Wealden Times | WT197 | July 2018 | Interiors supplement inside

Above: Behind a sofa in the sitting room, a collection of
ceramics by Tanya Gomez Right: More peacock feathers on a
decorative screen. The late 19th century bronze figure is from
Christopher Buck Antiques
building, with parts dating back to the 13th century, with
a warren of service rooms including a butler’s pantry, a
flower room, laundry and a food pantry. Viewed from
the main kitchen, framed by lit cupboards with Tiffany
blue-painted interiors, it has the air of a proscenium
arch, enclosing the scene set behind, with a central
storage island, painted the same blue, stage centre.
All around the main kitchen/dining area are those
blue-painted cupboards, lit from within to showcase
part (a small part…) of Jane’s extraordinary collection
of glass, which is a theme throughout the house.
“The kitchen nearly brought us to our knees,”
says Jane. “It was 6” deep in water and we were
scooping it out with saucepans. It was also very
dark, so we put back the south-west-facing window
which a previous owner had taken out.”
Jane doesn’t know which owner, but it’s quite a narrow
field. Built by the Church of England in 1770, until 1928
it was an active rectory – and a grand one as befits such
a ‘good living’ with three parishes in its care. The church
sold it in 1928 and it stayed with that family until 1966.
For ten years after that, the house – by then a
Grade II listed building – stood empty and became
derelict, until the Council stepped in.
55 wealdentimes.co.uk