Kingswood House

Kingswood House, colloquilly known as Bovril Castle, is a Victorian mansion in West Dulwich, at the southern tip of the London Borough of Southwark, United Kingdom. It is a Grade II listed building. It is now used as an arts and community centre called Kingswood Arts. In 1811 William Vizard, the solicitor to Caroline of Brunswick in her future failed divorce from George IV, was granted a 63-year lease for Kingswood Lodge. When Vizard returned to his native Gloucestershire in 1831, others were granted the property leases. From 1891 the house was owned by John Lawson Johnston, the inventor of Bovril, who extended the house and remodelled the facade including adding battlements. Johnston acquired the nickname Mr Bovril and, owing to its castellated features, Kingswood became known locally as Bovril Castle. Some remaining garden features from this era are thought to have been installed by James Pulham and Son. In the First World War Kingswood was used as a convalescent home for wounded Canadian soldiers. At this time it came to the notice of Lady Vestey who was doing social work in connection with the soldiers housed there. In 1919 her husband Sir William Vestey was granted an 80-year lease and in 1921 when he was raised to the peerage he became Baron Vestey of Kingswood in the County of Surrey. Kingswood was the Vesteys' main home until William's death. In 1954 it was decided by

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