Alfriston Clergy House was the first building to be acquired by the National Trust for £10 in 1896. Although typical of thousands of timber-framed Wealden houses built during the late Middle Ages, it is special because of its relative lack of modern alterations and additions, its beautiful setting, and its very early connection with the National Trust and its founders. The Clergy House and its connection to the landscape were influential in developing the purpose of the Trust.
It was the importance of, and risk of losing, the Clergy House as a relic of medieval building in England which first attracted the Rev. Beynon, the vicar of Alfriston to contact the then newly formed National Trust in a hope they could save the building from planned demolition. After visiting National Trust founder, Octavia Hill, wrote of “the pleading voice of the old building itself,… pleading to be left to tell its story to the days that are to come”. Following the success of the National Trust’s first ever fundraising appeal, it was announced with great joy by Rev Beynon, whilst standing on a wheelbarrow, to villagers massed outside the Clergy House that it had been saved forever.
Today, Alfriston Clergy House still stands and is enjoyed by approximately 25,000 visitors each year.
Alfriston Clergy House, like many of its kind is a thatched building. The roof of the house was last re-thatched in 1939. A thatched roof ought to be renewed every 50 years. It was only in 2005 that sufficient funds allowed the re-thatching work to commence. However, the project came to a halt when a rare and important moss was discovered on the eastern corner of the north face of the thatching. The moss was transplanted to the eastern end of the roof so that the larger north face could be thatched with the main re-thatching project and to ensure the survival of the moss. However, this meant the thatching could not be completed on this part of the house. Positively, growth and protection of this moss has now been ensured and the thatching of the east end of the roof will complete the entire re-thatching of the house.
The aim of the “Raise the Roof” project is to re-thatch the east end of the roof, which is at risk of developing major leaks that could compromise the building at any point.
The aim of the “Raise the Roof” project is to re-thatch the east end of the roof, which is at risk of developing major leaks that could compromise the building at any point. The completion of the re-thatching of the house is essential for: 1. the conservation and protection of Alfriston Clergy House as a rare example of an original building from the Middle Ages. 2. future generations of visitors: so they may enjoy the house and learn about the beginning of the Trust’s work to conserve historic buildings. We need £30,000 to complete the thatching of the roof and, thus, ensure that Alfriston Clergy House remains for future generations to enjoy. Please help us to raise that money though this page. Donating through JustGiving is simple, fast and totally secure. Your details are safe with JustGiving – they’ll never sell them on or send unwanted emails. Once you donate, they’ll send your money directly to the charity and make sure Gift Aid is reclaimed on every eligible donation by a UK taxpayer. So it’s the most efficient way to donate - I raise more, whilst saving time and cutting costs for the charity. So please dig deep and donate now
