Wiston House

Wiston House is a 16th-century Grade I listed building set in the South Downs National Park on the south coast of England, surrounded by over 6,000 acres (2,400 ha) of parkland in Wiston, West Sussex. It is the home of Wilton Park, an executive agency of the Foreign and Commonwealth Office.

Wiston House with the church of St Mary on the left.

Originally built in two storeys to an irregular floor plan, substantial parts of the house have since been demolished and replaced and additional wings added. It is a Grade I listed building.[1]

History

The house was built for Thomas Shirley in about 1576 and substantially enlarged by Edward Blore in the early 19th century.[1] It was captured first by the Royalists and then by the Parliamentarians during the English Civil War.[2] It was bought by Sir John Fagg in 1649 and then acquired by Sir Charles Goring, the husband of Fagg's great-granddaughter, in 1743.[3] During the Second World War, the grounds were used as a camp by the 10th battalion Highland Light Infantry as they prepared for the Normandy landings.[4]

Since 1951 the house has been the base of Wilton Park, an executive agency of the Foreign and Commonwealth Office providing a global forum for strategic discussion.[5]

Wiston House is still owned by the Goring family.[3]

The church of St Mary

Close to the house (see at left in photo above) is the Parish Church of St Mary, which is a Grade II* listed building.[6] The church comprises a chancel, a south chapel, twin naves and a tower. Mainly dating from the 14th century it was heavily restored by architect Gordon MacDonald Hills in 1862. The south chapel contains a brass date 1426 to Sir John de Braose and the tombs of the Shirley family.[6]

References
  1. Historic England. "Wiston House (1027156)". National Heritage List for England. Retrieved 4 April 2015.
  2. "Wiston, A History of the County of Sussex: Volume 6 Part 1: Bramber Rape (Southern Part)". 1980. pp. 259–268. Retrieved 9 July 2014.
  3. "History". Wiston House. Retrieved 9 July 2014.
  4. "The Longest Day". Worthing History. Retrieved 9 July 2014.
  5. "A brief history of Wilton Park". Wilton Park. Retrieved 13 July 2014.
  6. Historic England. "The Parish Church of St Mary (1027150)". National Heritage List for England. Retrieved 15 January 2016.

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