Stanmer Park facts for kids
Quick facts for kids Stanmer Park |
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| Type | Local Nature Reserve |
| Location | Brighton, East Sussex |
| OS grid | TQ 335 093 |
| Area | 187.9 hectares (464 acres) |
| Managed by | Brighton and Hove City Council |
Stanmer Park is a really big public park located just west of the University of Sussex. It's also to the northeast of the city of Brighton in East Sussex, England. This amazing park is a Local Nature Reserve, which means it's a special place for wildlife.
It's also listed on the Register of Historic Parks and Gardens of Special Historic Interest in England. This means it's an important historical site. The park is a Grade II listed area, showing its value.
The park is from the 1700s. It has a beautiful building called Stanmer House, which is Grade I listed. There are also 25 other buildings and structures that are Grade II listed. These buildings make up the small village of Stanmer and Stanmer Church inside the park. They were once part of the Stanmer House estate.
All these buildings were private until Brighton's Council bought them in 1947. Today, you can find a nice café called Stanmer Tea Rooms in the village.
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Exciting Changes at Stanmer Park
A big project is happening to make Stanmer Park even better. This work is funded by the National Lottery and other groups. These include the City Council and the South Downs National Park Authority.
Once finished, the park will have better paths and new facilities. It will be easier for everyone to visit and enjoy. The project will also help explain the park's history better. A new public garden called One Garden Brighton is also being created. New jobs, volunteer chances, and fun events are planned to start soon.
A Look at Stanmer House
Stanmer House was built for the Pelham family in 1722. It was built around an older building. Later, a person connected to King George IV lived there.
In 1961, the house became the first main office for the University of Sussex. This was while the university campus was being built on part of the park. The architect, Sir Basil Spence, made sure to keep a path of elm trees within the campus design.
Stanmer House reopened in June 2006 after a lot of repair work. It's a beautiful historic building.
Stanmer Church and Village
The church is next to the village pond. It was built in 1838. It stands where a church from the 1300s used to be.
Today, the Stanmer Preservation Society takes care of the church. This group also looks after the Donkey Wheel, which is a historic part of the village.
Nature Around the Park
Beyond the park, to the north and west, you'll find woods. These woods lead into Wild Park and the open countryside of the South Downs. This area is part of the amazing South Downs National Park.
Just south of the park, there's a big road called the A27 road.
What is an Earthship?
Stanmer Park is home to one of Britain's few Earthships. An Earthship is a special kind of building. It's designed to be very eco-friendly. Earthships often use natural and recycled materials. They are built to be energy efficient and kind to the planet.
