Bushey House Beaumont Care Home’s Upstairs, Downstairs past.

Upstairs, Downstairs, for those who recall the popular long-running drama series, had nothing on the real-life events at Bushey House in the 1930s.

In one of my father’s monthly nostalgia and local history essays for the Evening Post-Echo in the early 1980s, he recalled his boyhood memories of Bushey House’s Golden Jubilee: the National Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Children.

Bushey House’s six-column Greek Doric portico from 2025. Image courtesy of Bushey House Beaumont and Barchester Healthcare.

It was reputedly the largest party ever staged in Bushey, attracting 200 volunteers and 6,000 attendees on June 16, 1934, after months of planning.

Much credit for its enormous success was given to bank director Sir John Henry Bethell, 1st Baron Bethell, and his wife Florence, who owned the now-Grade II listed mansion and gardens.

Soon after the piece was published, my father received a letter of gratitude from the Hon Mrs Peter Brown, the former Hon Jennifer Bethell, Sir John’s granddaughter.

When I was compiling my father’s Evening Post-Echo pieces for publication in Echoes of Old Watford, Bushey, and Oxhey several years ago, I contacted her and asked if she had a photograph of the event that I might use in the book.

She submitted a photo of herself as a tiny girl in a party dress and bonnet, alongside her grandfather and Princess Alice, Countess of Athlone, who inaugurated the event. Her photo is reproduced here.

Jennifer Bethell, four, with her grandfather, Sir John Bethell, and Princess Alice, at the NSPCC Golden Jubilee celebration at Bushey House in 1934. Image courtesy of the late Hon Mrs. Peter Brown.

She also sent me the contents of a sentimental letter written in 1995 to Lord Nicholas Bethell, 4th Baron Bethell, by Geoffrey Longfellow, who worked at Bushey House in the 1930s. His memories paint a vivid picture of existence.

‘Dear Lord Bethell,

When I see a photograph of you or hear you speak on the radio, it takes me back to 1930, when I was a 15-year-old, £18-per-year pantry boy at Bushey House, the late Lord John Bethell’s mansion.

Bushey residence was a stunning residence with approximately 40 rooms, a magnificent ballroom, billiard room, and winter garden. The mansion included huge gardens, grounds, and a lake.

I still have a photo of the house mirrored in the lake. There were numerous gardeners and a stockman to care for the little dairy herd. Mr. [Frederick] Trundle, the chief gardener, lived at the lodge.

I believe his Lordship was in his sixties at the time. He was a smart-looking man with grey hair and a well cut moustache.

He served on various boards of directors and was a generous supporter of the East Ham Hospital.

On his desk, he held a silver-framed photograph of himself with the late Queen Mary. I recall having to scrub it every morning.

Rear of Bushey House and Lake, 1910. Image: Middleton & Sons, Bushey The Rt Hon William was also at Bushey at the time, and everyone, including the servants, knew him as Billie, but not to his face.

Master William worked at the London Stock Exchange. He drove a stunning quick open Bentley. It had a searchlight installed on its running board.

We could see him approaching for miles. He spent most weekends playing golf with his friend, Mr Piggot. They used to wear brown and white or black and white shoes, huge caps, and loose plus-four trousers.

The two young ladies, Rt Hon Miss Dorothy and Miss Phyllis, were also present at home. Miss Dorothy was a charming, compassionate person who married Captain Robert McAlpine.

Miss Phyllis was very nice, although she wore short skirts, a long cigarette holder, and even longer beads, as was customary at the time. Phyllis enjoyed dancing the Charleston in the huge front hall to music from a wind-up record.

I was frequently roped into the winding. That appealed to me; it was preferable to polishing silver in the pantry in front of Creese the butler’s terrifying gaze.

Her Ladyship only visited Bushey on rare occasions, usually for vacation weekends. I don’t think she enjoyed the country; I believe she lived on Park Street in London.

One Christmas, she handed everyone of the inside maids a Christmas card and a nice handkerchief. I still have the handkerchief.

Back then, the indoor attendants were butler Edward Creese, a footman in livery, and myself. When they discovered they needed to assist me in cleaning windows, which were plentiful at Bushey, the footmen left.

Mrs Creese, the chef and housekeeper, was in the kitchen, as was Jean Kettle, the kitchen maid.

There were also two housekeepers. The chauffeur lived outside. You’ll probably question why I’m writing all this.

I am now more over 80 years old. I have an excellent memory; everything is crystal clear in my thoughts. I

realise I’m taking liberties by writing to you, and I hope you’ll forgive me, but Bushey and its inhabitants were a pleasant part of my life. M’Lord, my best wishes to you and your family. Sincerely, Geoffrey Longfellow’

Rear of Bushey House in 2025. Image courtesy of Bushey House Beaumont and Barchester Healthcare. Geoffrey Longfellow, born in Yorkshire, died in Hastings at the age of 88 in 2003.

The late Hon Mrs Peter Brown’s cousin Nicholas received the title from her brother Guy, who had inherited it from her father, John Raymond. The last two died in the 1960s, her brother at 39, leaving no heir.

The 5th Baron Bethell is Lord James, Nicholas’s son. Bushey House, the former house of Sir John Bethell, 1st Baron Bethell and his family, is now the Bushey House Beaumont Care house.

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