Buckwell Place

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TQ 61 SW 13/414

HERSTMONCEUX HAILSHAM ROAD Buckwell Place

II*

Large former rectory, now private house. Original wing of c1792 built by the Rev.Robert Hare, a member of the Hare family who owned Herstmonceux Castle. His nephew Archdeacon Julius Hare added a parlour wing with best bedroom above the southwest in 1833 with contemporary conservatory in the L wing. c1860 a service wing was added to the west by the Rev Henry Wellesley, an illegitimate nephew of the Duke of Wellington. Stuccoed with hipped slate roof and stuccoed chimney stacks.

North East or entrance front of original wing has two storeys four windows. Four twelve-pane sashes to first floor (the third a blank with slate partition behind) and three curved blank panels to ground floor and curved recessed doorcase with Gibbs surround.

Garden front to south east has four twelve-pane sashes (the third on first floor blank with slate partition behind). The rear elevation of this wing has three storeys with six pane sashes to second floor, twelve pane sashes to lower floors and round-headed staircase window on right hand side.

South west elevation has one blank window. Attached to the south west is the 1833 parlour wing of one bay with balcony to first floor and canted bay with French windows to ground floor. Attached to west is two storey wing of c1860 in matching style with tripartite windows to ground floor. The principal feature of the house is a domed conservatory of c1833 built between the original wing and the parlour wing of 1833. This has thin iron ribs with small panes of curved glass and circular cast iron ventilation slits with iron urn finial on a stuccoed base approached up three tooled stone steps.

Original library, now lounge, has c1830 marble fireplace surround with reeded pilasters and roundels and door with marginal glazing. Curved late C18 staircase with mahogany handrail and six panelled door nearby. Old kitchen has wooden segmental fireplace with central keystone, iron crane and Eagle cast iron range. Cellar has stone staircase with iron handrail and wine bins of c1833 in tooled stone niches. Dining Room has some possibly C18 chinese wallpaper, but this is not original to the house.

The house has historic interest as being the childhood home of Augustus Hare the notable Victorian travel writer who also wrote memoirs in 6 volumes 'The story of my life'. Augustus Hare was brought up by his uncle, Archdeacon Julius Hare whose library was famous and who entertained many eminent victorians including Thomas Carlyle. The library and pictures which he collected were subsequently bequeathed to the University of Oxford.

[See Augustus Hare 'The Story of my Life', Vols I-VI].

Listing NGR: TQ6262312017