Knoll House Hotel

[Kate Mary]

You can always rely on a newspaper to get the facts wrong, but I thought this was interesting nonetheless:

http://www.dailymail.co.uk/travel/trave ... llion.html" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false;

[Julie2owlsdene]

Gosh, that is quite a surprise to see this hotel up for sale. Thanks for putting this up, Kate Mary.

I've been here on numerous occasions for a cream tea, and to see the 'Enid Blyton' theme they have in the hotel and the pictures too, one showing room 40 where Enid used to have during her stay. And on a couple of occasions we've been joined by Eddie and Chick and Nigel and Jane.

I guess they are emphasizing the Enid side of things to sell the hotel.

[Eddie Muir]

Interesting indeed, Kate Mary.

How well Chick and I remember the wonderful cream teas we had at Knoll House Hotel with you and Stephen, Julie.

[Moonraker]

How on earth can we decide how to vote in the EU referendum, when nothing we read in the papers can be guaranteed to be truthful? Yesterday's Sunday Telegraph again perpetuated the myth that Enid Blyton had created Brer Rabbit. Sorry, KM, but I soon gave up on the article.

[Rob Houghton]

Interesting article! I've only been outside Knoll House and taken a photo, but it's in a lovely spot! I wasn't really sure what facts were wrong in the article? True, some of it was conjecture, but I wouldn't say it was inaccurate...just perpetuating a few myths!

I presume one inaccuracy is the mention of Corfe being the inspiration of Kirrin Castle? But I still believe it may have inspired it. No one could help looking at Corfe and not be inspired!

[Tony Summerfield]

Blyton and her husband would visit historic Knoll House Hotel in Studland, Dorset four times a year during the 50's

Absolute rubbish, she didn't even stay at Knoll House until the 1960s. I have a letter on the Grand Hotel notepaper dated 1959. The first one I have from Knoll House is 1963 and she had virtually stopped writing her books by this time.

[Rob Houghton]

Ah - I did think that was wrong. I think she stayed with her husband in a hotel in Swanage during the '50's usually?

[Courtenay]

Details, details — they'll seize on anything for a bit of good advertising!

Now I think about it, I seem to recall that the other thing Studland is famous for is having a nudist beach. Has anyone ever tried to claim a Blytonian connection there as well??

[Julie2owlsdene]

Did she stop going to the Grand Hotel because it was pulled down? It's not there now in Swanage. I think it used to be quite near to the pier as Enid used to swim around that old pier.

I know she used to stay in room 40 at the Knoll House, as there are pictures inside the hotel, and I popped up to look at the room.

[Moonraker]

Are we getting confused here? It was The Grosvenor Hotel that was pulled down in 1988, and was situated overlooking the sea. There is still a Grand Hotel in Swanage. However, maybe there is another Grosvenor Hotel that was pulled down, as Tony has a letterhead. The Grosvenor is the white building in my photograph.

[Julie2owlsdene]

I'm confused now, as in Imogen's book she says The Grosvenor Hotel!

[Rob Houghton]

I thought she went to The Grand Hotel, then The Grosvenor after The Grand was destroyed in a fire!!?

[Julie2owlsdene]

Maybe it was that way around then, Robert.

I know it was the 60's for the Knoll House, as I have a copy of a letter from Enid that Trevor gave me, with the Knoll House Heading paper and the date is July 3rd, '62.

[Tony Summerfield]

I have a file of over 50 letters (and one or two postcards) that Enid wrote to Carey Blyton between 1959 and 1964. The letterhead that I have from 1959 is definitely The Grand Hotel and not the Grosvenor and as I said previously the earliest Knoll House that I have seen is 1963 and she was also there in 1964. Some of her letters were also sent from their golf course with headed notepaper.

The move from The Grand came after an incident there when they were accused of cheating at Bridge. I am not sure whether they were asked not to return there or whether they simply thought it was more prudent to move out of Swanage, but that is how staying at Knoll House instead of The Grand originated.

[Rob Houghton]

That's interesting, Tony! I knew you'd have the answer! Our Enid, cheating at bridge?! Very intriguing!