Beechwood

SU 91 NW EAST LAVINGTON BEECHWOOD LANE 18/4 Beechwood 18.6.59 II* House. Originally the Rectory. C18 house, possibly designed by James Lewis, the architect of the original portion of Lavington Park, for James Sargent MP in 1794, when Lavington Park was built. Altered in 1939 by Sir Edwin Lutyens. 2 storeys and attic. 5 windows. 1 hipped dormer. Faced with roughcast, colourwashed pink. Eaves cornice. Hipped slate roof. The 2 easternmost window bays of the south front are slightly recessed. This portion and the main section are flanked by chamfered stone quoins. Glazing bars intact. At the east end is an octagonal ground floor room with a ball cap at the apex of its roof. This was originally an embrasure leading out of the Hall but Lutyens made it into a separate room. Porch with square wooden columns, probably added by Lutyens, and veranda to the east of it between the porch and the octagonal projection. The north or garden front is similar except that it is the 2 westernmost window bays which are recessed with a recessed portico on their ground floor. Lutyens altered the house for his daughter Mrs Barbara Wallace, subsequently Mrs Herbert Agar. Sir Edwin Lutyens himself lived in the house for some time after 1939. But the most important association of the house is with the Reverend Henry (after Cardinal) Manning who in his Church of England days resided here from 1833-51 when he was Rector of East Lavington and Graffham and Archdeacon of Chichester. He was married in East Lavington Church to Caroline, third daughter of the previous Rector, the Reverend John Sargent. Mrs Manning is buried in East Lavington Churchyard. Graded for Historical interest.

Listing NGR: SU9483916276