The log cabin at Branksome Hilders (Now Branksome Place) by Richard Grace August 2010

Its 6.30 am on the 1^st of August 2010. I first came to Branksome Hilders  40 years ago.

There are many personal connections with this “Place”. This is where I was educated both academically and perhaps more importantly in life itself.

The main house and its immediate surroundings remain beautiful and in good condition. Cedar House has been painted a sort of green in the corporate colours of its new owners Devere Hotels. Why? – It was built from cedar wood that would have remained beautiful forever. Stone House has kept all of its charm and character from the outside but inside has been robbed of all to make way for modern hotel bedrooms – a superb piece of architecture in an idyllic setting has been turned into a “Travel Lodge look-alike on the inside” Why is this?

The 1970’s (carbuncle/caravan) addition to the main property still remains functional. For me it is a monument to many changes in our IT business. This is where we were trained. “Shandu Shah said here these words never forgotten by many of us “Computers are about switches, bits and bytes, zero’s and ones, now what is this? (holding his index finger horizontal) “it’s a bit on the side”.

The swimming pool once a focal point and summer brainstorming (or should I now say) “Idea Showering“ area has been ruined perhaps by our ever advancing compensation / politically correct culture - why oh why? I remember bringing our young children here at weekends with friends to enjoy the surroundings, to swim play tennis and picnic. Nestling beneath the towering redwoods it has been utterly ruined and may never be restored. How sad?

Moving on towards the football pitch and passing the once famous but now neglected A frame the log cabin comes into view. What a shock I had to see it rotting. Today this beautiful real log cabin would cost more than £50,000 but the roof has not been maintained and if without repair soon it will be worthless. 

The football pitch and tennis courts may be just “a sign of the times” for which we fifty/sixty somethings educated at Branksome may well bear some responsibility. It once was a busy and lively outdoor sports facility all year round. “Keith Walkerden” MD of British Olivetti Ltd in the 1980’s was a good tennis player – he played here leading his team to develop computer technologies for our once respected UK banking sector.

Some of our people went on to develop computer games having played on their Sinclair ZX81’s in the rooms. The culture of “lock up your kids with a play-station” has helped the demise of many such outdoor facilities.

So many memories overwhelm me as I sit here beside the derelict pool. I had to modify the fence slightly to get in here just now. Times have moved on – the security cameras not needed in the 70’s & 80’s (and not invented either) stare at me from every corner.

Last evening Noella and I brought our grandchildren here (they live just up the road – quite a coincidence as we all moved from Guildford to Chester 21 years ago). Sitting in the main house lounge we both commented that this room has remained unchanged.

The great Edwardian fireplace stands at the end in all its glory and the pool table (changed from snooker) + board games are still played with dignity in comfort.

We stayed last night in Stone House and will return to Chester today. The memories I take with me are of the magnificent entrance door leading to the lounge on the left and bar on the right (where so many ideas were discussed) these areas retain their character and charm, the fireplaces that provided such comfort on long winter evenings away from home are still fantastic.

The last part of my visit is to find the sauna cabin. It was always dangerous when misused by some when a little too much alcohol was mixed with the extreme heat of the sauna and coupled with the icy cold of the plunge pool. For one it became the end of his life. I must go there now to remember him.

Nothing remains of the sauna cabin but the plunge pool is still there – how strange!

Goodbye Branksome Hilders you have now been re-named Branksome Place. For me it will never be the “place” it was  “Times move on!”

Richard Grace

Joined Olivetti as “cleaner and tester” in Derby in 1969. Left to join Rank Xerox in 1987. Left Xerox to start in own businesses in 1989. More info see www.calfpath.co.uk