New history room at Preston Manor unveils first-ever handmade model of house
A new display has opened at Preston Manor, one of Sussex’s oldest and most fascinating houses. A Manor in the Making explores nearly 1,000 years of Preston Manor history and features a stunning handmade model of the building, believed to be the first of its kind.
Curated by Head Guide, Dan Cox, Manor in the Making traces the history of Preston Manor from its first mention in the Domesday Book through centuries of families, change and survival, right up to the Edwardian era of Sir Charles and Lady Ellen Thomas-Stanford and World War II.
The manor in miniature
At the heart of the exhibition is an extraordinary 1:12 scale replica of Preston Manor, handmade by the manor’s Lead Duty Manager Tony McDonald using recycled and repurposed materials.
Taking more than six months to complete, the intricate model allows visitors to switch on the interior lights and peer through illuminated windows into tiny recreations of the manor’s historic rooms. Built from recycled windows, doors, exhibition materials, drinking straws, sewing bobbins, kitchen sponges and parts salvaged from older models, the piece measures approximately 1.5 metres long.
Tony, who began work on the model in November last year, said:
“Over the years I’ve completely fallen in love with Preston Manor. It’s such a special place with so many stories hidden inside it, and I wanted to create something that would do its beauty and mystery justice.
“Building the model became a real labour of love. I reused and recycled as many materials as possible, and every detail was carefully thought through. My hope is that it inspires visitors to appreciate the historical significance of Preston Manor, and perhaps even support the ongoing fundraising efforts to help preserve it for the future. The exterior especially needs some much-needed TLC. By turning the lights on in the model, I hope we can literally help keep the lights on in the manor.”
The new room also features history panels exploring the lesser-known pre-Stanford history of the manor and estate, from bishops and queens to wartime use, eccentric ‘ladies of the manor’, and the generations of people who shaped the building over nearly a millennium.
Dan Cox, Head Guide and curator of the exhibition said:
“Most visitors know Preston Manor as a glamorous Edwardian house, but its story stretches back almost 1,000 years and is deeply connected to the history of Sussex itself. A Manor in the Making reveals the people, families and events that shaped the house long before it became the museum visitors see today.
“Tony’s model is a remarkable centrepiece for the room. The craftsmanship and attention to detail are extraordinary, and it gives visitors a completely unique way to experience the manor and connect with its history.”
Access to A Manor in the Making is free with entry ticket price to Preston Manor
Travelling by train? Show your ticket at entry to gain 2 for 1 tickets.