A Manor in the Making

Home to a one-of-a-kind handmade replica of Preston Manor, A Manor in the Making is a dedicated history room exploring nearly 1,000 years of stories, people and change within one of Sussex’s oldest houses.

This permanent display takes visitors beyond the familiar Edwardian interiors to uncover the manor’s rich and varied past, from its first recorded mention in the Domesday Book through centuries of ownership, change and survival. Through engaging interpretation panels, visitors can explore the people, families and events that shaped the house and estate, including bishops, queens, wartime occupants and the generations who called Preston Manor home long before it became the museum seen today.

At the heart of the room is an extraordinary 1:12 scale replica of Preston Manor, believed to be the first of its kind. Handmade by Lead Duty Manager Tony McDonald using recycled and repurposed materials, the detailed miniature brings the house to life, with illuminated rooms visible through tiny windows and carefully crafted architectural features inspired by the manor itself.