Anyone who regularly drives along the A24 south of Horsham will be familiar with the ruins of Knepp Castle that stand as proud as they can to the side of the road. And anyone who lives in the area has probably heard of the Knepp Estate rewilding project.
The history of Knepp Castle
William de Braose was a pal of William the Conqueror. After the Norman invasion, de Braose was granted land in Sussex. He became the Baron of Bramber and built Bramber Castle.
William de Braose was an interesting character and he built the castle at Knepp as a hunting lodge with a deer park. In the years that followed, Knepp saw a number of royal visitors, including King John, Henry III, Edward II and Richard II. The castle was eventually destroyed in the Civil War.
Jump forward a few hundred years and the Burrell family arrived at Knepp in the late 18th century. A new modern castle was built, designed by the famous architect John Nash. The house was rebuilt after a fire in 1905 and the Burrells still live there. The Burrells were related to the Burrells of Cuckfield – who bought Ockenden Manor in 1658.
Knepp today
There’s a lot going on at Knepp today and it has become known for its pioneering rewilding work which encompasses 3,500 acres. Having been a farm, in the early 2000s, the estate started a process of restoring the central park and rewilding the estate.
Rewilding involves a large-scale restoration of ecosystems so that nature can take care of itself. The plan at Knepp was to create ‘A Biodiverse Wilderness Area in the Low Weald of Sussex’.
That process has come a long way. Today, you can enjoy a number of walks around the estate where you’re almost certain to see deer, herds of ponies, pigs and even nesting storks. The nesting storks have hit the headlines a number of times lately.
If you don’t fancy walking on your own, you can join a guided safari either by foot or in an off-road vehicle, and they do a whole host of different safaris from birds and butterflies to dusk and dawn safaris.
A little bit of self care and a bite to eat
Away from the safaris, you can also stay at Knepp – take your pick from bell tents and yurts to treehouses and cottages, and guests can go wild swimming in the Knepp lake.
If you’ve enjoyed a walk exploring the estate, they now have a farm shop, coffee bar and restaurant based around a central courtyard to recuperate in. The restaurant, Wilding Kitchen, is in an old barn and promises “sustainably sourced food, featuring our own Wild Range meat and fresh produce from our organic market garden”.
They also host a number of events, including BBQ evenings, art exhibitions and author suppers.
Very much viewed as a Sussex success story, Knepp’s long history seems secure for the future, and the estate is very much one of the places you should visit if you’re visiting Billingshurst or Horsham. It’s also a great venue if you’re on the hunt for autumn colour!
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