Enjoy our Picturesque garden with its glorious fairytale medieval castle and Victorian country mansion backdrop. Discover the many treasures of this well-loved family home, stroll around the walled kitchen garden and see what’s growing, or venture onto the estate and start exploring the 780 acres of open parkland and ancient woodland.
In the beginning
The earliest record of occupancy on the land dates from 1137, and the oldest parts of the Old Castle were built in 1378 by Roger de Ashburnham.
Edward Hussey I purchased the Scotney estate in 1778. The Hussey family originally came from Worcestershire and moved to this area in the early 18th century. They made their money from the iron industry and continued their interest in this by working with local Sussex forges.
A picturesque vision
In the 1830s Edward’s grandson, Edward Hussey III, transformed the estate. He hired architect Anthony Salvin to build a new house at the top of the hill overlooking the valley. Edward Hussey III had the imagination to transform the Old Castle into a ruin to act as the focus of his new landscape garden.
As a result of his vision, Scotney Castle is now celebrated as one of the most significant survivals of a complete Picturesque landscape. Edward and his wife Henrietta had six children who all enjoyed growing up in this idyllic setting.