Plumpton Place

Plumpton Place is a historic building located in Plumpton, built by John Mascall in 1568, with some alterations or additions made in the 17th century. In the 18th and 19th centuries, it was reduced to the status of cottages, but it was restored and adapted in 1928 by Sir Edwin Lutyens for Edward Hudson, the first Editor of "Country Life." The house is surrounded by a moat on the north and west sides and by one of two adjoining lakes on the east and west sides.

This timber-framed building features exposed timbering with plaster infilling on the north wall. The main front, which has an E-shaped design, faces west and is now fronted with flints, complemented by red brick window dressings and quoins. It has a tiled roof and consists of two storeys and an attic. There are five windows and three gabled projections, with the outer projections containing attic windows. The central projection features a porch with a four-centred brick doorway, topped by a stone panel bearing the initials I.M. (for John Mascall) and the date 1568. Between the central and outer projections are bay windows on both the ground and first floors, each with a small blind gable above. The windows are casements with wooden mullions and transoms.

On the south wall, there is a flint and brick chimney breast. To the east, there is an L-wing that was altered and enlarged by Lutyens, but it retains an old red brick chimney breast on its south wall. Leonard Mascall, who was known for writing about country pursuits during the time of Henry VIII, is said to have introduced carp into England from the Danube, keeping them in the moat of Plumpton Place, and he is also credited with growing pippin apples here for the first time in England. An article about the property was published in "Country Life" on 10 September 1932.