Valentines Mansion is more than 300 years old.
The house was built in around 1696 for Elizabeth Tillotson and her family, after the death of her husband, the Archbishop of Canterbury.
At that time the new brick house stood in open countryside, several miles from the edge of London.Valentines has changed hands many times since then. City merchant and banker Robert Surman bought the estate in 1720s and created the walled gardens, dovecote and grottoes.In the 1760s owner Sir Charles Raymond spent part of his fortune renovating Valentines, giving the house its Georgian appearance.Sarah Ingleby, the last private resident of Valentines, died in 1906 and the Council acquired the house in 1912. Since then, the mansion has been home to wartime refugees, a hospital, a public health centre, and a council housing department.After standing empty for 15 years, Valentines has now been restored with Redbridge council and Heritage Lottery funds, and strong community support to create the historic but contemporary venue it is today.
Great Days Out at Valentines
Come and enjoy our exhibitions, special events and creative workshops, step back in time and explore the recreated Victorian kitchen and Georgian rooms, join us for guided tours and walks, bring the family along for games, activities and discovery trails or simply unwind in our charming Gardener’s Cottage Café – there’s so much to do at Valentines, you’ll be surprised.
Winter Venue Hire Offer! Enjoy 25% our venue hire rates for functions and receptions in October, November & December. Visit the What’s on page for full details or call 020 8708 8100.
Coming soon….
Made with Love – Visit the What’s on page for details of our Valentines Day Fair. If you make a unique product by hand, get in touch on 020 8708 8100.
