During the summer season 2019 families visiting Preston Manor were challenged by a specially created Riddle Trail. The trail took them on a journey around the house encountering Victorian brain-teasers, puns and puzzles on the way. Arguably the most famous … Continued
In October and December we’ll be running House of Ghosts, an event exploring the dark side of Preston Manor. Ahead of this, Paula Wrightson looks at the story of another haunted house, Borley Rectory, and finds some suprising similarities with … Continued
Paula Wrightson follows the owners of Preston Manor on a tour through Egypt at the start of the twentieth century. Through a photograph album held at the manor, she traces their route across the country at a time when the … Continued
When you get to springtime and the Christmas tree and baubles are long packed away and your only thoughts are for the summer ahead, set a moment aside to think of the Father Christmas event organiser. In late April I … Continued
Paula Wrightson finds one of Preston Manor’s much loved dogs and reverses the sad story of Tatters using newly found evidence. One of the tombstones in Preston Manor’s pet cemetery has the following touching inscription: ‘Here lies Tatters not that … Continued
Paula Wrightson reveals the surprising links between Preston Manor and the sinking of the Titanic. Facebook Live video stream from 9 March.
Paula Wrightson on the famous seance held at Preston Manor in 1896. Facebook Live video stream from 24 August 2017.
Paula Wrightson conducts a guided tour of Preston Manor’s pet cemetery. Facebook Live video stream from 7 September 2017.
Paula Wrightson tells the story of a bone Guillotine on display at Preston Manor. Facebook Live video stream from 12 October 2017.
Paula Wrightson tells ghost stories from Preston Manor for Halloween. Facebook Live stream from 31 October 2017.
Paula Wrightson talks about the beds at Preston Manor. Facebook Live video stream from 16 January 2018.
Celebrating the Chinese Year of the Dog at Preston Manor with Paula Wrightson. Facebook Live video stream from 22 February 2018.
Paula Wrightson celebrates the 2018 Chinese Year of the Dog by investigating the story of Kylin, Ellen Thomas-Stanford’s Pekingese through the breed’s origins in Imperial China, to links with the Opium Wars and the sinking of Titanic. There are two … Continued
Paula Wrightson’s latest blog post on the surprising history of Preston Manor looks at its role during the Cold War. How would this elegant Edwardian house have been used in the event of a nuclear attack? Brighton in 1966 was … Continued
In this month’s blog post from Preston Manor, Paula Wrightson tells a Christmas tale of a ghostly apparition, royal tragedies, and Edwardian class divisions, as seen through the eyes of two distinguished guests to the house. Sir Stephen Gaselee was … Continued
Lady Ellen Thomas-Stanford died on Friday 11 November 1932 at Preston Manor, her family home. With Ellen’s passing a door closed on the Edwardian age. But bodily death leaves a legal paper trail from which much can be discovered. Ellen’s … Continued
One hundred years ago this month Russia’s October Revolution was launched in Petrograd (now known as St Petersburg) and changed the course of world history. 1300 hunded miles away at Preston Manor in Brighton, Ellen Thomas-Stanford found herself uniquely close … Continued
Maurice Elphick (1885-1982) devoted his life to the service of the family at Preston Manor. He began work as a page-boy when barely in his teens, rising swiftly to the highest position in domestic service, that of butler. When Preston … Continued
This month marks the 70th anniversary of the death of Christiana ‘Lily’ Blanche Ashworth Macdonald. One of Preston Manor’s more enigmatic residents, Lily’s outwardly quiet life touched upon the supernatural, the mysterious death of a fiancé, and the Aesthetic movement … Continued
Family history research is a popular hobby and with easy access to digital records increasing numbers of us are delving into the lives of our ancestors. So it is always exciting when people come to Preston Manor having discovered family … Continued
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