Alfriston Clergy House

The Clergy House is remarkable as an ordinary house surviving from the 14th century. It was probably built for a farmer but became the property of the church, which is how it gets its name. By the 1890s, it was virtually derelict. It would have been lost forever but for the efforts of Reverend Beynon who persuaded the newly formed National Trust to buy and restore it in 1896.
One of the beams in the Main Hall features an oak leaf carving which may have been the inspiration for the National Trust logo. The floor in the hall is made of an unusual mixture of chalk and sour milk.
The cottage style garden was laid out by Sir Robert Witt, the tenant in the 1920s and developed by the National Trust over the years. The most asked about tree is the 100 year old Judas tree on the top lawn.
You can also visit the excellent shop.
Explore the delightful garden and savour the idyllic setting beside Alfriston's parish church with stunning views across the meandering river Cuckmere.