takes us from the Manor’s earliest days to its near-destruction in a dramatic 1989 fire, and finally to its loving restoration by his own family—proof that while the spelling of Trevereux may remain tricky, its charm is undebatable.

Continue reading “Trevereux – the House They Cannot Spell” →