The History Of Botley Hill Farmhouse

The Farmhouse is owned by the Titsey Foundation, a charitable Trust set up in 1979. The Foundation owns The Mansion House and its contents, more than 1800 acres of farm and woodland together with 26 Cottages and Farmhouses.
The Titsey Estate was purchased by John Gresham in the early 1500s from Lord Berners who had been granted the Estate by King Henry the Eighth in 1527. It remained in their family for over 450 years until it was gifted by Major Richard and Mr Thomas Gresham Leveson Gower. The purpose of establishing the Titsey Foundation was to preserve the Mansion House, its contents and grounds for public benefit for ever.
The Farmhouse itself was purchased in 1546 and contains a magnificent fireplace. The inscriptions on this fireplace and in the flagstones in the floor are thought to be of Turkish origin. It is believed that the stones were brought to this country as ballast in the hold of one of Sir John Gresham's Merchant ships in the early sixteenth century.
In 1517 John was admitted as a member of the Mercers Company and became a principal merchant adventurer. In 1537 he became Sheriff of London and was also Knighted.
Probably the most famous of the Gresham’s was Sir Thomas (1519-1579), who was Sir John's nephew. Like his uncle he became a member of the Mercers Company in 1543. His father Sir Richard was Lord Mayor of London in 1537, the same year as his brother John was Sheriff of London, perhaps the only time that two brothers have held such roles simultaneously.
Sir Thomas Gresham became not only a successful merchant but also acted for the Crown by arranging loans on the Continent. These dealings were carried out in Antwerp in a building known as a Bourse. In this Bourse men guaranteed Credit, raised loans and negotiated financial support. Real tangible goods gave way to bills of exchange. No such building existed in the City of London and in 1565 Sir Thomas sent word to the City Corporation that he would build at his own expense a Bourse or Exchange for London's merchants, on condition that the City provided a suitable site for it. A site on the north side of Cornhill was purchased for the sum of £3,532.17s.2d. On 23 January 1571, Queen Elizabeth I visited the finished building and proclaimed that in future it should be known as the Royal Exchange.
On top of the building was placed a Golden Grasshopper, which was the Gresham family crest. The original Royal Exchange building was destroyed in the Great Fire of 1666 and the second Royal Exchange building was too destroyed by fire on the night of 10 January 1838. Following this destruction, the foundation stone for a new Royal Exchange was laid by Prince Albert in 1842 and opened by Queen Victoria on 18 October 1844. A statue of Sir Thomas Gresham is to be found on the Eastern face of the Tower and the weather vane is surmounted by a Golden Grasshopper.

Tatsfield Parish Council's Coat of Arms has a Grasshopper mounted on the top as does Botley Hill Farmhouse's Pub House Sign. The Farmhouse also has two rooms named “The Gresham” and the “Grasshopper”. The “Grasshopper” room features the large fireplace mentioned earlier.

Sir Thomas gave rings to his closest business contacts. They are of gold, with each individual arms finely enamelled and a transparent crystal set above the escutcheon to protect it. Inside each ring is enamelled a vivid green grasshopper as a constant reminder of the giver. The few rings still in existence are in private collections, one of the most famous owners being Sir Mick Jagger. Another fine piece of jewellery is Sir Thomas' wedding ring which is kept at the Mansion House on the Titsey Estate. Sir Thomas died in 1579 and is buried in St Helen's Church in Bishopsgate.

In more recent times, Botley Hill Farmhouse was a Tea Room for over half a century famous for its cream teas. It is now a pub, restaurant and entertainment venue. Outdoors its stunning views across the Downs are spectacular and the spot is a favourite with walkers, cyclists and families.