When Two Halls Become One…

A country house that was too small for entertaining guests, so they moved another one 100's of miles to rebuild it as an extension!

When two halls become one!

Dutton Homestall, nr East Grinstead, Sussex

“There has been a dwelling on site since the 14th century when John of Gaunt son of Edward III is understood to have used it as his hunting lodge. By 1830, there was a simple farmhouse on the site with no garden. By 1903 the house was derelict.  

In 1907 Lord Dewar bought and restored The Homestall, added a substantial service wing, re-modelled the gardens and bought in two farms to the north to create a grand estate. 

After his death in 1930 it was inherited by his nephew who used it as his country base while living at Claridges during the week. He married in 1932 and soon after his wife declared the house was “not big enough” for the lavish entertaining that she had in mind. He bought Dutton Hall, a large Tudor manor house in Cheshire dating from the 1580’s, had it dismantled and then rebuilt alongside The Homestall. The grander and much larger house became known as Dutton Homestall. 

During the Second World War Dewar offered the house as an auxilliary hospital to the nearby Royal Victoria Hospital and it became a convalescent home for officers in the Guinea Pig Club. 

During the 1950's the house was bought by the owner of The Brunswick School and then in 1965 Stoke House School joined and amalgamated to become The Stoke Brunswick School. This closed in 2009 and since has once again become a private house.”

For full details of this wonder property, marketed by Jackson Stops for £2.95m click here