Bateman's in Burwash, East Sussex, was the much-loved home of Rudyard Kipling (1865-1936), one of the best-known and influential literary forces of his day. By his mid-twenties he had achieved worldwide recognition for his mastery of the novel, the short story and poetry.
Kipling's early childhood years spent in colonial India and his lifelong love for the country shaped his views on Empire and inspired such timeless children's classics as The Jungle Book (1894) and the Just So Stories (1902). In 1907, at the age of 41, he was awarded the Nobel Prize in Literature, making him the youngest-ever recipient of the award.
Kipling fell out of favour in the 20th century due to his views on colonialism and Empire and he remains a controversial figure. A tour of the house, which has been preserved exactly as it was, gives visitors a rare glimpse into the home life of a deeply private and reclusive man and leaves them feeling that Kipling has just popped out and will return at any moment to his writing desk.
Only twelve miles away, on the Kent-Sussex border sits Scotney Castle, shielded from view by ancient parklands and woods. Scotney is unusual in that it features two distinct architectural sites on a single estate: the romantic moated ruins of the 14th century Old Castle down in the valley and the grand, Victorian mansion (the New House) perched on the hill above.
Scotney is also one of the finest surviving examples of the "rough, shaggy and craggy" Picturesque style of 18th century garden design which favoured the natural over the artificial and believed that nature should mirror art.
The Darrell family, who owned Scotney Castle for 350 years, were devout Roman Catholics and famously built refuges known as priest holes to shelter RC priests fleeing capture. In the 1970s and 1980s, Margaret Thatcher used the Belfrey flat at Scotney as a weekend bolthole to escape the pressures of Westminster.
For more information click here (Bateman's) and here (Scotney).
For a short virtual tour of Bateman's (no spoken commentary) click here.
A virtual tour of the Scotney Castle grounds can be viewed here.
Planned programme for the day (timings TBC):
09.00: Depart Hop Oast
10.30: Arrive Bateman's
10.30 – 11.00: Coffee & refreshments (not incl. in price)
11.00: House opens for free-flow self-guided tour
11.15 or 12.15: A 15-minute introduction to Bateman's
13.20: Coach transfer to Scotney Castle (20 min drive)
13.45: Lunch at The Café (hot food served until 2.30 -- not incl. in price)
14.30: Free time to explore the gardens, including garden tour if available
16.45: Coach departs for home
18.15: Arrive Horsham
Cost: £26pp for NT members or £60pp for non-NT members
£26 includes coach hire & gratuity. Entry to both venues is free for NT members on production of a valid membership card.
£60 includes coach hire & gratuity + discounted entry fees of £17.10pp for Bateman's and £19pp for Scotney.
Please note that food and refreshments are not included in the cost of this trip.
