History
Centuries ago, the area on which West Lodge Park is based was 'The Enfield Chase' - a well-stocked deer-park belonging to the Kings and Queens of England, and particularly popular with Elizabeth I. Three hunting lodges were built - probably in the 1400s - to provide shelter for the royal gamekeepers working at the chase. They were named South Lodge, East Lodge and West Lodge.
Henry Coventry lived at the property for a time, and during his residence was visited by John Evelyn, who wrote about the lodge. By 1838, however, the chase ceased to exist and West Lodge was rebuilt, which is where the foundations of today's hotel come from. However, the panelling around the main staircase has been dated to the 1600s, and is probably from the old hunting lodge.
The rebuilt West Lodge was a private family house until 1924, apart from a brief spell as a rest home for WWI nurses in 1916-17. It was opened as a hotel in 1924, then was purchased in 1945 by the Beales family - under whose management it remains today.