It’s not often that you can say a house is ‘only’ 450 years old, but that’s the case with The Manor House, on the edge of charming Chiddingly village near Lewes, East Sussex.
The reason is that there has been a house on the site for 700 years, but that property was extensively rebuilt in about 1574 to create the grand manor house that’s in essence what still survives to this day. Toby Whittome of Jackson-Stops in Haywards Heath quotes a guide price of £2.5m for this impressive, Grade II*-listed home — a place whose 16th century reinvention was at the request of Sir John Jefferay, who served as Elizabeth I’s Chief Baron of Exchequer from 1577.
Sympathetically maintained by the current owners, the interior of The Manor House is a blend of ancient architecture and contemporary style, with vaulted ceilings, exposed timbers, oak floors, original windows and fireplaces enhanced by modern systems and underfloor heating.
Set in almost 1¼ acres of pretty gardens and grounds that include a walled kitchen garden, the house offers excellent family and guest accommodation, including two reception halls, elegant sitting and drawing rooms, a family room/dining room, cheerful kitchen/breakfast room, master and guest suites, four further bedrooms and four bathrooms.
Chiddingly itself is an ancient place which is mentioned in the Domesday Book, and clearly had high-powered visitors long before Sir John Jeffray’s time — and in 1999 a metal detectorist made an extraordinary find that’s become known as the Chiddingly Boar: ‘The white boar badge was used by Richard III's household and followers between 1472 and 1485,’ the British Museum explain on their website of the hat badge that is now in their collection.
The boar was Richard’s symbol, and thousands were made to mark his coronation in 1483. Almost all, however, were in bronze or pewter; this is the sole surviving example of one in silver, suggesting that it was given to one of Richard’s nobleman supporters who subsequently lost it.
More recently, Chiddingly has become something of an artists’ colony, and has held its own annual Arts festival for more than 40 years. It was for many years home to the artists Roland Penrose and Lee Miller, who lived at nearby Farley Farmhouse; Pablo Picasso, a friend of theirs, even came to visit several times.
It was during one of these visits that the artist decided to walk down to the local pub for a drink — the Six Bells, which is still running today – only to get there and realise that he'd forgotten his wallet. The pub's erstwhile landlord apparently used to the tale of how Picasso offered to pay for a round by doing a sketch; the landlord refused, and sent him back to go and get some money.
Credit: Strutt and Parker
Best country houses for sale this week
An irresistible West Country cottage and a magnificent Cumbrian country house make our pick of the finest country houses for
-
‘To this day, it is as attractive as when Hercules first laid eyes on it’: How to escape the crowds on the Amalfi Coast, according to those in the knowThe Amalfi Coast is one of the world’s most famed holiday destinations, but, in recent years, mass tourism has made parts of it unbearable. Here’s our guide to making the most of it — in peace and in style.
-
The garden created by a forgotten genius of the 1920s, rescued from 'a sorry state of neglect to a level of quality it has not known for over 50 years'George Dillistone’s original Arts-and-Crafts design at Knowle House, East Sussex, has been lovingly restored and updated with contemporary planting. George Plumptre tells more; photography by Clive Nichols.
-
A spectacular tower for sale that's a blend of Victorian folly, architectural marvel and 21st century family homeHadlow Tower has space, and a back story of love, jealousy and intrigue.
-
A spectacular, light-filled home on the Isle of Wight where you can see the water from practically every windowPenny Churchill takes a look at the grand and impressive Fishbourne Quay House.
-
The former stables — and recording studio for the Pet Shop Boys — transformed with a magical blend of city and country aesthetic, now seeking a new ownerIn the heart of Clerkenwell, what was once a Victorian industrial unit is now a beautiful home.
-
The Good Life 2025? A development promising 'Britain's greenest homes' blends zero carbon, organic allotments and a touch of luxury in the Kent countrysideHartdene Barns, sitting on a disused dairy farm in Kent, is a vision of what sustainable living one day mean for all of us.
-
Breathtaking views and gardens that run down to the water's edge at this delightful home in CornwallThe Garden House in Polruan sums up the appeal of waterside living. Penny Churchill steps inside.
-
A 500-acre estate that spent 11 centuries in the same family, for sale for only the second time in its historyIn the beautiful hills of north Wales the Garthewin estate has come up for sale, including a great country house once restored by the architect who created Portmeirion. Penny Churchill takes a closer look.
-
'The city has always held an important creative space within our design studio': A luxury townhouse in Tokyo, courtesy of Aston MartinA new four-storey property in the Omotesandō district is the first single home private residence by the British ultra-luxury performance brand.
-
The Mediterranean Magic of MaltaWith historic charm, picture-perfect beaches and a welcoming approach to newcomers, Malta represents an appealing option for Mediterranean property hunters. Holly Kirkwood reports.
