Crowhurst Place

Crowhurst Place is a medieval manor built with timber-frame walls featuring complex half-timbering patterns, projecting gables, and detailed architectural ornaments across its exterior. The building sits elevated on gentle rising ground and is surrounded by a water-filled moat that encircles the property.

The manor was built between 1425 and 1450 and remained in the Gainsford family's hands for over five centuries before changing ownership in the early 1900s. This shift in proprietorship marked a turning point in the building's story and its role within the wider estate landscape.

The house carries the imprint of the Gainsford family, who shaped its character over centuries through generations of occupation. Their long tenure connects the building to the rhythms of English country life and local society.

The house sits roughly one kilometer south of Crowhurst Church atop a slope and is surrounded by water-filled moats, which affects how you can approach it. Visitors should come prepared for uneven ground and damp conditions around the moated areas.

Early 1900s renovations revealed how residents adapted to winter cold by gathering in the great hall, where a fireplace provided the only real warmth in the entire building. This practice illustrates how people worked within the constraints of medieval construction when heating was limited to a single room.

Location: Crowhurst

GPS coordinates: 51.19970,-0.01701

Latest update: December 12, 2025 07:57