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Parham House & Gardens

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Parham House & Gardens Summary

 

Parham House & Gardens Description

Parham House Parham House, originally owned by the Monastery of Westminster, was granted by King Henry VIII in 1540 to Robert Palmer whose son Sir Thomas decided to build a new dwelling. In 1577 the foundation stone of the present house was laid by Sir Thomas's two-and-a-half year old grandson, another Thomas, who sold the estate in 1601 to Thomas Bysshopp. His descendant, Sir Cecil Bysshopp, became the 12th Lord Zouche in 1816 and Parham remained with the family through the Curzon connection into the 20th Century.

In 1922 Parham Park was purchased by the younger son of Viscount Cowdray, The Hon. Clive Pearson and his wife Alicia, daughter of Lord Brabourne. In 1948, after the Second World War when Parham had also been home to evacuee children from London and to Canadian soldiers, Mr and Mrs Pearson opened Parham to the public and were amongst the first to show their house regularly in the post-war years.

They were followed in this tradition by their eldest daughter, Veronica Tritton, who devoted her life to Parham. Lady Emma Barnard, elder daughter of the Countess and of the late Earl of Iveagh, is Mr and Mrs Pearson's great-grand-daughter. Mrs Tritton's great-niece.

Mr and Mrs Pearson spent more than 40 years carefully restoring Parham and filling it with a sensitively chosen collection of beautiful furniture, paintings and textiles, also acquiring items originally in the house. The range of portraits is especially notable. There are many rugs and carpets and a particularly important collection of early needlework.

What they created at Parham is a rare survival of mid 20th-Century connoisseurship, in the context of a major Elizabethan house.

Mr and Mrs Pearson were also responsible for the form of the gardens seen at Parham today. The four-acre walled garden includes a Wendy House and an apple orchard. Its large mixed borders and greenhouses are principally devoted to the growing of flowers and plants for the house. Mrs Pearson began the tradition of making arrangements to harmonise with the colours in the rooms. The 18th century Pleasure Grounds extend to seven acres and include a lake, many specimen trees and spring bulbs, swings and a brick and turf maze.

Parham House and Gardens are surrounded by some 875 acres of working agricultural and forestry land. This includes 300 acres of ancient park in which fallow deer roam - descendants of the original herd first mentioned in 1628.

Simon Jenkins's new book "England's Thousand Best Houses" has placed Parham in the Top Twenty, with 5 stars, in the company of Windsor Castle, Chatsworth, Kensington Palace, etc.

Parham Park is the home of Lady Emma and Mr James Barnard, but is now owned by a Charitable Trust. The house, gardens and park are administered by a Council of Management charged with their care and with the duty of continuing to open Parham to the public. Visitors, adults and children, are assured of a warm welcome to a remarkable family inheritance. You can get more information on the history of Parham from their Website.

Opening Times - 2012

House:

  • 8th April - 31st July: Wednesdays, Thursdays, Sundays and Bank Holiday Mondays, 2 - 5 pm
  • 1 st -31st August: Tuesday - Friday, Sundays and Bank Holiday Mondays, 2 - 5 pm
  • 1st - 30th September: Wednesdays, Thursdays, Sundays and Bank Holiday Mondays, 2 - 5 pm
  • 1st - 31st October: Sunday, 2 - 5 pm
  • Last Admission 4.30 pm

Gardens:

  • 8th - 30th April: Wednesdays, Thursdays, Sundays and Bank Holiday Mondays, 12 - 5 pm
  • 1 st May -31st August: Tuesday - Friday, Sundays and Bank Holiday Mondays, 12 - 5 pm
  • 1st - 30th September: Wednesdays, Thursdays, Sundays and Bank Holiday Mondays, 12 - 5 pm
  • 1st - 31st October: Sunday, 12 - 5 pm
  • Last Admission 4.30 pm

Guided groups by arrangement at other times

Admission Prices - 2012

House & Gardens:

  • Adult - £9.00
  • Child (5 - 15 years) - £4.50
  • Seniors - £8.50
  • Family (2+4) - £26.00

Group (20+):

  • £8.50 - per person
  • Seniors - £8.00 per person

Gardens only:

  • Adult - £7.00
  • Child (5 - 15 years) - £3.50
  • Seniors - £6.50
  • Family (2+4) - £19.00

Group (20+):

  • £6.50 - per person
  • Seniors - £6.00 per person

More information on the garden can be found on The Gardens Guide.

Further information including opening times and prices

Events for Parham House & Gardens

  • Archaeological Dig - 03 June 2012 to 04 June 2012
    By the Worthing Archaeological Society
  • The Sussex Guild Exhibition - 09 June 2012 to 10 June 2012
    11 am - 5 pm: Contemporary and traditional crafts for sale.
  • Sussex Country Fair - 16 June 2012 to 17 June 2012
    Separate admission charge. House and Gardens open on Sunday only.
  • Plant Focus Day - 24 June 2012
    11 am - 5 pm: This event focuses on 4 different varieties of plants:- pinks, cannas, sweet peas and fushias.
  • The 19th Annual Garden Weekend - 07 July 2012 to 08 July 2012
    10.30 am - 5 pm: Display stands selling quality plants and sundries. Demonstrations and much more.
  • Live Crafts - 27 July 2012 to 29 July 2012
    Separate admission charge. House and Gardens open on Friday and Sunday only.
  • Hamlet - 06 August 2012 to 07 August 2012
    7.30 pm: Shakespeare's Globe performing Hamlet in front of Parham House.
  • "Grow Your Own" Festival - 12 August 2012
    10.30 am - 5 pm: Come and learn about growing your own food - fruit, vegetables, herbs - and animals (bees, chickens, alpacas, pigs). Pippa Greenwood is attending as a guest celebrity.
  • Autumn Foraging and Countryside Day - 07 October 2012
    11 am - 5 pm: Food and drink exhibitors, traditional woodland crafts, guided deer spotting and fungi walks.
« More Events »

Your Reviews of Parham House & Gardens

Pete Butler (16 August 2005)

Walking into the ancient deer park surrounding Parham House, is a step back into the past. The huge circumference of some of its oaks denotes very great age. Parham House itself, dating from the late Elizabethan era, is a Sussex gem, and the kids will love it.

Beverley Nathan (nee Lloyd) (29 April 2004)

I am the gt gt granddaughter of Elizabeth Bysshop, daughter of Harry Bysshop of Parham (I have proved this through College of Arms & my father's family who were Lloyds from Dale Castle in Wale). I visited Parham in 1984 and was just thrilled with it all. The furnishings and gardens are magnificent and I would love one day to go again.... but it such a long, long way from New Zealand. The 20th century owners have done a wonderful job in restoring this historic home. Congratulations to all.

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Additional Info for Parham House & Gardens

  • YesGardens
  • YesGroups
  • YesPlaygrounds
  • YesDogs allowed
  • YesDisabled Access
  • YesEducation
  • YesRefreshments
  • YesPicnics
  • YesGuides
  • YesFilming
  • YesGifts
  • YesNursery
  • YesLive Entertainment
  • YesShop
  • YesCar Parking

Heritage Groups

  • YesHistoric Houses Association

Credit Cards Accepted

  • YesMastercard
  • YesVisa
  • YesBarclays
  • YesDelta
  • YesSwitch
  • YesJCB

Updating this Home

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