Yapton Sandakan in UK

Ref:  Photo provided by Richard and Allen - Yapton Local History UK

• Not everyone knows about the existence of SANDAKAN in the UK.

In 1949, they made their way to Yapton and purchased 'The Lodge,' which they renamed Sandakan to commemorate their time in Borneo. They operated it as a Guest House. Visitors could experience 'a small but exclusive Guest House, offering quiet comfort and good food.' The local climate was deemed healthy, and each bedroom was equipped with hot and cold water, as well as an electric fire. The cost of a double room ranged from £11 0s 0d to £13 13s 0d per week. Guests were invited to relax in the attractive gardens and use the hard tennis court. Reg and Belle managed the Guest House until 1954, when it was sold again and renamed 'The Limes.' The house eventually fell into disrepair and was demolished around 1960, with a small housing estate named 'The Limes' built on the site.

Some years ago, in 2020, after successfully contacting Richard, he provided me with some additional information about SANDAKAN obtained from Mr. Allen from Local History. The information included pictures of the house used as a guest house, location maps, house plans, facilities, and much more.

The Birth of the Place Name SANDAKAN in the UK

Chronology:

1. The Lodge residence was owned by John and Sarah Sparks Engineering from 1885 to 1960.

2. In 1881, The Lodge was used as a girls' school for 10 students aged 11-18 under the supervision of Miss Annie Scott.

3. Sarah Sparks moved back to The Lodge for a short period in 1891 before it was rented by Captain Gerald M. Brooks of the Royal Navy in 1899 and Major Cecil Dudly in 1920.

4. In 1931, The Lodge was sold again, and after a few years, in 1938, it was once again used as a school under the supervision of Miss E.B. Davis after WW2.

5. Richard Rose's uncle, E.R. Baker, and his wife Belle, who worked under PDW (JKR) Sandakan, returned from North Borneo before WW2 and bought the residence as a 'Guest House' in 1949, naming the place SANDAKAN.

6. In 1954, Sandakan changed ownership and was renamed 'The Limes.' It was then renovated, and several buildings in the area were constructed in 1960.

Note: The Lodge is a fairly large residential area with several houses around it, including underground.

I have conducted some research and searched for the location of Yapton Sandakan in the UK based on the information provided by Allen and Richard. Unfortunately, I couldn't locate the house on Google Earth because it was demolished some years ago. In its place, a small housing estate called 'The Limes' was built. The location was on Church Road, which connects to Church Lane at the Church. On the map, it is labeled as Yapton Lodge and marked as number 1 in pink.

With a little effort in searching, the location and position of Yapton Sandakan on Google Maps.

This is SANDAKAN in UK...