Denville Hall

Denville Hall is a historic residential and care home in Northwood, in the London Borough of Hillingdon, England. It was established specifically to support members of the acting profession in retirement and remains associated with the wider entertainment community. Actors and actresses receive priority, but the home also serves other people who have worked in entertainment, including agents, dancers and circus professionals, as well as eligible spouses. The institution occupies a building with a long architectural history. Part of the present hall derives from a sixteenth-century house known as Maze Farm. During the eighteenth century the property was associated with the judge Sir John Vaughan. In 1851, Daniel Norton substantially rebuilt it in a Victorian Gothic style and renamed it Northwood Hall. The building later became linked to the acting profession through Alfred Denville, an impresario, actor-manager and Member of Parliament. Denville purchased the hall in 1925 after the death of his son Jack, who died at the age of 26 following complications connected with injuries originally sustained during the First World War. Alfred Denville dedicated the property to the acting profession in his son's memory, renamed it Denville Hall and established a charity under the same name. The home was formally opened as a rest home in July 1926 by Princess Louise, then the Princess Royal. Over subsequent decades, the original house was extended and adapted to meet the needs of an ageing resident population. Denville Hall now provides a range of accommodation and care arrangements, including long-term and short-term residential stays, nursing care, convalescent care, dementia care and palliative care. Physiotherapy is also available, and the home has a subsidised bar intended to support social life among residents. A major remodelling and expansion project, including landscaping, was completed in 2004. The work was designed by Acanthus LW Architects. The resulting premises combine the character of a historic country house with facilities adapted for specialist elderly care. The building is locally listed. Denville Hall has occupied a distinctive place in British theatrical and entertainment culture. Numerous well-known British performers spent their later years there, including Richard Attenborough and his wife Sheila Sim. Attenborough also served as president of the hall. The institution has received support from prominent figures in the film, theatre and entertainment industries. During the late 1960s and early 1970s, performers including Sean Connery, Michael Caine, Paul Scofield and Elizabeth Taylor donated professional fees to support rebuilding work. In 1999, the original set of Agatha Christie's The Mousetrap, which had been used continuously for 47 years, was auctioned to raise money for Denville Hall. Other support has included a contribution from restaurateur Elena Salvoni's 2007 autobiography, Eating Famously. Playwright Terence Rattigan left his estate to charity, with royalties from his plays directed to Denville Hall and the King George V Fund for Actors and Actresses. Denville Hall's core proposition is therefore not a conventional consumer brand but a charitable, specialist-care institution. Its identity rests on continuity with the British acting profession, a historic setting, and care designed for older people connected with entertainment work. It is often considered alongside Brinsworth House, another UK retirement home for entertainers.

Denville Hall occupies a historic building whose earliest surviving element forms part of a sixteenth-century house known as Maze Farm. The property was associated in the eighteenth century with Sir John Vaughan, a judge. In 1851, Daniel Norton rebuilt the house in Victorian Gothic style and gave it the name Northwood Hall. The building's connection with the acting profession began with Alfred Denville, an impresario, actor-manager and Member of Parliament. He acquired Northwood Hall in 1925 after the death of his son Jack, who was 26 and died following complications arising from injuries sustained during the First World War. Alfred Denville dedicated the property to the acting profession in his son's memory, renamed it Denville Hall and established a charity bearing the same name. Princess Louise, the then Princess Royal, formally opened Denville Hall as a rest home in July 1926. Its original purpose was to provide a place of support for retired actors and actresses. Over time, eligibility and services broadened to include other people working in entertainment, such as agents, dancers and circus professionals, together with qualifying spouses aged over 70. The building has been substantially extended and adapted since its conversion into a retirement home. A further remodelling, expansion and landscaping programme was completed in 2004 under the design of Acanthus LW Architects. The premises are locally listed and retain elements of the earlier historic house while accommodating modern residential and care requirements. Denville Hall has provided several forms of support, including long-term and short-term residential accommodation, nursing, convalescent, dementia and palliative care. Physiotherapy and communal amenities, including a subsidised bar, form part of the service environment. The home has also maintained a strong cultural relationship with the British theatre and film professions. Notable residents have included Richard Attenborough and Sheila Sim, and Attenborough served as president. Fundraising and patronage have contributed to the institution's development. In the late 1960s and early 1970s, Sean Connery, Michael Caine, Paul Scofield and Elizabeth Taylor were among performers who donated fees toward rebuilding work. In 1999, the original set used for The Mousetrap during its first 47 years was auctioned to benefit Denville Hall. Elena Salvoni donated part of the proceeds from her 2007 autobiography, Eating Famously. Terence Rattigan's estate also supported charitable causes, with royalties from his plays directed to Denville Hall and the King George V Fund for Actors and Actresses.

• 2004

  Remodelling and expansion

  [1]Denville Hallen.wikipedia.org

  A major remodelling, expansion and landscaping project designed by Acanthus LW Architects was completed.

• 1999

  The Mousetrap set auction

  [1]Denville Hallen.wikipedia.org

  The original set from the long-running production of The Mousetrap was auctioned to raise funds for Denville Hall.

• 1926

  Formal opening as a rest home

  [1]Denville Hallen.wikipedia.org

  Princess Louise formally opened Denville Hall as a rest home in July.

• 1925

  Acquisition and dedication to the acting profession

  [1]Denville Hallen.wikipedia.org

  Alfred Denville bought the hall, renamed it Denville Hall and created a charity in memory of his son Jack.

• 1851

  Victorian Gothic rebuilding

  [1]Denville Hallen.wikipedia.org

  Daniel Norton substantially rebuilt Northwood Hall in Victorian Gothic style.

A specialist charitable retirement and care home serving actors and the wider entertainment community, combining sector-specific eligibility and identity with residential, nursing and end-of-life care.

• Retirement housing · 1926

  Residential accommodation

  Long-term and short-term residential accommodation for retired actors and other eligible people from the entertainment professions, with spouses also eligible under the home's criteria.

• Elderly care

  Nursing and specialist care

  Care provision includes nursing, convalescent, dementia and palliative care. These services allow the home to support residents with changing health and mobility needs within the same specialist community.

• Wellbeing services

  Physiotherapy and communal support

  Physiotherapy and communal facilities, including a subsidised bar, complement the residential and clinical services and help sustain social interaction among residents.

• 2007Eating Famously charitable contribution

  United Kingdom

  Restaurateur Elena Salvoni directed part of the profits from her autobiography Eating Famously to Denville Hall.

  Outcome. The contribution supported the hall's charitable work.

  Source
• 1999The Mousetrap set fundraising auction

  United Kingdom

  The original stage set from The Mousetrap, after decades of continuous use, was auctioned to raise funds for Denville Hall.

  Outcome. The auction generated charitable support for the hall.

  Source

1. 1Denville Hallen.wikipedia.org
2. 2Denville Hall official websitedenvillehall.org.uk