Alexander House and Utopia Spa - History
The early history of the property is somewhat sketchy although there are connections reaching back to Roman times. A Roman road ran past the present western boundary and Roman coins have recently been found in the area.Research by the Rev. Alex MacLean, Vicar of Turners Hill, has revealed Fenland, as the area was once known as has been recorded in the Lay Subsidt Rolls dating back to 1332.
The word Fenn means 'dirty' or 'muddy' - a suitable word since the area was once a flat boggy piece of land - the source of the River Medway.
The oldest part of the present house, facing the south lawn dates from the 17th Century. A stone dated 1608 can be found in the boundary wall.
The house in 1692 was the seat of Roger Bysshe whose daughter Helen, married John, son of Timothy Shelley of Field Place, Horsham, in 1692. Thus the names of Shelley and Bysshe were joined: Helen Bysshe was the grandmother of poet Percy Bysshe Shelley.
Towards the end of the last century the property belonged to the Oxley family who had connections in the city of London. Two oak panels in the Chalfont Bedroom at Alexander House were rescued by the Oxley family from a demolished Wren church in Poultry with other remains placed in St Leonard's Church, Turners Hill.
Further additions to the house were made by William Campbell, Governor of the Bank of England who purchased the estate in 1909.
In 1953, Queen Elizabeth, the Queen Mother, opened Fen Place as a retirement home for Clergy and in 1984 the mansion was purchased by International Hotels Limited and meticulously restored and re-named Alexander House.
In 2002 Utopia Leisure purchased Alexander House and an 18 month re-decoration programme took place transforming Alexander House to the elegant stylish hotel it is today.
At the beginning of 2006 Alexander House opened Utopia Spa making the Hotel a Destination Resort unsurpassed throughout Southern England.
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