The gardens are one of those pre 1914 was places that sprang up, didn't last too long, and time has subsequently forgotten.
Possibly the first time they were publicised was in a 1906 advertisement that encouraged the public to visit
the "Cingalee High Class Tea Garden at Unstead, on the River Wey". The gardens were described as being close to
Unstead Mills and visitors were invited "to pay a visit and spend a pleasant hour"[1].
They were probably named after a popular two act musical play called "The Cingalee, or Sunny
Ceylon"[2] that had captured people's imagination. There were
one or two other tea gardens with the same name.
"Surrey Advertiser", 11 May 1907.
Cingalee Tea Gardens, Unsted, now open.
Tennis and Boating.
Accommodation for weekends and paying guests during season.
Attendants in Native Cingalee Costumes. |
So where were the gardens, as they do not appear on maps of the time? Having looked carefully at a number of O.S. and other maps of
the period they were on the opposite bank from the mill, on land where there is a smallish lake in one of the waterways.
The lake narrows at one point, which is where the rustic bridge in the photograph may have been.
Information about the gardens is fairly sparse. In 1913 a party of brickworkers from Worcester Park visited Hindhead in
the morning and arrived at Cingalee for their dinner[3], so there must have been
somewhere where people could be seated. And in 1914 Mr. Brotherton of Cingalee Gardens had charge of the catering arrangements
for Salford flower show[4]. The above advertisement mentions accommodation, so
this was more than just a garden with tea rooms.
Then WW1 began and in 1917 "six of the seven sons of Mr. F. W. Brotherton of the Cingalee Tea Gardens, Shalford,
are serving their country and the remaining son, Sydney, will respond to his country's call when he reaches the age of 18 in
October. Mr. Brotherton, who for many years kept the Bowling Green Restaurant at Guildford, is also 'doing his bit', for he
is an examiner at Derby[5]". Francis had taken over the Bowling Green in 1885.
For some years he was also the Butler of Emma M Tenterden, a Baroness who lived in Bryanston Square and Monte Carlo[6]".
Cecil Brotherton made some very revealing comments about his personal experience at Gallipoli in a letter home. When they
were under heavy gunshot fire he was wounded in the thigh. The troops were awaiting orders and only 100 yards from the enemy's trenches
when the Turks set fire to the bushes. Cecil fell over when they were fleeing, but was fortunate to be assisted by a fellow
serviceman. He then had to get to the Red Cross station, which was two miles away, whilst under constant sniper fire[7].
The war was not kind to the Brothertons, as it wasn't for many families. Cecil, who later died in France, is commemorated on Shalford
War Memorial and Esme was killed in action. His name in on the Menin Gate at Ypres. They also lost a son in law.
Their father was still in catering in 1921, this time for the Post Office. He, his wife and two of their children had moved
to East Ham. Francis Brotherton returned to Surrey in his later years; In 1939 he was living with his son and his occupation was given as
Butler and Steward (Retired)[8].
Please contact Ann if you know anything more about the Cingalee Gardens.
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