About Us - Our History

The House That Turned Round - Twice

Travellers passing through Great Warley cannot fail to notice the flags fluttering in the breeze outside, or the imposing historic grandeur of the building itself, but few might know of it's story. Some may know it by its former name of the New World Hotel and they may even recall the devastation left by what became know as the Great Fire of Warley.

What they may not fully appreciate is it's astonishing history, it's ties to the nearby St Mary the Virgin church and even it's links to Brentwood's most famous school.

The De Rougemont Manor carries the name of one of it's former owners Muriel, the wife of Boer War hero Major General Cecil de Rougemont. She was also the daughter of Mr Evelyn Heseltine who arrived in Great Warley in 1875 and created a 'country house' out of a cottage.

A very wealthy stockbroker, Heseltine is lauded as one of the great benefactors of the centuries old Brentwood School and the builder of the famous 'art nouveau' church, which he dedicated to a dead brother. He also built a local empire of farms and other property to become recognised in the early years of the 20th century as the village 'squire'.

He and his wife entertained the local county gentry in their vastly expanded house - a building he actually turned around, from facing the road to make it's front entrance overlooking Upminster Common. It was country house style living which employed many local people both inside and outside the house. The businessman became a community-minded one too, hosting many functions in the 'great house'.

After the death of Evelyn and his wife the house passed to Muriel who lost one son during World War 2 and another who also dies at a young age. When she too died the house was brought by two local businessmen to become the New World Country Club but it wasn't long before one of them, former Romford market Trader and builder Ian Hilton, bought his partner out and turned the place into the New World Hotel. He also turned the house around so it fronted the street again.

Like Heseltine, Ian Hilton is a great lover of tradition and used his business skills to restore the building to reflect all it's old 'country house' style. After the fire he and his family continued to rebuild to that concept and renamed it the De Rougemont Manor, in honour of the former owner.

Nowadays, as in Heseltine's day, during the week the hotel has many business guests, travellers and visiting company men and women. Then of a weekend this hotel becomes one of Brentwood's greatest venues, hosting everything from weddings and bar mitzvahs to banquets.

Sitting down to dine either in business or pleasure, in such splendid, 'country house' style in its magnificent surroundings, is something. The Heseltines would be very happy that the Hiltons are doing their memory proud.