Bentley Wildfowl and Motor Museum facts for kids
Quick facts for kids Bentley Wildfowl and Motor Museum |
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| Location | Halland |
| OS grid reference | TQ4858715914 |
| Area | East Sussex |
| Built |
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| Architect | Extension: Raymond Erith |
| Architectural style(s) | Extension: Palladian |
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Listed Building – Grade II
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| Official name: Bentley Farm, with attached walls and gate piers. | |
| Designated | 26 November 1963 |
| Reference no. | 1192009 |
The Bentley Wildfowl and Motor Museum was once a popular place to visit near Halland, in East Sussex, England. It was known for its amazing collection of wild birds and cool old cars. Sadly, this attraction closed its doors to the public in October 2018.
A Look Back at Bentley
The story of Bentley begins in 1937. That's when Gerald and Mary Askew bought the house. After World War II, they worked hard to make the house and its gardens beautiful. They also started a special collection of wild birds.
Over time, two large, fancy rooms were added to each end of the original house. These rooms were built in a style called Palladian, which is known for its grand and balanced look.
After Gerald Askew passed away in 1970, Mary decided to give a big part of the estate to the people of East Sussex. This allowed the site to become a fun place for tourists to visit. Mary continued to live in a part of the house.
Later, in 2004, the East Sussex Council offered to sell the property back to the Askew family. The family bought it and put it into a special trust. This trust helps to look after the estate for the future.
Amazing Wild Birds
The wild bird collection at Bentley started in 1962. Gerald and Mary Askew were inspired by a local artist named Philip Rickman. They also visited the Wildfowl Trust at Slimbridge, which is famous for its birds.
To create a home for the birds, a pond was dug in a field nearby. This field wasn't very good for farming, but it was perfect for a bird habitat. The collection grew to include many different types of wildfowl. In fact, it had examples of 125 out of the 147 known species of wild birds!
Cool Old Cars
In 1982, a motor museum was opened at Bentley. It was started by a person named Hugh Stuart-Roberts. This museum was special because it displayed many vehicles that belonged to private owners. These cars were loaned to the museum for everyone to enjoy. The very first car to be shown there was a 1928 Minerva.
