However, when the comprehensive tax survey was undertaken in 1913[13], the occupier was Arthur Pemington Robert who enjoyed a 21 year lease from 29th September 1904, paying rent of £210 to the owner: Major Edmund Herbert Hills; 32 Princes Gardens S. W., whose agent was H. W. Brown, Solicitors, of Tewkesbury.

The full description of The Mythe House, House, Garden, Land And Orchard: comprising 7acres is interesting:

“….Detached brick and tile house of unattractive elevation approached by carriage drive. In good repair throughout. 2nd floor: 6 bedrooms, box lobby bath (h & c) with w. C. & housemaids sink. 1st floor: bath, 2 bedrooms, housemaids pantry (h & c), w. C. 5 bedrooms. Ground: 3 reception rooms, gun room with w. C., conservatory, butlers pantry (h & c) and bedroom, servants hall, kitchen with stairs leading to 3 servants bedrooms and housemaids closet (h & c), scullery (h & c), larder and dairy, housekeepers room. Main and secondary stairs to 1st floor. Outside: knife room, w. C., small paved yard, boothouse, w. C., coals, wood stall. House heated by radiators on each floor. Electric light throughout (private installation). Main water supply throughout the house and buildings. Tennis and other lawns, garden, walled kitchen garden, paddock and small orchard. Lean to greenhouse 85' x 10', 2 back to back greenhouses 22' x 21', potting shed, 2 lean to greenhouses 33' x 18' and 48' x 15', 6 light cold frame. Brick and tile gardeners cottage of 5 rooms, w. C. And 5 small rooms for men & w. C. Excellent stabling. Brick and tile. 2 coach houses, harness room, wash house, 4 loose boxes and covered washing yard. Brick and tile electric light engine house and accumulator room supplying whole estate except gardens and cottage. Drainage to cess tank. Main water supply. Full site value: frontage to main road…”

The Gross Rateable Value (its likely market value) was £4,000, or £191,000 today.

            It may well be that Mrs Drysdale carried on living there until her death in 1918[14] but there was also a Col. Newman Burfoot Thoyts who was living there in 1914 when his son was killed, shot through the neck during retreat. He was made a POW but died in German Field Hospital.[15]  The father, an Indian officer as well as Mayor of Cheltenham also died in 1918.[16]

            By 1923 it was Mr and Mrs A. E. Healing who were entertaining inmates of the Union Work House.[17]  Alfred Edward Healing was continuing the family tradition of milling corn at Healings Mill started by his grandfather, Samuel in 1865 and he was still in residence in 1935, our last year of information on Mythe House before the arrival of the American army.

            Whether the house was demolished in 1954 or after 1981 is a mystery which remains to be resolved.

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