Three years ago, I was lucky enough to enjoy a private tour of Sedgwick Park House. The house and estate just outside Horsham are privately owned but represent an interesting piece of Sussex history. The main house is situated in the grounds of what was once a Medieval castle, and last week I went back for a visit by way of the NGS for what may be the last time.
Sedgwick Castle
The hunting lodge in the grounds dates back to 1200 but by the 13th century the manor had been fortified and belonged to the infamous Lord de Braose. The first Lord de Braose, (1st Lord of Bramber) was granted lands in Sussex by William the Conqueror. In addition to Bramber Castle, the de Braose family are also thought to have founded Knepp Castle.
The ruins of the moated medieval castle are a little distance from the main house. They are hard, if not impossible, to access and what remains is in very poor condition. It is thought there were a number of developments on the site, the first being a fortified house, surrounded by a circular ditch. This was then developed in the 13th century with the addition of a tower. By the late 15th century, Sedgwick had changed hands and was owned by the family of the Duke of Norfolk. It is then that it is believed that a new hall, chamber, kitchens and gardens were added. But by the 17th century the castle had been demolished.
Sedgwick Park
With the demolishing of the castle, a new house was built at Sedgwick in 1715. By 1862 it was owned by the Henderson family who engaged the architect Ernest George to remodel the house in the Arts & Crafts style, and Harold Peto to redesign the gardens in the style they are now, with the work completed in 1886. The square tower in the southern western corner was added in 1904.
By the late 1980s, Sedgwick Park House was almost derelict. It was bought by the current owner Clare Davison and her late husband in 2001 and they set about renovating it. The house is now Grade II listed and considered to be of ‘special architectural and historic importance’.
Alice in Wonderland at Sedgwick
Alice Liddell, the girl who inspired Lewis Carroll’s Alice’s Adventures in Wonderland was sister-in-law and friend to Emma Henderson. In September 1879, Alice spent her honeymoon here. You’ll see fun references to Alice in the gardens.
The gardens
The house sits in 100 acres of parkland, woodland and meadows, with 23 acres of formal garden and parkland and views across to the South Downs and notably of Chanctonbury Ring and Lancing College Chapel. Clare’s sense of style is evident everywhere.
From the south side of the house, yawning terraces of Horsham stone give way to lawns and the 19th century Italian-inspired, water garden known as The White Sea (part of a nautical theme). Beyond, lose yourself in a grassy labyrinth, with a stone centre piece capturing the energy of the South Downs. To the east side of the house, you’ll find a rose garden and croquet lawn, inviting chairs set in the shade of vast trees, a phone box, a tempting pool and a series of interlocking ponds.
To the west of the lawn is a wildflower meadow which won silver gilt at the 2010 Hampton Court Palace Flower Show.
There is a sense of fun throughout the gardens but also of that casual effortlessness that any gardener knows takes a lot of hard work to perfect. The gardens were open as part of the NGS. But Sedgwick is now under offer and it is likely that this summer will be the last chance to see these stunning and important gardens.
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