A number of years ago, after a choir rehearsal, one of the ladies and I were chatting about interesting places to visit in Sussex. She mentioned Parham House and Gardens. The lady concerned is an artist, and I trusted her view and so it has been on a background list of places to visit ever since.

Parham House's stone frontage with mullioned windows, a lavender border and a large cedar tree on the lawn

I’d been keeping an eye on the weather and once the temperatures had dropped a little I asked a friend if she fancied an outing. She did. So off we went. We started, as all good adventures do, with coffee for me, and a sandwich for her. We strolled around a bit of the estate before heading into the gardens.

View through a brick archway in the summer house across a pebble courtyard to a gravel path and parkland beyond

It took us a little while to work out the Wendy House. It was built in the 1920s for the Pearson daughters. According to the information panel, the family still make use of it cooking sausages over the fireplace. What a wonderful place it must have been for the children.

Brick exterior of the Wendy House with round windows, wisteria and potted plants by the door

We found our way into the greenhouse. It was magnificent. Long, open, not unbearably hot, and full of things that made us stop and look closer. While exploring the garden we spoke to one of the gardeners who explained that the garden mainly grew flowers suitable for use in flower arrangements, and that when we walked around the house we should keep an eye out: every room has a unique arrangement which is refreshed at least weekly, but at the moment twice a week. Impressive.

Cobbled path through the Victorian greenhouse, lined with fuchsias and other flowering plants

The house itself was an interesting place to walk around, and far older than I’d imagined, having its foundation stone laid in 1577. There are many, many portraits of various Kings, Queens, Dukes, Earls, Countesses and Viscounts. This highlighted how poor a grasp I have on history, especially the Kings and Queens: not knowing the orders of many of them, or who married who from which other European Royal family. I’m not sure that this is information I necessarily need to know, so I shall acknowledge my ignorance and live with it!

The Long Gallery at the top of the house is indeed long, with a fantastic decoration on the ceiling.

The Long Gallery at Parham House, with a painted foliage ceiling, tapestries and antique furniture

We spent a happy three or so hours exploring the house and gardens. I would happily return to look around the gardens again sometime, and perhaps even make use of the public footpath that runs through the estate to put together a Breezy-friendly walk (the gardens are dog friendly). It may have taken me a number of years to get around to visiting, but I’m glad I did.