Nymans

Nymans House and Gardens is not your normal stately home.

Unlike Petworth House it does not date back to William the Conqueror via noble families but to 1890 when a rich German Jewish emigre banker Ludwig Messel wished to set himself up as country gentleman and chose  a house in 600 acres set in the Sussex High Weald between Gatwick and Brighton.

It may not have the lineage of some but it produced at least two interesting characters: Oliver Messel. (1904-1978), theatre designer par excellence, architect and interior designer and painter.

He was Luwig’s grandson and his great grandson was Anthony Armstrong Jones first  husband of Princess Margaret. A fire in 1947 destroyed a large part of the house. The guide explained there was no insurance as in those times you could only insure one home and this was their  London residence. The magnificent  gardens still remain intact.

The Messel story reminds me of one of my favourite Somerset Maugham story The Alien Corn.

In it a rich Jewish man sets himself up as country squire. He acquires a palatial home but tries too hard to make it “gentrified”. In a memorable phrase Maugham writes ‘There was  beauty but no sentiment”.

There is more effort to make Nymans homey with cards on display from the Queen Mother and rooms kept intact.

However, thanks to the National Trust, efforts are being made to fund a complete reconstruction.

Nearby Graveteye  Manor is a Michelin starred hotel and restaurant .

I was advised that it was a summer garden but on a warm late summer day the autumn hues and tints were out in force and it looked splendid.

My companion, who lives in Hurstpierpoint and is a keen gardener, drove me back through the beautiful villages of Sussex like Bolney. Once again I repeat what a lovely county it is.