Thanks for asking - it's just a silver tray with a small piece of chalk from the actual quarry in Reigate Hill where the secret bunker was eventually built in WW2 as Battle HQ for Operation Overlord - as described in the info.
@pinknonsense thanks,i went to reigate priory when a secondary school dont remember hearing that ,probably not listening that day ,but i do remember "i think"that royalty stayed there when still a private house early last century "princess teck" ?? her picture hung in one off the upstairs class rooms any ideas?
Hi there kitkat6026 - my discoveries about the WW2 connections with Churchill have only been in the last couple of years, long after I was teaching at Reigate Priory. It was kept top secret for many years before that. I have been doing public talks about it and there is now a DVD available. Check out "Churchill's Secret Reigate" - Grace Filby. You are absolutely right about Princess Mary of Teck (soon to be Queen Mary) - lunch on 6 July 1896. The stories about King Edward VII are much more fun!
@pinknonsense Thank you for putting my mind at rest, i have puzzled over that for a long time , loved the priory school my form room was at the back of the grand stair case. Reigate priory gave me my love of history that continues to this day.
Wow, how lovely! That room was Lady Henry Somerset's drawing room and where she would have welcomed lots of her aristiocratic friends and royals. There was a Russian Grand Duke etc.. My favourite room - the Dome Room, was my classroom in 1995-6 and formerly Edward VII's bedroom. Have you a copy of the book my mother wrote and I edited - it's called Discovering Reigate Priory - the place and the people.
@pinknonsense dont know if i have that book but i do have [somewhere]one that was given to me when at school there, i will hunt it out and look, i will let you know,my favourite room is the [in my day] music room with the wonderfull ceiling .. and that fire place in the main hall, would have loved to see a fire in that.....in the book i have there is a picture of that hall in all its glory when a home
Oh the wonderful gold ceiling - it was the dining room at that time - the next owners, Earl and Countess Beatty, had the ceiling painted gold - really impressive! and yes, the magnificent fireplace in the Holbein Hall dating back hundreds of years. We published our book in 1998. I could get a copy sent to you if you like - I think it is13.95 +p&p. I can be contacted via relax-well.co.uk.
@pinknonsense sorry about the same message worded differently ,thought first one had not gone through as laptop shut down as not plugged in lol .my book is from the 60s i think .i would like a copy of your mothers book and will be in touch thank you
@pinknonsense hi my favourite 2 are music room [in my day] with the carved plaster guilded ceiling css i think were the initials? also that very large fireplace in the hall what i wouldnt have given to see a fire in that.. have a small book more a mini history of the priory was given to me when i left along with a bible i still have both [somewhere]
@kitkat6026
Thanks for asking - it's just a silver tray with a small piece of chalk from the actual quarry in Reigate Hill where the secret bunker was eventually built in WW2 as Battle HQ for Operation Overlord - as described in the info.
pinknonsense 1 year ago
@pinknonsense thanks,i went to reigate priory when a secondary school dont remember hearing that ,probably not listening that day ,but i do remember "i think"that royalty stayed there when still a private house early last century "princess teck" ?? her picture hung in one off the upstairs class rooms any ideas?
kitkat6026 1 year ago
Hi there kitkat6026 - my discoveries about the WW2 connections with Churchill have only been in the last couple of years, long after I was teaching at Reigate Priory. It was kept top secret for many years before that. I have been doing public talks about it and there is now a DVD available. Check out "Churchill's Secret Reigate" - Grace Filby. You are absolutely right about Princess Mary of Teck (soon to be Queen Mary) - lunch on 6 July 1896. The stories about King Edward VII are much more fun!
pinknonsense 1 year ago
@pinknonsense Thank you for putting my mind at rest, i have puzzled over that for a long time , loved the priory school my form room was at the back of the grand stair case. Reigate priory gave me my love of history that continues to this day.
kitkat6026 1 year ago
Wow, how lovely! That room was Lady Henry Somerset's drawing room and where she would have welcomed lots of her aristiocratic friends and royals. There was a Russian Grand Duke etc.. My favourite room - the Dome Room, was my classroom in 1995-6 and formerly Edward VII's bedroom. Have you a copy of the book my mother wrote and I edited - it's called Discovering Reigate Priory - the place and the people.
pinknonsense 1 year ago
@pinknonsense dont know if i have that book but i do have [somewhere]one that was given to me when at school there, i will hunt it out and look, i will let you know,my favourite room is the [in my day] music room with the wonderfull ceiling .. and that fire place in the main hall, would have loved to see a fire in that.....in the book i have there is a picture of that hall in all its glory when a home
kitkat6026 1 year ago
@kitkat6026
Oh the wonderful gold ceiling - it was the dining room at that time - the next owners, Earl and Countess Beatty, had the ceiling painted gold - really impressive! and yes, the magnificent fireplace in the Holbein Hall dating back hundreds of years. We published our book in 1998. I could get a copy sent to you if you like - I think it is13.95 +p&p. I can be contacted via relax-well.co.uk.
pinknonsense 1 year ago
@pinknonsense sorry about the same message worded differently ,thought first one had not gone through as laptop shut down as not plugged in lol .my book is from the 60s i think .i would like a copy of your mothers book and will be in touch thank you
kitkat6026 1 year ago
@kitkat6026
No worries. My email address is grace squiggleywatsit relax-well.co.uk.
pinknonsense 1 year ago
@pinknonsense thank you
kitkat6026 1 year ago
@pinknonsense hi my favourite 2 are music room [in my day] with the carved plaster guilded ceiling css i think were the initials? also that very large fireplace in the hall what i wouldnt have given to see a fire in that.. have a small book more a mini history of the priory was given to me when i left along with a bible i still have both [somewhere]
kitkat6026 1 year ago