Russell Hall, then Liberta House, now Russell Hall House and 2-8 Russell Hall Cottages
You may have noticed the building work going on in Scotland Hill.
We have agreed to let some of the workmen from the Liberta House project park in our church car park (Monday to Friday), displaying a laminated notice in their cars so that we can tell who they are. They have been told the combination for the car park barrier lock. This was seen to be a good neighbourly thing to do as Scotland Hill itself was getting very full of their parked cars, vans and trucks. The contractors are making a donation to church funds for this facility.
In 1895 the original Russell Hall was opened—above is an excerpt from the Reading Mercury.
Dr James Russell, who commissioned the hall, was also involved with Eagle House School and also was very generous to the Methodists, offering land for them to build the church as well as being involved in other ways. Next is an excerpt from the Old Eagle House newsletter from 2005.
THE OLD EAGLE HOUSE NEWLETTER – December 2005
Page 3 /4
The Life of Doctor James Russell
James Russell was a prominent citizen in Sandhurst and he was responsible for building the house which is the focal point of the school. The school building was the first medical centre for Sandhurst. The following is a chronological list of events in James Russell’s life
Born 16th December 1851 at Iden in Sussex, the son of a John and Henrietta Russell. A medical student at Aberdeen by 1873 he had M.B. and C.D. behind his name. By 1876 he also had an M.D. from Aberdeen College. We believe he met his wife, one Ellen Elizabeth Wardrope in Scotland as her initials are on a background of Scottish thistles on the crest around the front door at Eagle House School.
1878 He must have been appointed as medical officer to Easthampstead R. D. C. In that year his wife was down as paying 10 shillings voluntary rate to the church in the Sandhurst Churchwarden’s accounts. The following year Dr Russell was down as paying the same amount.
1880 On the electoral register the Russells were listed as living at Martin’s Villa, High St. Sandhurst. In the same year his Uncle James, a coal merchant in Croydon, died leaving £8000 in his will to his nephew – James Russell of Sandhurst.
1881 In the census returns of that year they were listed at Martin’s Hall/Villa, four houses from the “Rose and Crown” public house. An Annie Draper was listed as a servant in the house.
1883 An advertisement in the “Reading Mercury” offered for sale the stables and cowsheds plus surplus furniture from Martin’s Villa.
1884 An advertisement for the sale of Martin’s Villa with six acres of meadow land appeared in the “Reading Mercury in March.
1885 The Russells moved into “Edgebarrow Hill”. We think this could be the original name of Eagle House School as a newly built house and surgery was leased to Eagle House School of Wimbledon by Dr Russell in 1886.
1888 The Russells now living at Longdown Cottage, Crowthorne Road. We have been told that the Russells did not stay long in what is now Eagle House, the house which he had obviously put an enormous amount of money and thought into, because he bankrupted himself completing it! He was however determined to stay close by so he could admire the house from afar. We have still to find any documentary evidence to support this although it seems to be a logical explanation.
1889 The January edition of “The Building News” shows plans and an article detailing Eagle House, described simply as “A House in Sandhurst”.
1891 In a Trade Directory he was listed as Dr James Russell M.C., C.S. England, Surgeon and Medical Officer and Public Vaccinator for Sandhurst District Easthampstead R.D.C.
1894 The first Sandhurst Parish Council formed with Dr Russell elected chairman.
1895 By this time the Russell Hall had been built in Scotland Hill. The “Reading Mercury” on the 14th September carried a report on the big opening ceremony. All those involved in the building of the hall were entertained to a supper. The hall was for the use of parish events.1897 Listed as the owner of Hansford Cottage, Scotland Hill. John Bowles, a gardener listed as the occupier.
1897-98 The rateable value of Eagle House, was £1 3s 4d per annum.
1898 Living in Russell Hall. Paid rates of £1 4s. He still owned Eagle House and Longdown Cottage.1901 Listed on the census as living at “The Cedars”. (McKernan Court now built on the site of where this house used to be). He lived there until 1922 when it was sold to the Mason family.
1905 He offered a piece of land to the Methodists so that they could build a chapel. During the building work he was treasurer of the fund. He laid the foundation stone on 11th October 1905 and the chapel was completed on the 2nd May 1906. Dr Russell was described as a very generous friend of the Methodists. He had loaned the Russell Hall for services whilst the chapel was being built. At the Methodist school, Dr Russell generously presented a silver medal to each scholar who had not missed a day at school that year. During his time as a doctor he travelled his rounds in a pony and trap but his colleague, Dr Metcalfe rode a bicycle.
1922 He sold “The Cedars” and moved to “The Oaks”, Handford Lane, Yateley where he lived with his wife until his death on February 11th.
1931 He was buried in the family vault at St Peters, Croydon. His wife died at Tonbridge in Kent in 1936 and is not buried in the same grave as her husband.
1931 He made a will which paid out money to the Public Trustees, Reading General Hospital, Frimley Cottage Hospital and Edwyn Close of Camberley, his solicitor, the effects being worth £12000.
In St Peter’s Churchyard are inscriptions on monuments to Dr James Russell and John Russell – his father, but no mention is made of either of their wives.
In his life he was a member of the Odd Fellows Society and a member of the Border Lodge of Foresters. Mrs Russell was the first member of the Women’s Lodge of Foresters of Crowthorne.