Bignor Park

Bignor Park is a privately owned country house and estate near the village of Bignor, in West Sussex, England, on the edge of the South Downs. The house is a Grade II listed building.[1]

Bignor Park
shown within West Sussex
General information
Status	Grade II listed
Architectural style	Neoclassical
Location	Near Bignor, West Sussex grid reference SU 991 156
Address	Bignor Park House Pulborough West Sussex RH20 1HG
Country	United Kingdom
Coordinates	50°55′52″N 0°35′26″W
Completed	1829
Design and construction
Architect	Henry Harrison
Website
www.bignorpark.co.uk

Description

History

The original house was built by Richard Pellatt of Steyning, who bought the estate in 1584; before then it was a deer park held by the Earls of Arundel. It was bought in 1712 by Nicholas Turner. His descendant Charlotte Turner Smith (1749–1806), the poet and novelist, spent some of her childhood here.[2][3]

In 1806 the Cornish mine-owner John Hawkins bought the estate. A new house, designed by Henry Harrison in Neoclassical style, was built from 1826 to 1829, and the parkland was landscaped by William Sawrey Gilpin.[1][2][4]

During the First World War Mrs Josephine Johnstone, a descendant of John Hawkins, established a Red Cross hospital in the house. It had 55 beds by 1917, and Mrs Johnstone received an OBE in 1918.[2]

Bignor Park was bought in 1926 by Clive Bigham, 2nd Viscount Mersey. The present owner is Edward John Hallam Bigham, 5th Viscount Mersey: the composer Ned Bigham.[2][5]

House and estate

The estate is of 1,100 acres (450 ha). As of 2020 the house is a venue for weddings, parties and corporate events, and it is possible for groups to visit the house and gardens on a private tour.[6]

See also

• Viscount Mersey

References

1. Historic England. "Bignor Park (1026550)". National Heritage List for England. Retrieved 14 November 2020.
2. "History" Bignor Park. Retrieved 15 November 2020.
3. "Smith [née Turner], Charlotte". Oxford Dictionary of National Biography (online ed.). Oxford University Press. 4 October 2007. doi:10.1093/ref:odnb/25790. (Subscription or UK public library membership required.)
4. "Hawkins, John". Oxford Dictionary of National Biography (online ed.). Oxford University Press. 24 September 2004. doi:10.1093/ref:odnb/12675. (Subscription or UK public library membership required.)
5. "Composer Ned Bigham on a visit to Staffa and the role of Sussex in his work" Sussex Life, 31 October 2017. Retrieved 17 November 2020.
6. Bignor Park Retrieved 17 November 2020.