Eltham Lodge is a Grade I listed building dating from the 17C and situated in South East London which I visited during Open House Weekend in London.
The Lodge was designed by Hugh May, the court architect, and built in 1664 for Sir John Shaw (1615-80), a wealthy merchant and politician who was able to provide considerable funds to Charles II while he was in exile. The Lodge was built in the grounds of one of the three parks surrounding the Royal Palace at Eltham. It is an elegant building with particularly beautiful plasterwork on the ceilings. (The Art Institute of Chicago holds a painting of Sir John Shaw and his family in the park of Eltham Lodge.)
When James VI of Scotland succeeded Elizabeth II in 1603 and moved south to become James I of England, he brought with him the game of golf. And when the Court was in residence at the Royal Palace in Greenwich the courtiers used the open space of Blackheath for the game. The Royal Blackheath Golf Club was instituted in 1608 and in 1923 moved from Blackheath into Eltham Lodge.
You may be interested in
Sir John Shaw and here
The Lodge in Eltham
The Royal Blackheath Golf Club
Scottish Golf History – sketch of 1874 on this website
A Victorian Golf Gallery – fascinating!
I would love to hear from you!