Heathfield Park
Encyclopedia
Heathfield Park is an English
country house and walled park in the village of Old Heathfield
in East Sussex
. It is privately owned.
Originally called Bayley Park, the mansion was begun by James Plummer in 1677 and continued by Raymond Blackmore in the early eighteenth century. It was altered and enlarged in 1766 by Robert (later Sir Robert) Taylor for General George Augustus Eliott
(created Lord Heathfield in 1787), who owned the house until his death in 1790. It was renamed Heathfield Park after him in 1791 by his successor Francis Newbery, son of the publisher John Newbery
; Newbery hired Humphrey Repton to landscape the park. From 1819 to 1890, Heathfield Park was the seat of the baronets of the Blunt
family. In 1895 it was remodeled in Georgian Revival style, brick facing being substituted for stucco, and the south-east wing being added, by Sir Reginald Blomfield for W. C. Alexander.
In one corner of the park stands the Gibraltar Tower, built by Newbery to commemorate Lord Heathfield’s defense of Gibraltar
.
status. Its biological interest due to the habitats provided by the ghyll woodland. The lichen population is important on a county level.
England
England is a country that is part of the United Kingdom. It shares land borders with Scotland to the north and Wales to the west; the Irish Sea is to the north west, the Celtic Sea to the south west, with the North Sea to the east and the English Channel to the south separating it from continental...
country house and walled park in the village of Old Heathfield
Heathfield, East Sussex
Heathfield is a small market town, and the principal settlement in the civil parish of Heathfield and Waldron in the Wealden District of East Sussex, within the historic County of Sussex, England.-Location:...
in East Sussex
East Sussex
East Sussex is a county in South East England. It is bordered by the counties of Kent, Surrey and West Sussex, and to the south by the English Channel.-History:...
. It is privately owned.
Originally called Bayley Park, the mansion was begun by James Plummer in 1677 and continued by Raymond Blackmore in the early eighteenth century. It was altered and enlarged in 1766 by Robert (later Sir Robert) Taylor for General George Augustus Eliott
George Augustus Eliott, 1st Baron Heathfield
George Augustus Eliott, 1st Baron Heathfield, KB was a British Army officer who took served in three major wars during the eighteenth century. He rose to distinction during the Seven Years War when he fought in Germany and participated in the British attacks on Belle Île and Cuba...
(created Lord Heathfield in 1787), who owned the house until his death in 1790. It was renamed Heathfield Park after him in 1791 by his successor Francis Newbery, son of the publisher John Newbery
John Newbery
John Newbery was an English publisher of books who first made children's literature a sustainable and profitable part of the literary market. He also supported and published the works of Christopher Smart, Oliver Goldsmith and Samuel Johnson...
; Newbery hired Humphrey Repton to landscape the park. From 1819 to 1890, Heathfield Park was the seat of the baronets of the Blunt
Blunt Baronets
The Blunt Baronetcy, of London, is a title in the Baronetage of Great Britain. It was created on 17 June 1720 for John Blunt. He was a director of the South Sea Company. His great-grandson, the fourth Baronet, represented Lewes in the House of Commons from 1831 to 1840. His line of the family...
family. In 1895 it was remodeled in Georgian Revival style, brick facing being substituted for stucco, and the south-east wing being added, by Sir Reginald Blomfield for W. C. Alexander.
In one corner of the park stands the Gibraltar Tower, built by Newbery to commemorate Lord Heathfield’s defense of Gibraltar
Great Siege of Gibraltar
The Great Siege of Gibraltar was an unsuccessful attempt by Spain and France to capture Gibraltar from the British during the American War of Independence. This was the largest action fought during the war in terms of numbers, particularly the Grand Assault of 18 September 1782...
.
Site of Special Scientific Interest
A section of the park has been given SSSISite of Special Scientific Interest
A Site of Special Scientific Interest is a conservation designation denoting a protected area in the United Kingdom. SSSIs are the basic building block of site-based nature conservation legislation and most other legal nature/geological conservation designations in Great Britain are based upon...
status. Its biological interest due to the habitats provided by the ghyll woodland. The lichen population is important on a county level.