Bignor Park
An eleven-hundred-acre estate at the foot of the magnificent South Downs.
Pulborough, West Sussex, RH20 1HG
![Bignor Park](https://www.historichouses.org/app/uploads/2021/01/bignor-park-1-730x385.jpg)
- Accessible parking
- Guide dogs welcome
Built in the early nineteenth century, Bignor Park’s Georgian architecture and historic parkland are exceptional. It was once the home of the famous Romantic poet Charlotte Turner Smith, a major influence on William Wordsworth and Samuel Taylor Coleridge, and now belongs to Viscount and Viscountess Mersey, having been in the family for one hundred years.
The house, tucked away down an impressive half-mile-long drive, is at the heart of an eleven-hundred-acre estate, in stunning surroundings at the foot of the magnificent South Downs.
The panoramic parkland setting was laid out in the 1820s by celebrated landscape designer William Sawrey Gilpin. There are eleven acres of beautiful gardens, including formal box hedges and herbaceous borders, a temple and loggia, cedars of Lebanon and the rare Lucombe Oak.
Visitors are welcomed in the hall by the owner or a member of his family. There follows an introductory talk, which covers the history of the house and grounds, nature conservation work and the joys and challenges of running Bignor Park as a going concern today. Then we embark upon a tour of the three principal rooms, the drawing room, library and dining room. There will be plenty of opportunity to ask questions. Afterwards, visitors have the opportunity to explore the gardens at their leisure and are provided with garden maps and guides. They are welcome to bring a picnic to enjoy on one of the lawns.
Tours that are scheduled will be listed below. If none are scheduled yet, please check back later, or find other tours you might enjoy on our tours listing page here.
- Accessible parking
- Guide dogs welcome
The owners were great and provided a very good tour and overview of the house and gardens.
Getting here
Pulborough, West Sussex, RH20 1HG
Between Petworth and Pulborough in West Sussex.
For those travelling by public transport, take the train to Pulborough.
From PETWORTH – 5 miles
Take A285 Chichester road for 2 miles. Down into valley, over narrow bridge, up woody hill and just over the top slow down so you can take immediate left, signposted Burton Mill & Roman Villa. Past Burton Mill Pond, straight over next crossroads, signposted West Burton & Roman Villa, then after a mile fork right, also signposted West Burton & Roman Villa. Round a bend, and after a quarter mile straight the Bignor Park front gate is on the right.
From PULBOROUGH – 5 miles
Take A29 Bognor road. After 2 miles turn right signposted Fittleworth. Turn left at T junction. Take first right signposted Bignor and West Burton. Bignor Park drive is straight ahead at the crossroads.
From ARUNDEL – 7 miles
Take A29 Pulborough road. About 1 mile beyond bottom of long steep hill, fork left signposted B2138 to Petworth. Take second left signposted Bignor and West Burton. Bignor Park drive is straight ahead at the crossroads.
Please make sure you approach Bignor Park from the East (eg West Burton, Bury, Fittleworth, A29, B2138 vicinity) and not through the villages of Bignor or Sutton to the West, as that may lead you to the back gate, which is locked. Most SatNavs take you the correct way automatically when you enter our postcode RH20 1HG, but occasionally drivers end up at the wrong entrance.
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![bignor park on map](https://www.historichouses.org/app/uploads/2022/12/bignor-park_map_23989.jpg)