Greys Court
This site is mentioned in the 11th century Domesday Book as Redrefield (Rotherfield). The owners were the de Grey family, barons who fought with their kings at Crecy, Bosworth, in the Scottish wars, and in the Hundred Years War with France. The most famous of the de Greys was John de Grey, a professional soldier who became one of the original Knights of the Garter. After the Battle of Crecy 1346 he was given a license to crenellate Rotherfield, i.e., fortifying it by providing the walls with battlements.
The Tudor-style house has a courtyard and gardens. The walled gardens contain old-fashioned roses and wisteria, an ornamental vegetable garden, maze laid to grass with brick paths, and an ice house. Within its grounds are the fortified tower built circa 1347, the only remains of the medieval castle.
The house remains furnished as a family home, with some outstanding 18th-century plasterwork interiors. The house was last occupied by Sir Felix Brunner and Lady Brunner. In 1969 the family donated the property to the National Trust, where Lady Brunner continued to live until her death in 2003.
Read MoreThe Tudor-style house has a courtyard and gardens. The walled gardens contain old-fashioned roses and wisteria, an ornamental vegetable garden, maze laid to grass with brick paths, and an ice house. Within its grounds are the fortified tower built circa 1347, the only remains of the medieval castle.
The house remains furnished as a family home, with some outstanding 18th-century plasterwork interiors. The house was last occupied by Sir Felix Brunner and Lady Brunner. In 1969 the family donated the property to the National Trust, where Lady Brunner continued to live until her death in 2003.
