Sunken garden at White Lodge

The sunken garden at White Lodge is a formal garden dating from around 1923-1924, designed by Sir Edwin Lutyens for Lady Victoria Sackville within the grounds of White Lodge, Roedean, Brighton. The garden's design aligns with the house's facade and is situated approximately 26 metres south of White Lodge, nestled into a sloping site that descends towards the chalk cliff edge and the sea. The overall shape is roughly rectangular, measuring approximately 23.5 metres east to west and 7 metres north to south.

The garden is enclosed by retaining walls of rubble stone, set in courses with gaps intended for planting. Terraces extend along the longer sides of the garden, and two staircases of Portland stone are positioned on the north side, integrated into the rockwork. Originally, gravel paths ran along the east, west, and south sides, though these have now been turfed over. A square inlaid stone pavement remains in the centre of the southern side, leading down a series of shallow Portland stone steps with slate risers that increase in size, descending to a larger, central rectangular pavement within the sunken area. Further shallow steps of the same construction then lead to lower, square pavements at the east and west sides. Each of the four pavements is framed with Portland stone blocks, with decorative panels at their centres. These panels are circular at their ends, featuring flat, circular Portland stone elements. The central pavement has three overlapping square stones placed diagonally. Slate tiles, placed on edge at varying angles, fill the panels, creating diverse patterns and colouration. At the eastern and western ends, extensions to the square pavements serve as stands for benches, featuring central diamond-shaped stones surrounded by edge-set slates, with concrete-set cobble panels flanking each side.