Saint Hill Manor facts for kids
Quick facts for kids Saint Hill Manor |
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| Type | Country house |
| Location | Saint Hill Green, East Grinstead |
| OS grid reference | TQ 38237 35883 |
| Area | West Sussex |
| Built | 1792 |
| Architect | Benjamin Henry Latrobe, Gibbs Crawfurd |
| Architectural style(s) | Late Georgian |
| Owner | Church of Scientology |
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Listed Building – Grade II
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| Official name: Saint Hill Manor | |
| Designated | 2 August 1972 |
| Reference no. | 1249037 |
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Saint Hill Manor is a beautiful old country house located in Saint Hill Green, near East Grinstead in West Sussex, England. It was built way back in 1792. Over the years, it has had many interesting owners. Eventually, it was bought by L. Ron Hubbard and became the main office for the Church of Scientology in Britain.
Contents
What is the History of Saint Hill Manor?
Building the Manor
Saint Hill Manor was built in 1792 by a person named Gibbs Crawfurd. It sits on a large piece of land, about 59 acres, which has lovely gardens. From the manor, you can see the rolling hills of the High Weald.
Archaeologists have found old items in the area. These suggest that a small priory (a type of monastery) or an early 17th-century house might have been there before. The original name, Sinta Hill, may have come from the Romans who lived nearby. It also relates to the iron-working that happened in the area long ago.
Famous Owners and Features
Over time, Saint Hill Manor had several notable owners. These included Edgar March Crookshank and Mrs. Drexel Biddle. Mrs. Biddle asked a famous artist named John Spencer-Churchill to paint a special "Monkey Mural." John Spencer-Churchill was the nephew of the well-known leader Sir Winston Churchill.
The manor was also once owned by William Thomas Berger. In the late 1800s, it served as the main office for the China Inland Mission. This was a group that trained people for missionary work. Hudson Taylor and Berger often met there.
Since August 1972, Saint Hill Manor has been recognized as a Grade II listed building. This means it is an important historic building that needs to be protected.
How Did L. Ron Hubbard Buy Saint Hill Manor?
A Unique Purchase
L. Ron Hubbard, who founded Scientology, bought the mansion in 1959. He purchased it from Sawai Man Singh, who was the Maharajah (a type of king) of Jaipur. They met at a casino in London. The Maharajah needed to pay off some gambling debts. Hubbard later said he bought the property for £58,000. He lived there with his family until early 1966 before moving to other countries.
Changes and New Buildings
Under Hubbard's ownership, the manor was changed a lot. Many new buildings and extensions were added to the estate. These were built during the 1960s, 1970s, and 1980s. They were needed to create training areas and offices for Scientology.
One of the biggest additions is a castle-like building. It was built next to the main manor house after 1968. This "Saint Hill Castle" was designed specifically for Scientology students to train. At first, the local council did not want the castle to be built. However, after a special public meeting, the Church of Scientology was given permission to go ahead with the construction.
Saint Hill Manor became the main headquarters for Hubbard's organization in 1959. It stayed that way until 1967. It was a place where Hubbard announced important discoveries from his research in Scientology. It also had the church's first Distribution Center, which helped with their outreach efforts.
What Happened During the 2015 Renovations?
Major Upgrades
The Church of Scientology finished big renovations on Saint Hill Manor in the summer of 2015. These upgrades reportedly cost a total of US$16 million. The church says they are working to preserve the manor as a "historic monument."
Helping the Community
During the renovations, the local rugby team's activities were interrupted for six months. To help, David Miscavige, who is the Chairman of the Board of RTC, and famous Scientologist actor Tom Cruise donated $10,000. This money helped cover the rugby team's costs. They also invited the team director, Phil Major, to an annual gala.
Today, Saint Hill Manor is a museum. It shows the work and achievements of L. Ron Hubbard.
New Transportation
After the renovations were finished, the Church of Scientology bought seven new 29-seater ADL Enviro200 buses. These buses are used to transport the 400 staff members between the manor and the town of Crowborough, which is about fourteen miles away.
