Alfriston Clergy House, Medieval clergy residence in Alfriston, England
The Alfriston Clergy House is a timber-framed building with a traditional thatched roof and two-story structure located near St. Andrew's Church, featuring medieval architectural elements. Its rooms show how clergy and their housekeepers lived here, with surviving fireplaces, doors, and window frames from when it was built.
The building was constructed between 1399 and 1407 initially as a farmhouse and later served as a residence for parish priests and their housekeepers. It functioned as a practical home for those connected to the nearby church across many generations.
The interior displays original features like a rare chalk and sour milk plaster, carved beams, and metalwork from different periods that show how people lived here over centuries.
The property sits at the village edge next to the church and is easily reached on foot, with a small garden you pass through to reach the entrance. Wear comfortable shoes as the old pathways are uneven and the interior stairs are steep.
The property was purchased by the National Trust in 1896 for just 10 pounds, a moment showing that early preservation efforts included modest village houses. This acquisition became the first building the Trust would protect, establishing how they would approach heritage conservation.
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