Historic Properties & Places of Interest in Sussex

Michelham Priory dates back 800 years and has the longest medieval, water-filled, moat in England.  Tapestries, furniture, kitchen utensils and an 18th century children's bedroom are all on display, as well as a working watermill and pretty gardens.

Manor house that gives an insight into the upstairs, and downstairs lives of the early 20th century.  Twenty rooms over four floors, with servant’s quarters, kitchens, owners living areas and the nursery on the top floor.

Goodwood is owned and still lived in, by the Earl and Countess of March.  One hour guided tours around this substantial English country house show the Stately Apartments, Egyptian State Dining Rooms, Ballroom, Yellow Drawing Room and the significant private art collection.

Near By

Places of Interest: Cass Sculpture, Goodwood

Pubs: The Fox Goes Free, Charlton, Goodwood

Set within 150 acres of traditional parkland, Borde Hill is a beautiful botanic heritage garden. Along with magnificent view of the Sussex High Weald, Borde Hill offers beautiful parkland walks, fishing and lake walks. Equestrian events held throughout the summer.

Beautiful parkland and gardens with seven lakes, set in 240 acres of land.  Wallabies, deer and other natural wildlife reside here, as well as various wildfowl on the accompanying lakes.  There is also a dolls house that depicts 1900s living, and a vintage car collection of eight cars ranging from the 1880s up to 1900.

Woodland and water gardens set in 27 acres, with rare exotic and unusual plant.  Plenty to see including trees and a natural acid wildlife meadow, with lots of colour during the spring, summer and autumn seasons.

Beautiful and peaceful woodland in 61 acres, with trails, playground, picnic places, BBQs, team room, tea garden and exhibitions.  Events held throughout the year including bluebell walks, bug hunting, teddy bear picnics and Christmas tree harvest. 

Located on the Sussex Weald, with 27 acres of glorious woodland and water gardens with rare, exotic, unusual plants and trees, and particularly  colourful during the spring, summer and autumn months.

Hastings Castle was built by William the Conqueror in 1067. The ruins that remain of Hastings Castle are those of the stone fortress, and less than half of the original structure.  The Castle history and battle can be seen on a 16 minute presentation.

Seventeen-century farmhouse, that in the early 20th century became the meeting place for the Bloomsbury Group, a group of pioneering writers, painters and intellectuals.  Vanessa Bell and Duncan Grant moved to Charleston in 1916 and over the next half a century put their artistic abilities to work in around the house creating murals, painted furniture, ceramics, paintings and textiles, as well as a painters garden filled with sculptures, mosaics and ponds.  

The magnificent moated castle, Herstmonceux, was built in the 15th century for the Treasurer of the Household of Henry VI.  Today it is the International Study Centre, part of Queen’s University, Canada.  During the summer months, the beautiful parkland and Elizabethan gardens, that include a walled garden, herb garden, woodland sculptures and walks, can be visited by the general public.

Heritage trail, gardens and Museum of Life, with thousands of flowering shrubs, themed gardens such as the Caribbean Garden and Seaside Garden; collections of fossils, crystals and minerals in the museum; huge models of dinosaurs, and a children’s play area including an 18 hole Crazy Golf course.

West Dean College is situated on a 6-acre estate and is a centre of study for conservation-restoration and the visual and applied arts.  The West Dean Gardens are open all year round and feature a beautiful parkland walk, arboretum, walled gardens, glasshouses with rows of produce, sunken gardens, bulbs & wildflower and fruit gardens.