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History |
The property has a considerable and interesting history going back to 1086, when the Park was held, with the Manor of Broadwater, by the Sauvage family, then was later exchanged with de Broase, reverting to their Mowbray heirs, and eventually to the Howards, Dukes of Norfolk. The Castle was licensed to be crenellated in 1258 and in 1262 had a park of 400 acres with wild horses. It seems that the first house to be built on the site of the present house, was constructed in 1608, when it was described as having "four chambers and garretts, with one barn, faire orchard and gardens thereunto adjoining." Sir John Bennet owned it in the early 18th century and sold it on to the Duke of Richmond in 1738, although Bennet may have rebuilt it during his ownership.
The estate was purchased in the late 19th century by Robert Henderson, a director of the Bank of England. Robert Henderson died in 1895 aged 44 and his widow Emma Henderson continued to live at Sedgwick until her death in 1931 aged 80. In 1932 the estate was acquired by William Henry Abbey, the owner of Kemp Town Brewery, and during the thirties he became High Sheriff of Sussex. He died in 1943 and his widow Florence Abbey put the estate up for sale several months after the end of World War 2.
In 1947, Lord Rotherwick, the shipping magnate, and one-time director of the Suez Canal became the new owner. Lord Rotherwick was formerly Sir Herbert Cayzer and had been a member of the House of Commons for many years. He was ennobled by George VI in 1938. After Lord Rotherwick's death in 1958 a buyer could not be found to purchase the estate in its entirety and it was split up and sold in various lots. Sedgwick House and gardens had a succession of owners until purchased by its present owners in 2001.
The Gardens have been featured in Country Life Magazine no less than five times between 1901 and 1957. The view from the house to the South Downs and Chanctonbury Ring is still as tranquil and beautiful as it was when Sir Neville Henderson, son of Robert and Emma, wrote of it, "I know of no more satisfying view in all England".
"Water and wood, the green expanse and the radiant flower-bed, the dense hedges of yew and the waving beauties of undipped trees, all play their part in the beauties of these gardens."
Alice Liddel who inspired Lewis Carroll's Alice in Wonderland, spent her honeymoon here at the turn of the century. Looking Southwards towards the Downs, and set in the neighbourhood of ancient forests, Sedgwick Park has held people's interest for many centuries. There are records of a park during the reign of Edward II, and prior to that a large double moated castle, belonging to the Rape of Bramber afforded inland fortifications to the Sussex area.
Stone from the castle was used to create the first Manor house, which was Georgian in style with a low-hipped stone-tiled roof. Parts of this house still exist as the West Wing of the current property - they were used as stabling and staff accommodation a century ago, but now rest derelict, awaiting restoration.
The house in its current state was built by Mr and Mrs Robert Henderson, and was completed in 1886, to a design created by Ernest George and Harold Peto. Mrs Henderson took it upon herself to tackle the design of the garden, and created a masterpiece of formal garden design, with large sweeping terraces of sandstone, a beautiful sunken Italianate pond and large open walkways lined with beautiful herbaceous borders. The garden has a nautical theme, with areas being named the White Sea, the Upper Deck, the Bulwarks and the Captain's Bridge and the Cabin.
Further developments occurred in the garden in the Fifties, under the care of Lord Rotherwick. It was under his guidance that a stream cascade was created, made up of 21 inter linking ponds, which run through the garden.
The following decades saw a period of decay for the garden and house. The herbaceous borders were lost, as was a lot of the garden statuary. Formal yew hedges grew misshapen and monstrous and weeds grew in the once well tended terraces. Fortunately the new owners are restoring it to its former glory.
Sedgwick Park Manor House was purchased by John and Clare Davison in 2001. The Estate at the moment comprises of the big house with approximately 100 acres of land with meadows to the front, and formal gardens to the rear. The Castle Site was also recently purchased with another resident and will be carefully maintained and restored with the guidance of English Heritage.
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