Stansted Park facts for kids
Stansted Park is a large country estate in West Sussex, England. It includes a beautiful old house called Stansted House. The estate is located near the city of Chichester and the village of Rowlands Castle.
The park covers about 1,800-acre (7.3 km2) of land. It has woodlands and open fields where deer roam freely. Stansted House itself has a special style inside, inspired by houses from the 1600s. Both the house and the park are considered very important historical sites.
Contents
History of Stansted Park
The area of Stansted Park was first mentioned in a very old book called the Domesday Book in 1086. People believe that a hunting lodge was built here even before 1094 for a nobleman named Roger de Montgomery. This area was likely a hunting ground within a royal forest. Records from 1327 show that there was a hall and a chapel on the estate.
Many kings and queens have visited Stansted Park over the centuries:
- King Henry II came in 1177.
- King Richard I hunted boar here in 1194.
- King John visited twice, in 1214 and 1215.
- Edward VI arrived in 1552.
In 1591, Queen Elizabeth I visited a house built by John, Lord Lumley. A new house, the one we see today, started being built in 1686 for Richard Lumley. He also created formal gardens and long paths through the park.
Later, in 1778, George III and Queen Charlotte visited the estate.
A big fire in 1900 destroyed the main part of the house. However, the stables and service areas were saved. The house was rebuilt in 1903, looking much like the old one. It was bought by Vere Ponsonby in 1924. During WW II, the house provided shelter for children who had lost their homes.
Since 1983, Stansted House and its estate have been looked after by the Stansted Park Foundation. This is a special group that works to keep the estate preserved for everyone to enjoy.
The Monarch's Way, a long walking path, goes right through the park.
In early 2021, the house and some parts of the park were temporarily closed for a while. The playground was also removed because it was no longer safe. However, the park often hosts special events, especially starting in the spring.
Chapel of St Paul
.jpg)
The Chapel of St Paul was built between 1812 and 1816 by Lewis Way. He built it as part of his work to help Jewish people. This chapel is very important historically. It even inspired the famous poet John Keats when he wrote a poem called The Eve of St. Agnes.
The chapel has a unique window at the front. It shows symbols from both Christian and Jewish faiths. It also has special tablets with the Ten Commandments written in Hebrew.
The chapel was damaged during WW II but was repaired in 1947. Today, the chapel has been restored and is a beautiful place to visit.
Stansted Park Light Railway
The Stansted Park Light Railway is a fun miniature railway located on the grounds of Stansted House. It opened in 2005 to help attract more visitors to the estate.
The railway uses small locomotives and carriages that were designed and built by volunteers. The railway is growing, and they have even added a new bridge and a shed for the trains. It's a great way to see parts of the park!
Early Cricket Matches
Stansted Park has a small but interesting connection to the sport of cricket. In June 1741, a cricket match was played in the park between two local teams. This is one of the earliest known records of a game involving the Slindon team.
A nobleman named Charles Lennox, who supported the Slindon team, wrote that "above 5,000 people" came to watch the match! This is the only time Stansted Park is mentioned in old cricket records. A cricket club still plays games in the park during the summer months today.
