- Heritage

Ditchley Park

The most important house by James Gibbs, with magnificent interiors by William Kent and Henry Flitcroft. For three centuries the home of the Lee family, restored in the 1930s by Ronald and Nancy (Lancaster) Tree, it was frequently used at weekends by Sir Winston Churchill during World War II…

Richard Jefferies Farmhouse And Museum

Dating from the early 18th century, the Museum was the home of Richard Jefferies, nature writer, who is cited by historians as an authority upon agriculture and rural life in Victorian England. The main house is a Grade II listed building…

West Dean Gardens

Situated within the 6,400 acre West Dean Estate, West Dean College and Gardens is at the heart of the newly designated South Downs National Park. The 19th century flint-faced mansion was once home to Edward James, whose patronage of many emerging talents in the 1920s, 30s and 40s has ensured him a place within the history of art. Today, West Dean College is a centre for study of arts, crafts, conservation, writing, gardening, food and music, offering over 700 short courses and full-time graduate and post-graduate diplomas and MAs. The Gardens are a showcase for variety in planting and excellence in presentation. Highlights include: the magnificent 90 metre-long Edwardian pergola; the restored Victorian walled kitchen garden and glasshouses featuring exotic fruits and vegetables; the Spring Garden with tranquil, winding rivers and intricate flint bridges; and the ever-popular picnic lawn. For breathtaking views of the Lavant Valley, enjoy the 2 1/2 mile circular Parkland walk up to St Roche’s arboretum. Also within the grounds are the Gardens Restaurant and Gift Shop. West Dean College provides a stimulating and relaxing environment for meetings and conferences, creative breakout sessions can be incorporated into your event. The College, Gardens, Farms, Forests and Estate are available to hire for film locations or photo shoots…

Mapledurham House

Late 16th century Elizabethan home of the Blount family. Original plaster ceilings, great oak staircase, fine collection of paintings and a private chapel in Strawberry Hill Gothick added in 1797. 15th century watermill fully restored producing flour, semoline and bran…

Milton Manor House

Dreamily beautiful mellow brick house, traditionally designed by Inigo Jones. Celebrated Gothic library and Catholic chapel. Lived in by the family; pleasant relaxed and informal atmosphere. Park with fine old trees, stables, walled garden and woodland walk. Picnickers welcome. Free Parking, refreshments and pony rides usually available…

Mapledurham Watermill

The last working watermill on the Thames still producing flour. It is a 600- year-old estate mill, powered by a wooden undershot waterwheel with parts of the original wooden structure still surviving inside the building. Sensitively repaired, visitors can see the milling process using French burr millstones…

Rousham House

Rousham represents the first stage of English landscape design and remains almost as William Kent (1685-1748) left it. One of the few gardens of this date to have escaped alteration. Includes Venus’ Vale, Townesend’s Building, seven-arched Praeneste, the Temple of the Mill and a sham ruin known as the ‘Eyecatcher’. The house was built in 1635 by Sir Robert Dormer. Excellent location for fashion, advertising, photography etc…

Cherkley Court & Gardens

Cherkley Court is the former home of the 1st Lord Beaverbrook,newspaper owner and cabinet minister, spectacularly set in 400 acres of unspoilt Surrey countryside. The gardens offers sitors a tranquil and stunning experience in sixteen acres of landscaped gardens overlooking the Mole Valley. At the garden’s heart lie a series of grand terraces punctuated and flanked by stone stairs and enclosed by balustrade walls. A stunning Italianate garden has been created around the original pool. In addition there is a shell grotto, original pavilions, wild flower meadows, Mediterranean planting and a potager and vegetable garden. The Orangery and terrace provides light lunches, coffees and teas featuring home made cakes. The house itself is used for weddings and events. Six meeting rooms offer unique settings for a wide range of uses from meetings and conferences up to 70, to product launches, formal dinners, drinks receptions or boardroom lunches. Each room has natural daylight with most opening directly on to gardens and wireless broadband available as standard. From the intimacy of the Morning Room seating up to 16 theatre style to the informality of the Drawing Room with space for 22, through to the Orangery with its light and airy ambience and space for 110 cabaret style. Located minutes from both junctions 8 and 9 of the M25, there can be few other venues to rival Cherkley Court’s peaceful tranquillity of formal and informal gardens, sumptuous surroundings and beautiful meeting rooms so easily accessible…

Painshill Park

Discover 158 acres of magnificent 18th Century landscape garden and 14 acre lake. Explore unusual follies, a unique crystal Grotto and enjoy spectacular views across Surrey. The landscape and plantings offer seasonal interest, and throughout the year you can enjoy entertaining events and talks…

Goddards

Built by Sir Edwin Lutyens in 1898-1900 and enlarged by him in 1910. Garden by Gertrude Jekyll. Given to the Lutyens Trust in 1991 and now managed and maintained by the Landmark Trust, a building preservation charity who let it for holidays. The whole house, apart from the library, is available for holidays. Full details of Goddards and 189 other historic and architecturally important buildings available for holidays are featured in The Landmark Handbook (price £10 plus P&P refundable against a booking) and on the website…