The Priest House, West Sussex,

Standing in a beautiful cottage garden on the edge of Ashdown Forest, the 15th century Priest House is a timber-framed hall-house built as an estate office for the Priory of St. Pancras.

In 1524 the Priory leased the Rectory Manor to John Browne, a “husbandman” of the parish & The Priest House became a family home.

When Henry VIII seized Lewes Priory’s property the Browne’s Manor was given to Thomas Cromwell. After his execution the Manor formed part of the settlement of Anne of Cleves. After her death, the Brownes continues to occupy the house and paid rent to Queen Mary & then to Elizabeth I. In 1560 the Brownes finally bought the Manor lands & The Priest House & set about modernising the building.

The house was originally an open hall, with a living room & upper chamber on the north end & a service end, with a buttery, pantry & solar to the south. Large stone chimneys were built to replace the medieval open hearth, enabling two new rooms to be created upstairs, each with their own fireplace. The original thatched roof was also replaced with Horsham stone.

The house remained in the possession of the Browne family until 1695 when their fortune declined and they were forced to sell the house & Manor to pay off their debts. The new owner split the building into two cottages for tenant farmers. For 200 years the house remained in the hands of absentee landlords who did little to maintain it.

In 1905 it was bought by John Godwin King who carefully restored the building & in 1908 opened it to the public, to display his collection of locally gathered artefacts. In 1935 he presented The Priest House & his collection to the Sussex Archaeological Society.

The House now contains a varied collection of 17th & 18th century country furniture, ironwork, embroidery & other domestic bygones, displayed in furnished rooms. It is complemented by a colourful cottage garden & small formal herb garden, which contain over 170 culinary, medicinal & household herbs.

The Priest House has transcribed & indexed copies of West Hoathly's parish records from 1606-1999 & a large number of other documents & local post cards/photographs, which are available to visitors.

Visitors are welcome to picnic in the garden.

Opening Times

Open 1st March - 30th October
Tuesday - Saturday, Bank Holiday Mondays and Mondays during August, 10.30am - 5.30pm

Sundays, 12 noon - 5.30pm

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Ticket Prices

Adult £3.50
Child (5-15) £1.75
Senior Citizen £3.00
Student £3.00
Disabled/Carer £1.75

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Disabled Facilities

Disabled Access - due to the historic nature of the building there are changes of level and wheelchair access to the house is limited. Written guides to the upper parts of the house are available. There is ramped access to much of the garden.
Much of the collection is open to tactile handling. Assistance dogs are welcome.

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More Information

Telephone: 01342 810479
Email: priest@sussexpast.co.uk

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