Butlers Green House

Butlers Green House is a former manor house, now divided into flats, displaying a complex history over several centuries and incorporating elements from the 16th century to the 19th century. The building’s footprint is irregular, reflecting its phased development. Vestiges of a 16th-century structure remain in the east wing’s cellar, while the west wing dates from approximately 1650 and the east wing primarily from around 1730.

The west wing, constructed around 1650, exhibits red brickwork with grey headers laid in a Flemish bond pattern. It is topped by a tiled roof, half-hipped on one side, with a central brick chimney stack. The two-storey facade features five windows arranged in three bays, with sash windows on the first floor having vertical dividers; ground-floor windows are casements with cambered heads. Ocular windows are present, one of which is blocked. A central doorcase is distinguished by a cambered head, keystone, rusticated pilasters, and a gable designed to resemble a pediment.

The east wing, largely rebuilt in 1731 on earlier foundations, is stuccoed and has a tiled roof. It is a three-story building with a square plan and five bays. The second-floor windows are casements in moulded architraves, while the first-floor windows have cambered heads with vertical dividers. The original central doorcase on the south front has been replaced by a French window. Architectural details include stone coping, quoins, a band separating the ground and first floors, and a plinth. A mid-19th-century entrance has been added to the west side, featuring a cornice, brackets, and side lights. A hipped roof, set back from the main structure, is punctuated by two large 19th-century chimney stacks. An 18th-century service wing, two bays wide, extends to the extreme west, with painted brickwork and a tiled roof. It has two stories and attic space with modern dormers. A date plaque, FW 1731, has been repositioned. A later splayed doorcase is also present.

To the rear of the property are 18th-century brick stable additions, single-story in height.

The interior of the west wing retains C17 door surrounds, and contains particularly fine early C17 panelling from the demolished Slaugham Manor, inserted in the late 19th century. The panelling in two rooms depicts mermaids, dragons, and classical pilasters. A plain 18th-century staircase has turned balusters. The east wing includes a grand staircase hall from 1731, notable for its Rococo papier mache ceiling depicting a putto surrounded by swags, grapes, and floral designs. The staircase itself features three twisted balusters per tread and scrolled tread ends. There's also a round-headed staircase window. A first-floor reception room has a wide cornice with fasces, and fireplaces are present. Ground-floor rooms showcase papier mache ceilings: one with French horns, sheaves, and grapes; another with a central pelican and doves, and two male and two female Grecian heads in the corners. Cellars in the west wing are of 16th-century brick construction and feature two ovolo-moulded windows.

The house takes its name from the Boteler family, who owned land in the area for over 150 years starting in the late 14th century. In 1612, the property was purchased by John Warden, initiating the Warden/Sergison dynasty associated with Cuckfield Park.