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The family business in George‟s time was gunpowder making, for which they enjoyed the grant of a royal monopoly. Until this time all gunpowder was brought in from Europe, so this made for a very lucrative business. The Evelyns therefore, employed most of the local villagers, either in various Surrey gunpowder mills or in the house. Richard died in 1640 leaving the estate to his eldest son George. Richard‟s second son was John, the famous diarist, who was born here on 31 st October 1620. He later inherited Wotton House at the age of 79 upon his brother‟s death. John wrote of Wotton “…The house is large…and so sweetly environ „d those many delicious streams and venerable woods, as in the judgement of strangers, as well as Englishmen, it may he compared to one of the most tempting and pleasant seates in the Nation.” John Evelyn was also a famous botanist and tree expert. He was enthusiastically in favour of reforestation to make good losses due to heavy timber consumption made by the ship building, iron smelting and charcoal industries. He had many books published in his lifetime, several on the subject of trees and gardens. He designed at least part of the gardens at Wotton, with some help from his brother George, in an Italian style, revolting against Tudor formalism. Extensive alterations were made to the original house in the second half of the 17th Century, and the house and grounds have continued to be altered and improved periodically ever since. The front of the house gives the appearance of a Tudor or Jacobean Mansion, but in reality this façade is a Victorian creation, carried out by William John Evelyn in the last half of the 19th Century. W J Evelyn also kept a menagerie near the house, including Kangaroos, which eventually escaped in the direction of Leith Hill. W J Evelyn‟s only son John succeeded him in 1908 and died in 1922. His older son C J A Evelyn, known as Jack followed on, until inheritance by his nephew Mr Patrick Evelyn in 1965, who remains the present estate owner and Lord of the Manor of Wotton. “The South or Front of Wotton Place…” By W. Bray, dated 1813
After the second World War, Wotton House was used as a Fire Service College for thirty years. After that it became a BT training centre until 1986. It then remained vacant awaiting refurbishment until its lease was acquired by Hayley Conference Centres in 2000. In May 2007 Principal Hotels acquisitioned Hayley Conference Centres, the company announced that it has re-branded as 'Principal Hayley Hotels and Conference Venues'. CEO Tony Troy commented “At Principal Hayley we pride ourselves on meeting the diverse requirements of all our customers. We are expanding and developing as a company and our vision is to be the best upper 4 and 5 star hotel and conference venue group across Europe.” The Principal Hayley portfolio currently includes 24 contemporary and luxurious properties offering a combined capacity of over 3000 bedrooms, 400 meeting rooms and the ability to host over 20,000 delegates per day. Restoration of Wotton House 2001
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Page 14 and 15: The Fountain The fountain was origi

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