Introduction
The park was laid out in the late-19th century and the house dates from 1903. Features include woodland walks, a possible walled kitchen garden, a small lake and a terrace.
Sir Harry Oakes was the owner when he was murdered in 1943 (Clark, 2003).
The estate includes a school and a number of small private properties (as shown on the Ordnance Survey 6" map, 1979).
- History
On the Ordnance Survey 6" map (1874) ‘Tottingworth' is shown as a small collection of buildings. On the 1899 edition ‘Tottingworth' above has become ‘Tottingworth Farm'. What was an undeveloped area to the north has become ‘Tottingworth Park'. A very substantial area has been laid out to parkland including clumps of trees. A similarly large area is made up of woods, interweaving the parkland, with many woodland walks.
There are two features of interest. The first is a square of about half a hectare enclosing small buildings around the edges, perhaps a walled kitchen garden. The second is a triangular area approached from above by a series of steps, probably leading on to a terrace, and intersected by a path forming an arc of a circle. Nearby is a small lake. These features may still be discerned on the 1979 edition of the 6" map and on a current map. A house labelled ‘Tottingworth Park' appears in the middle of the estate, on the 1911 edition of the 6" map.
- Features & Designations
Features
- House (featured building)
- Description: The house was built in 1903, 550 feet above sea level on a steep hill commanding splendid views to the south over the estate.
- Earliest Date:
- Latest Date:
- Kitchen Garden
- Garden Terrace
- Lake
- Walk
- Terrace
- Woodland
- w
- Parkland
- Key Information
Type
Park
Purpose
Ornamental
Principal Building
Domestic / Residential
Survival
Extant
Open to the public
Yes
Civil Parish
Heathfield and
- References
References
- Pike, W.T. Sussex in the twentieth century : contemporary biographies (Brighton: Pike, 1910) Sussex in the twentieth century : contemporary biographies
Contributors
Dennis Cooke
Sussex Gardens Trust