Geoffrey Nichol worked at Fonthill from 1976. Although Fonthill closed in 2002 and bought by a local millionaire, he was asked to stay on to protect the building from intrusion and protect period features.

Planning permission was granted to build 10 apartments in the main house, refurbished to how it was built in 1860 with a new 3 storey block of 19 flats in the back garden but was delayed as Fonthill is locally listed and there were issues with the planners.

Fonthill was built in the mid 1860s & took many years to build. It took its name from Fonthill Abbey also known as Beckfords Folly in Wiltshire, a vast and once famous Gothick folly that had been destroyed by fire in 1755 and has long been demolished.

Its first listed inhabitant was William John Payne. What he was I cannot say, but I imagine he must have been fairly wealthy.

It continued as a private house until 1924 when, on the death or removal of a Mrs Riddoch, its last private owner. Incidentally, Mrs Riddoch is buried in St Marys Church, Reigate cemetery with a headstone inscription Mrs Riddoch of Fonthill.

Fonthill was then turned into a Hotel until 1948/9. This seems to tie in with information supplied by Margaret Prior whose father Ian Mason bought Fonthill & ran it as a Hotel.

In 1949/50 The King Edward VII Hospital bought it and leased it to a retired nurses charity until May 2002.

With thanks to Geoffrey Nichol.