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1856: Frederick Goodall bought 170 acres of the land on which Grim’s Dyke now stands
1870: Building work began, overseen by the famous architect Norman Shaw
1872: Grim’s Dyke was completed and the Goodall family took up residence.
1880: The Goodalls sold Grim’s Dyke to Robert Heriot of Hambros Bank who lived here for 10 years
1890: Grim’s Dyke was bought by Sir William and Lady Gilbert
1899: Work began on Gilbert’s boating lake, a 1.5 acre stretch of water where he used to bathe every day
1905 – The lake was extended to form a large rectangle roughly 170 yards long by 50 yards wide
1906: Gilbert helped found Grimsdyke Golf Club where he was President
1911: Gilbert died on May 29th trying to rescue a local girl, Ruby Preece, who had got into difficulties swimming
1929: On one of her rare public appearances, Lady Gilbert attends the re-opening of the Savoy Theatre
1936: Lady Gilbert died, having spent her final years doing local charity work
1937: A public auction of the house realised £4600
1937: Grim’s Dyke became a rehabilitation centre for women suffering from tuberculosis
1939-1945: Officially, whatever role Grim’s Dyke played in the war is classified and not due for release until the 2040s
1945: Re-opened as a rehabilitation centre for men suffering from tuberculosis
1963: The rehabilitation centre was closed down and Grim’s Dyke entered a period of decline, during which time it was used as a film and television set
1967: The Champions was filmed here, as were several episodes of Dr Who during his battles with the Daleks
1968: Boris Karloff starred in his last film, The Curse of the Crimson Altar
1969: Vincent Price made his 100th film, The Cry of the Banshee. Ronnie Barker also used the house and grounds to shoot one of his comedies, Futtocks End
1998: Grim’s Dyke was formally re-opened by the Rt. Hon. Kenneth Clarke, Chancellor of the Exchequer
Let's take a stroll
Surrounding Grim's Dyke Hotel is one of its most spectacular features, the grounds, an enchanting mix of wild woodland and formal gardens.
The rhododendrons, introduced in the late 1850s, burst into life in spring, presided over by the majestic Giant Redwoods and Monkey Puzzle tree. Bluebells carpet the woods and flank the gently winding paths. Indeed, lost paths are still being unearthed as a result of our ongoing restoration of this fertile 49 acres. In 2001 our head gardener discovered a labyrinth of cobbled pathways linking the lake and the dyke to the home farm and a hitherto secret monkey house built for Gilbert’s pet monkeys. Walk past Lady Gilbert’s treasure sunken rose garden, where over 12 historical varieties of rose bloom, over the moat where the ducks swim quietly, and you’ll find Gilbert’s orchard, home to many different fruit trees including a Ribbstin Pippin apple invented in 1707.
Plunge further into the woods and remains of the famous boating lake can be found, complete with central island and fringed with imposing yellow flags and azaleas that tumble gently to the water’s edge. Lady Gilbert had the lake drained after Sir Williams’s death. Closer to Grim’s Dyke you’ll find the kitchen gardens, beehives and Victorian greenhouses that supply fruit, vegetables and honey to our own restaurant. There’s even a croquet lawn where tea can be taken during the hot summer months. We are so proud of our gardens that we conduct regular tours – ask at reception for further information.
Please pick up your walk leaflet which guides you through the gardens and surrounding woodland.
