| Original title | Portnall Park, Rev. Thomas Bisse |
| Year painted | 1824 |
| Museum reference number | PR173 |
| Address and postcode | The Dormy House, Virginia Water, GU25 4NP |
| Listed building number | n/a |
| Construction date of building depicted and major alterations | Late eighteenth century with additions and extensions in the early nineteenth century. |
| History of ownership/residents and use | The Estate originally belonged to the convent of Broomhall but was imparked by Edward IV and given to the Earl of Southampton. It passed through several owners. In 1795 it was bought from David Jebb by Reverend Thomas Bisse who rebuilt the central part of the house. Bisse’s son, Colonel Challoner Bisse Challoner inherited the property in 1828. He was an army officer and magistrate with an interest in improving agricultural methods. Challoner landscaped the grounds creating a terrace across the east front and two artificial lakes. Colonel Challoner’s second wife was Henrietta Emma Helena De Salis and on his death in 1872 the estate went to her youngest brother, Reverend Henry Jerome de Salis. Henry Jerome’s second son, Sir Cecil Fane de Salis, records that at this time the house was staffed by three men and nine or ten house maids, two men in the stables, six or seven in the garden and four or five men on the farm of c.600 acres. In 1915 on Henry Jerome’s death Portnall Park passed to his eldest son, civil engineer Rudolph Fane de Salis. It was sold in 1823, after some family disagreement, to property developer W.G. Tarrant. The grounds were reduced and the landscaping was lost to a golf course. At this time the name of the property appears to have been changed to The Dormy House. |
| Location’s present status | Converted into 15 flats in 2013 |
| Links and references | Surrey History Centre has several relevant records including: SHC PC/56/77 Postcard of front facade c.1905 (available to view online). SHC 2331/16/PART2/167B Print of Thatched Entrance Lodge e.C19 |
