Shorncliffe Lodge

Shorncliffe Lodge, The Undercliff, Sandgate, Folkestone, Kent, CT20 3AT, was a well appointed weekend house that belonged to Edward Albert Sassoon and Aline Caroline de Rothschild. It was sold by Philip Sassoon to fund the purchase of land on which he built Port Lympne Mansion.^[1]

The property was purchased after Edward Sassoon's successful election in a by-election at Hythe, Kent, a constituency that had been represented by Meyer de Rothschild from 1859 to 1874. The area had strong Rothschild connections. Edward's in laws had owned property there since early in the nineteenth century, using it as a staging point for couriers and carrier pigeons for their communication system with the Continent.

References to the house

• On Monday, 25 July 1904, there will be a garden party at Shorncliffe Lodge, Sandgate, by invitation of Sir E. Sassoon, ,M.P., and Lady Sassoon.^[2]
• With her (Lucy Watson) brother, the second child, Robert Spence Watson spent a fortnight at their great-uncle James Foster's (of Foster & Braithwaite a stockbroking and investment management firm, founded in London in 1825) summer house at Shorncliffe Lodge, Sandgate, Kent.^[3]
• The parents (Lady Katherine Jessie Norman b: 1856 in Kensington, Greater London, England, United Kingdom and Sir Charles Patton Keyes b: 1823 in Folkestone, Kent, England, United Kingdom) of Vice Admiral Roger Keyes lived at Sandgate during his early years in the Navy, (Census: 1891) and he often visited them there.^[4] The Census of 1891 lists with the following servants:
  • Rachel Anderson, Servant, Single, 52, Domestic Servant Nurse, Ireland
  • Mary A. Doroman, Servant, Single, 44, Domestic Servant Ladies Maid, Hayes, Middlesex
  • Mary Martin, Servant, Single, 36, Domestic Servant Cook, Bogkor, Sussex
  • Emily Tapuct, Servant, Single, 40, Domestic Servant Parlourmaid, Brighton, East Sussex
  • Elizabeth Jones. Servant, Single, 23, Domestic Servant Housemaid, Sandgate, Kent
  • Louisa Clayson, Servant, Single, 16, Domestic Servant Nursemaid, Market Harbour, Leicester
  • Also, next door to Shorncliffe Lodge are the Stables, Joseph Goodenough, Head, 56, Domestic Servant Coachman

Bessett, Berkshire

• • And next door to that is the Gardener's house, Harry Howard, Head, 29 Domestic Servant Gardener, Wheashampstead, Hertfordshire ^[5]
• W. ASKER, Shorncliffe Lodge, Sandgate. GARDENER (Head Working).—Age 32; understands Stove Plants, Orchids, Grapes, Peaches ; Greenhouse ; Kitchen and vegetables ...recommended by current employer ^[6]

Figures

Shorncliffe is a Grade II Listed Building. Date listed: 17 April 1974, English Heritage Building ID: 175442, OS Grid REference: TR2025635290, OS Grid Coordinates: 620256, 135290, Latitude/ Longitude: 51.0746, 1.1428

References

• Sassoon. The worlds of Philip and Sybil by Peter Stansky Yale University Press ISBN 0-300-09547-3