Firle Place facts for kids
Quick facts for kids Firle Place |
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Firle Place, East Sussex
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| General information | |
| Location | Sussex |
| Construction started | 15th Century |
| Owner | Viscount Gage |
Firle Place is a beautiful old house located in Firle, a village in East Sussex, United Kingdom. The Gage family has owned the land where Firle Place stands since the 1400s. Sir John Gage built the main house in the late 1400s, making it his family's main home. He was a very important person, even helping King Henry VIII with his will.
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Exploring Firle Place
The outside of Firle Place looks like a grand French castle. This Georgian style was added later, using special stone from Caen. This change was made by Sir William Gage, 7th Baronet in the 1700s. The house is surrounded by wide, open parkland.
Inside, the house still has its original Tudor design. It is built around a central courtyard. Firle Place is home to an amazing collection of art, fancy dishes, and old furniture. You can see paintings by famous artists like Gainsborough, Reynolds, and Van Dyck.
Firle Place in History
Firle Place has played a part in history. During World War I, students from a nearby school stayed here for safety. Later, during World War II, Canadian soldiers used the house as their living quarters.
Firle Place on Screen
Today, Firle Place is open for visitors during the summer. It's also a popular spot for filming movies and TV shows! You might have seen it in the BBC show Jonathan Creek or the miniseries The Line of Beauty. It was also used in the 2020 movie Emma, based on Jane Austen's book. Since 2017, the TV show Bake Off: The Professionals has filmed its series at Firle Place every year.
The Gage Family at Firle Place
The Gage family has lived at Firle Place for a very long time, since the 1400s. This began when William Gage married Agnes Bolney, whose family used to own the land. Their son, Sir John Gage, made the family's land even bigger.
Important Gages in History
Sir John Gage became a very important person in the court of King Henry VIII. He even went with the king on a trip to France. Because he was so good in battles, he was given a high position as the King's Vice-Chamberlain. Sir John also helped with the closing down of monasteries in Sussex, even though he was a Catholic.
Sir John's son, Edward, also became an important figure. He was a Knight of the Bath and the Sheriff of Sussex. In 1556, he was involved in the execution of 17 people during a difficult time known as the Marian Persecutions.
The title of Baronet was created for John Gage in 1622. Later, Sir William Gage, 7th Baronet (who lived from 1695 to 1744) was known for his love of cricket. Many believe that the Firle Cricket Club started because of him. In 1754, the title of Baronet was changed to a higher title, Viscount Gage, for Thomas Gage.
Another famous Gage was General Thomas Gage. He was the leader of the British forces in North America. He had some success during the start of the American War of Independence. However, after some big losses, like at the Battle of Bunker Hill, he was replaced. His son, also named Thomas Gage (1781–1820), followed a family tradition of travel. He was a botanist (someone who studies plants) and had a type of flower, Gagea, named after him.
The current Viscount Gage, Henry Nicholas Gage, lives at Firle Place with his wife, Alexandra Murray Templeton.
External Links
- Firle Place website
