Oldest house in Pulborough boasting a wealth of historical features

Dating from the 13th century, New Place Manor is the oldest house in Pulborough.

Built by Alard le Fleming in 1252, it has been altered and extended over the centuries by subsequent owners, creating the impressive house as it is seen today.

The Apsley family lived there from 1450 for six generations, during which time they are believed to have doubled the size of the house and adorned the 14th century gate with their coat of arms.

While they were there, the house was deemed grand enough for Queen Elizabeth I to visit on her journey between Sutton Place and Cowdray Park in 1591.

She entered the grounds through the magnificent gate, which was further embellished with the crown motif to honour her visit.

New Place Manor has also welcomed other notable guests including Max Factor Junior, the son of the cosmetics entrepreneur, who rented the house for a year during the war when he believed that London was going to be completely destroyed by the blitz.

The house was then occupied by the Canadian Air Force Medical Corps and once the war was over, the house was sold on and run as a small country hotel for a short period of time before being sold on again in 1952.

Owing to the many original 13th and 14th century features, including stone archways, quoins and a beautiful dovecote, the house was given its Grade II* listing status.

According to an article in Sussex County Magazine in 1952, the fireplace in the Great Hall is the widest Tudor fireplace in existence at 17ft wide.

In the opposite corner of the Great Hall, steps lead down to a former dungeon.

While it is now bricked up, local legend has it that a tunnel used to run from the house to the church or river, but this has not been verified.

The house has been sympathetically and meticulously restored by the current owners, who have preserved original doors and wooden panelling on the ground and first floors.

They have been careful to retain the sense of history and grandeur, whilst also making it practical for modern day living.

Each of the rooms within the house are full of character and where parts have been updated, they are in keeping with the original style.

The master bedroom suite has a freestanding, roll top bath and a separate shower.

Of particular note is the show-stopping guest bedroom suite which is made up of a large bedroom with beamed, vaulted ceiling.

An open tread staircase to one side rises up to the bathroom above which has a freestanding copper bath in the centre of the room.

Accessed from an external door is the stone dovecote, which is believed to be the only existing 16th century one in Europe and is recorded as being reconstructed in the 19th century, retaining the earlier mullioned windows.

A long gravelled driveway leads to an approach and turning circle to the west of the house.

Additional parking, together with a stone built office/workshop and large outbuilding, both with power and lighting, are arranged in a courtyard and are used to store a number of vehicles.

To one side of the courtyard is a well tended vegetable garden and a greenhouse.

New Place Manor has the most beautiful partially walled gardens.

The immediate garden has a parterre design with neat areas of lawn bordered by well stocked shrubberies and tightly pruned bushes and hedging.

A central gravelled walkway provides a sheltered sitting area and leads to an impressive ornamental pond with fountain, stocked with Koi carp.

Beyond this the eye is drawn to the Tudor gateway with its stone pediment and carved crown motif.

Further lawned gardens lie to the south, with a grass tennis court and heated swimming pool approached by way of a pathway enclosed by a colonnade.

The pool has a wooden deck surround and terrace with lattice screens, hot tub and pool house complete with a shower and sauna.

Guide Price £1,950,000.

For more information, or to arrange a viewing, contact Jackson-Stops & Staff, Market Square, Midhurst. Telephone 01730 812357.