A SECLUDED mansion which has inspired the creative juices of influential figures in British cultural history for 50 years has closed to its artistic visitors.
Nestled at the foot of Reigate Hill, the discreet property, worth millions of pounds, has provided a "rest home" for writers and artists since 1958, offering full-board stays of up to three weeks for a tiny fraction of the price of a hotel.
But now the gong that traditionally alerts guests to mealtimes has fallen silent.
The charity which owns and runs the "unique" Mount Pleasant house and sprawling grounds, in Coppice Lane, was forced to close to guests on Monday "for the foreseeable future".
Set up in 1928 in Hertfordshire, the Mount Pleasant Artists' Rest Home charity moved to the vast Reigate house in 1958. Under the strict stipulations in the initial bequest, it was only open to men, until the current trustees revised the rules in 2012 to admit women.
But the modernisation has not helped reverse the fortunes of the struggling charity, which spends three times more than it makes.
Composer David Stoll, who is secretary to the trustees, said the charity may continue its work at another base, or provide grants to artists, instead of maintaining the Reigate retreat.
"We are spending something like £100,000 per year more than our income," he said.
"We make a very small charge for people staying here. We could make a very large charge, and if people paid that we would not have a problem, but that is not what the charity is all about.
"The trustees have a duty not to waste the resources of the charity, and you could easily argue that most of our money at the moment is going on keeping a large, expensive house maintained rather than looking after the artists we were designed to look after."
The home's seven rooms were full last week, but at other times it was devoid of visitors.
Regular guests over the years have included philosopher, broadcaster, writer and former MP Bryan Magee, and an array of painters, potters, poets, sculptors and wordsmiths.
"For several decades, Mount Pleasant has provided a place for creative professionals to rest or work in peace and quiet," said Mr Stoll.
He added: "The trustees are determined to continue, in one way or another, to offer that opportunity to generations of artists to come."
Toby Mann, manager at the Everyman cinema in Bancroft Road, met a few of the home's distinguished visitors when they took time out for a film.
"Mount Pleasant has been one of Reigate's best-kept secrets," he said. "Little did we know we had all these amazing people in our midst."
