South Downs Country Houses

Enjoy exclusive tours of two Grade I listed country houses in East Sussex’s South Downs.

Learn about the history of two magnificent country houses at the far end of the South Downs. Our tours will cover the history, architecture and wonderful artefacts contained within both houses. Firle Place is a late-15th century manor house set in open parkland built by Sir John Gage who held many high offices including executor of Henry VIII’s will. The remodelled external cladding of the building is Georgian using Caen stone to give the appearance of a classical French château. The interior is Tudor and circulates around a central courtyard. The house has an extensive collection of porcelain and paintings including works by Gainsborough, Reynolds, Raphael and Van Dyck. 

Gynde Place

Glynde Place, once owned by the noted Parliamentarian Colonel Harbert Morley, has an equally fascinating history: an Elizabethan manor house, also built from Caen stone, chalk and local flint, and the family home of the Hampdens whose forebears, William and Anne Morley, built the house in 1569 replacing an earlier house. The house has passed from William and Anne, through three intermarried families, to the current owners. There will be time to visit the listed gardens before tea or coffee at the conclusion of the visit.

Tickets £55 including a two-course hot lunch with tea and coffee at the Rainbow Inn and tea or coffee at the conclusion of the tour at Glynde Place. Lunch options will be made available to attendees before the event.