Normanhurst Court, Manor house in Catsfield, East Sussex, United Kingdom
Normanhurst Court was a French Chateau-style mansion near Catsfield in East Sussex. The house featured two entrance lodges and an octagonal water tower positioned at the southwest corner of the grounds.
Thomas Brassey, a major railway constructor, initiated the building of Normanhurst Court, which was completed after his death in 1870. The property was demolished in 1951 to make room for a caravan park.
The interior contained notable portraits by Walter Goodman depicting Lord Brassey, Lady Anna Brassey, their children, and Thomas Brassey senior.
The estate once spread across thousands of acres and included several farmhouses before it was demolished. Today, visitors can only explore the site through historical records and photographs since the building no longer stands.
During both World Wars, the property served different purposes: first as a military hospital, then as a girls' school, and later as a prisoner of war camp. This shifting use reveals how rural estates became essential resources during wartime.
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