Preston Manor, Brighton

Preston Manor is the former manor house of the ancient Sussex village of Preston, now part of the coastal city of Brighton and Hove, England. The present building dates mostly from 1738, when Lord of the manor Thomas Western rebuilt the original 13th-century structure (part of which remains inside), and 1905 when Charles Stanley Peach's renovation and enlargement gave the house its current appearance. The manor house passed through several owners, including the Stanfords—reputedly the richest family in Sussex—after several centuries of ownership by the Diocese of Chichester and a period in which it was Crown property.

Since 1932, when the Stanford family bequeathed the building to Brighton Corporation, Preston Manor has been a museum and exhibition venue evoking upper-class and below stairs life during the Edwardian era. A walled garden, designated as being of historic interest, has old flint walls, a ruined wellhouse and a pet graveyard, among other features. The manor house is reputed to be one of the most haunted buildings in Britain: it has been the subject of ghost tours and television programmes notably Most Haunted, and a wide range of ghostly sightings have been alleged over a long time period. English Heritage has listed the house at Grade II* for its architectural and historical importance; some other structures in the garden are listed at the lower Grade II.

Preston Manor has recently re-opened to the public in April 2025 and it’s still a gem of an Edwardian time capsule. There’s a new fun and informative audio guide with actors playing the real people who lived there - both the Stanfords and the staff below stairs. Residents of Brighton and Hove get reduced ticket entry. An entrance ticket lasts all year so visitors can return for free during that time. There’s a new cafe at weekends in the formal dining room which is a very welcome addition. Preston Manor holds events there too which are advertised through the Brighton and Hove Museums Trust that own it.