Our Club House - Nether Court

The Clubhouse has often been a subject of interest for members and visitors. A very impressive building for its time, it was built by a wealthy Victorian businessman, Henry Thomas Tubbs, for himself and family between 1880 and 1883.

It was described in local history as “the largest Victorian house built in Hendon Parish” but because it was built as a private family home contributes much to the present feel of the Club. This picture is of the family Dining Room serving the same function to this day.

Along the west side of the courtyard there was a Coach house with accommodation above whilst outside there was a walled kitchen garden, nursery garden, and formal gardens with Fountain, now a Course feature.

The 15-bedroom house was accessed by a long drive from Gordon Road, complete with a small entrance Lodge sadly demolished in the 1960s, a river bridge and an artificial lake with a single island and a side arm crossed by its own single decorative footbridge. This entrance drive was closed in 1967.

Few original inside features remain today other than the Dining Room, Saloon, Hall and Main Staircase with its unique surviving stained glass windows. The six windows portray monograms of Tubbs (HTT) and his wife (MLT) flanking the Tubbs Heraldic Arms whilst below there are three cartoons, using the original meaning of the word, representing three moments in the daily life of a farming labourer and his family: “Morning”, “Noon” and “Night”.

Tubbs lived in Nether Court until his death in December 1917, after which it apparently lay empty for several years despite two new owners. It was eventually purchased in 1929 to become our Clubhouse.