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Domestic Architecture.
Domestic Architecture
Sussex is fortunate in possessing at Nyetimber, Portslade, and West Dean,
rare examples of Norm. domestic architecture. There are early manor-houses
of flint and stone along the southern coastal plain at Ferring, Goring, and
Preston. A large range of exceedingly good houses demonstrates the fashions
of medieval builders. Charleston, near West Dean, and Hangleton Manor are
of 12th-cent. date. Bailiff's Court, Atherington, is a little later, but the
gem of 13th-cent. domestic architecture is the town hall at Winchelsea.
Alfriston, West Dean, and Denton, have fine specimens of medieval clergy
houses. Of timber work, later in date, the old Flushing Inn at Rye is an outstanding
example, and the Wealden villages possess very many small but interesting
timber-framed houses.
Many of the large houses lie in ruins. Among them are Crowhurst, which
dates about 1250; Cowdray, a fascinating Tudor and Elizabethan house; Chiddingly
and Buckhurst, both Tudor; and Slaugham and Brambletye (now restored) near
Forest Row, both Jacobean. The principal inhabited houses showing Tudor work,
some of it altered and restored, are Brede and Laughton.
There is a fine range of Elizabethan
houses, Parham, Wiston, Danny, near Hurstpierpoint, and Glynde, all lying
sheltered under the Downs, and three other noteworthy examples are Cuckfield,
Wakehurst near Ardingly, and Brickwall near Northiam. One of the best of the
pilaster houses is Street Place, a restored Jacobean mansion near Plumpton,
and New Building, Shipley, is another of very great merit. Most of these inhabited
houses have been much altered, but they are nevertheless still of great interest.
