Preston Manor

Description

A former manor house in Preston Village and now part of the wider Brighton & Hove area, Preston Manor was privately lived in until 1932 when the Thomas-Stanford family gave it to the Brighton Corporation. And now, for the first time in five years, Preston Manor is open to the public with a brand-new visitor experience.

Discover the world of the Stanford family and the ‘upstairs-downstairs’ life of Edwardian society. The remarkable stately home hosts an array of rooms with impressive décor and is filled with stories of ghosts and glamour. Preston Manor is both charming and mysterious, and you are invited to experience this firsthand.

Start your journey in the entrance hall where family portraits and fine furniture adorn the area. Explore the dining room with its classic and masculine features and bespoke collection of ceramics. Wander Cleves room, an interesting room named after Henry VIII’s fourth wife, Anne of Cleves where a séance was one held after a slew of supernatural sightings. See the private quarters of Charles and Ellen Thomas-Stanford and get a glimpse into life ‘below the stairs’ in the late 19th and 20th centuries in the servants’ quarters.

Venture outside to the gardens and be amazed by the sweeping lawns, secret doorways and flower beds filled with colour and fragrance. See the lily pond, croquet lawn, and pet cemetery where 16 dogs and 4 cats are buried. There are plenty of places to sit and take in the wonderful scenery.