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Preston Manor conservatory 

History of Preston Manor  

Since the deaths of Ellen and Charles Thomas-Stanford in 1932, when they bequeathed the house, grounds and contents to the town council, Preston Manor has remained a living testament to the Stanford family and their contribution to Brighton & Hove’s heritage.

Architectural History

Architectural History

The modern history of Preston Manor dates back to 1559 when the Bishops of Chichester were forced to secure property to the Crown under a new Act of Parliament.

 
Preston Manor and its Owners

Preston Manor and its Owners

The Domesday Book of 1086 records that Preston Manor belonged to the Bishopric of Chichester. In 1794 William Stanford bought the Manor and it stayed with the Stanfords until it was bequeathed to the local council in 1932.

 
Preston Manor and Brighton

Preston Manor and Brighton

In the 1800s, the Preston Manor estate stretched for miles into Brighton and Hove and down to the seafront. The history of the Stanford family and their estate impacted greatly upon the development of Brighton.

 
Life at Preston Manor

Life at Preston Manor

Preston Manor today shows the day-to-day lives of both the landed gentry and their servants. It also reflects the Edwardian concerns of hierarchy, social etiquette, and male and female domains.

 
Is Preston Manor haunted?

Is Preston Manor haunted?

Tales of ghostly sightings and supernatural experiences at Brighton's Preston Manor go back through history. Watch video clips of the manor's haunted history, and read of the ghostly goings on.

 
 
 

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