The Monks Orchard mansion with its grounds did not sell immediately and it was 1924 before a sale was made to the Governors of the Bethlem Royal Hospital.  Complications over the Southwark lease led to the property being conveyed to the Corporation of London.  It was then leased back to Bethlem for the remainder of the 999-year term.

When the Bethlem Royal Hospital governors first acquired the property in 1924, the farmer Philip Edward Headington was the sitting tenant of Park farm that he had leased from 1921.  He continued to hold the lease until 1927 while the governors advertised their acquisition.  Mr Headington leased two of the lakes to the West Wickham fly fishing club in 1925 and the remaining lake to a Mr G Youngman.

As a young man Philip had played table tennis for the Windsor Constitutional Club in a six a side team.  In 1901, the homely game of ping-pong on the dining room or kitchen table turned into a national sport and was played everywhere.  It was only a passing phase and by 1904 the enthusiasm had waned.  It did not resume until the 1930s.  Cippenham in Slough from where Philip and Louise Headington moved to come to Park farm restarted its table tennis club in 1973 and is now in the top British League.  It is of  interest that some of the cards of the “cat” artist Louis Wain who spent much of his later life at Bethlem showed cats playing ping-pong.

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