Debden House

Debden House is a residential adult education college, conference centre and campsite located in Loughton, Essex, England. The house is owned and operated by Newham London Borough Council.

The house is used as a conference centre with residential facilities during the week, and is available for hire. Newham Borough Council use the house extensively for staff training, team-building exercises and conferences.

The adult education college operates from Debden House at the weekends. The college offers a range of 2-day courses throughout the year, and accommodation is available for learners.

The campsite at Debden House is open from May to September every year. Facilities include a shop, cafe, washing and drying machines, electric points, toilets and showers.

The house was built in the early 19th century and extended in both the 19th and 20th centuries. It is constructed in two storeys of painted brick with a slate roof to a rectangular floor plan and was probably a former coach house. It is now a grade II listed building

Formerly known as Debden Green House, it was once part of the Debden Hall estate, which in 1851 was owned by local magistrate John Williams. It was bought in 1883 by Joseph Thomas Palmer, a printing ink manufacturer, who lived there until his death in 1898, followed by his son-in-law until 1917. Debden Green House was bought at auction by Edward Green in 1920, who lived there until it was purchased by the Borough of East Ham in 1946. It was opened as the Debden House Residential Adult Education Centre in 1949.

In the map of 1777, Alexander Hamilton (1693-1781) is shown to be the owner of Debden Hall and Debden House, Debden Green. He owned Debden Green House for many years before this as a newspaper advertisement of 1748 mentions that he can be contacted at his house on Debden Green. It seems that these houses existed before the Hall was built because in 1769 he unsuccessfully advertised them for sale. The sale notice is shown.

Alexander Hamilton was born in 1693. His father was William Hamilton, Lord of the Manor of Wishaw in Scotland. He became a lawyer and went to live at Lincoln’s Inn in London. He married three times. His first wife was Frances Dalzell who he married in 1720 but she died shortly afterwards. His second wife was Barbara Lilley who he married in 1729 and by her he had two sons William and Anthony Hamilton. She also died and in 1745 he married Charlotte Stiles whose father Robert Stiles (1663-1739) was a landowner in Loughton.

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Wikipedia