Stokesay Court

About

It was built for John Derby Allcroft, a wealthy manufacturer, entrepreneur and philanthropist, who had made a fortune in the glove making business. Designed by modernist architect Thomas Harris, the house was at the cutting edge of technology when it was completed in 1892, just six months before John Allcroft’s death.  Equipped with a large boiler and under-floor heating, the house was one of the first private homes in England to have integral electric light, powered by large lead batteries. 

Aesthetically, however, Stokesay Court looks to the grandeur of the Victorian era.  Behind its imposing Jacobethan style façade lies a magnificent interior notable for its stunning English Oak woodwork.

The grounds contain a fountain, grotto, woodland and a series of pools connected by cascades, rills and steps.  Wildlife abounds.  Heron, kingfishers, dippers, newts, and even otters have been spotted in and around the pools. Major restoration work in the grounds during 2016 will open up views of the large pools, improve walking areas through the woodlands and invite visitors to explore the secret intimacy of the grotto.

During the First World War Stokesay Court was used as an Auxiliary Military Hospital for convalescent solders and in World War II it served as a boarding house for evacuated Sussex-based Lancing College and then as a Western Command Junior Leaders’ School.   Throughout all of this, the family continued to live there and the house has survived largely untouched to this day. Additional displays now form part of the guided tour, which tell the story of Stokesay Court's role in WW1. Furnished with materials discovered in Stokesay's unique archive, these displays give a personal insight into the caring hospital that was created by the then owner and Commandant, Mrs Rotten and her staff.

Very much a lived-in, private home, Stokesay Court found fame in 2007 as a major location for the film adaptation of Ian McEwan’s book Atonement.

Visitors can now visit the house and grounds on pre-arranged tours. The house is also a distinctive venue for both corporate and private events.  Please visit our website http://www.stokesaycourt.com for further information and news.

Open for group visits (minimum 20) by appointment only. Individuals may book for tours on listed dates starting at 2.30pm.  Please email mailto:tours@stokesaycourt.com or telephone 01584 856238 for details.

Please contact us direct for information on disabled access to Stokesay Court.

No stilettos. No photography in house. Suitablity for the Disabled: Partial. WCs. Guided Tours: Obligatory. Suitability for Dogs: Dogs on leads - gardens only.