SACKVILLE HOUSE
Sackville House
Time travel is possible in East Grinstead; Step back in time as you enter the beautiful Landmark Trust property in East Grinstead’s historic High Street.
70 High Street, East Grinstead, West Sussex, RH19 3DE
Built about 1520, this is a substantial timber-framed house with rooms of wood and lime plaster and the patina of centuries past. When you enter the yard you escape the bustle of modern day East Grinstead and find yourself in a very large, peaceful garden. You will be amazed at the length of the plot. Called a ‘Portland’ it extends to approx 600 ft. (200m)
It was rescued in 1919 and we took on this atmospheric Landmark in 1995 so that others can enjoy it.
The house was built around 1525 as a four bay continuous jetty house with the original wagon way giving access to the rear. Behind the house, and detached from it for reasons of fire safety, was probably a two bay kitchen, of which part of the last bay overlooking the garden still survives. As a continuous jetty house, the ground floor would never have been open to the roof, and it probably consisted of a two bay hall with the buttery and pantry service rooms off one end. There is no evidence of how the hall was heated, as the brick chimney stack is a later addition of 1574, the date proudly carved into fireplace lintel in the middle bedroom.
Admission to Sackville House is free and leaflets are provided detailing the building’s history. For further information or directions please contact the Booking Office. The Booking Office is open Monday to Friday from 9am to 5.30pm.