Brighton is all around it, but the old church and the manor house, dating from the 13th century, stand side by side like a part of the forgotten past. It seems a little mysterious to hear the rooks caw overhead and the busy traffic running by.

The house belonged to the Shirleys, famous in Sussex for the three adventurous brothers; but it goes back in its history to the middle of the 13th century when St Peter's church was built. The rebuilders of 200 years ago kept two of the ancient doorways and some of the walls. There is an old mounting-block on the lawn.

 

The manor house has now become a museum, having been given to the town by Sir Charles Thomas Stanford with four acres of ground. The park has a beautiful rockery and the museum has a fine collection of 18th-century furniture. It has ancient chests and clocks (one clock which plays a tune and sets little ships sailing), candlesticks of brass and wood and silver, a unique collection of boxes engraved with pictures, and a set of 124 kylins - Buddhist lions which guard Buddhist temples and altars.

 

In a room named after Anne of Cleves the walls are covered with leather squares which it is thought may have been brought to England by Catherine of Aragon.

 

One of the pictures in the entrance hall is attributed to Reynolds, there is a portrait of the donor of the house by Sir William Orpen, and on the staircase is a water-colour showing 86 oxen removing a mill from Regency Square to Dyke Road Drive in 1797.

 

Preston Drove, Brighton BN1 6SD. Tel: 01273 290900

 

OPEN: All year round except Good Friday, 25th & 26th December and Mondays AM (not Bank Hols).

 

 

 

 

 

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