Laughton Place

Laughton Place is a red brick tower in the Sussex countryside, distinguished by an octagonal staircase turret and an ornamental crenellated parapet. The building was enhanced with Gothic elements in later years and is now operated by the Landmark Trust as holiday accommodation.

Sir William Pelham built the structure in 1534 on a moated site, later enhanced by Henry Pelham with Gothic styling between 1753 and 1760. This redesign phase reflects the architectural shift between Tudor and Georgian periods.

The tower displays architectural features from different periods that visitors notice while exploring its rooms. The mix of older and newer building styles tells the story of how the structure changed over centuries.

The building can be explored from inside as it operates as accommodation run by the Landmark Trust, giving visitors direct insight into the historical structure. The location requires planning, so it is best to check access arrangements with the Landmark Trust beforehand.

Archaeological investigations in 1984 uncovered that the original enclosure had eight intermediate turrets within its brick wall, revealing defensive engineering. These fortification features are no longer visible today, but they hint at the original strength of the site.