Wings Place, Sussex: One Of The Finest Tudor houses In Britain
Wings Place in Sussex is considered one of the finest Tudor houses in Britain.
Wings Place is an incredible example of Tudor architecture, with an exemplary range of original features both on its exterior and interior.
Wings Place is better known as Anne of Cleves House.
The Sussex property, that Henry VIII gave his fourth wife after their marriage was annulled in 1540, was recently put on the market for £2.25million.
The five-bed property was given to Anne after her marriage to Henry came to an end, with it being annulled on the grounds that the marriage had not been consummated.
It has three floors with three bathrooms, two oak staircases, several 16th Century fireplaces and a priest hole.
Original Tudor features remain in the build, including open timber beams, brick chimneys and leaded windows.
The kitchen has vaulted ceilings and a wall of glazing, acting as a modern interpretation of mullioned windows while framing pretty views of the south-facing terrace and garden.
Wings House also offers sweeping views of the South Downs that can be enjoyed from the large flagstone terrace.
Wings Place was officially listed at Grade I on 17 March 1952.
Such buildings are defined as being of "exceptional interest" and greater than national importance.
It was one of 31 Grade I listed buildings, and 1,250 listed buildings of all grades, in this district area of East Sussex.
Henry VIII married Anne of Cleves after commissioning a portrait of her from Hans Holbein but after meeting her in real life he found her unattractive.
Anne agreed to divorce the king, with the settlement also including her getting both Richmond Palace and Hever Castle.
She went on to live a comfortable life known as "the King's Beloved Sister" and remained friends with him and his children.
Why did Henry marry Anne?
He couldn’t get out of it! An alliance with the House of Cleves was a move intended to bring Henry the political support and power that he craved in Europe.
He also needed a 'spare' to his heir, Prince Edward.
By the time Anne arrived in England the original political reason for the union had diminished, and the lack of any immediate chemistry between Henry and Anne didn’t help.
Anne (pictured below) and Henry were also separated by language, culture and personality - they had not met before their betrothal.
Henry, who liked to choose his brides for himself (normally from the ranks of ladies in waiting at court) may have already set his sights on Catherine Howard as his next wife.
Desperate attempts to halt the Cleves wedding failed, much to the King’s fury.
Because Anne didn’t make a fuss about the marriage being annulled, she and the King remained on good terms.
She was rewarded for her acquiescence with a generous allowance and property in Kent.
Anne was even invited to Hampton Court for Christmas, where on one occasion she danced with the new queen, Catherine Howard.
The architectural historian Nikolaus Pevsner described the house given to Anne as "eminently picturesque in a watercolourist’s way".
The house itself is a complex structure that has undergone multiple phases of construction.
Its core likely dates back to a pre-1500 open hall house consisting of four bays, including a two-bay hall.
Over time, one of the bays was likely converted to confine smoke, and a floor was added at the western end.
During this period, a brick porch was also added to the front of the house.
Ditchling itself, in East Sussex, is an ancient settlement, mentioned in one of the oldest written records, Alfred the Great’s will from 880.
Some claims suggest that the settlement represented the center of the South Saxon kingdom, extending northward towards Surrey in a narrow strip.
The Domesday survey of 1086 further records Ditchling as a “manor” already in the possession of the crown.
In 1947, the property was purchased by the Mayor of Lewes, William (Bill) Ewart Witcher along with his wife Madeleine, the Mayoress.
They formed a private members club there, with Madeleine as manager.
The top floors were used as staff accommodation, and the basement as a kitchen.
Later in the 20th century, it was owned for about 30 years by a reclusive American businessman and then for about 10 years by television presenter Jamie Theakston, who put it on sale in 2014 for a reported £2 million.
After the asking price was reduced in early 2015, Theakston completed the sale in August 2015.
Today, it's on the market for an eye-watering £2.2 million, you can purchase this property now via the Rightmove website.
Take a look at more photos below:
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