Entrance Hall
Fine furniture and family portraits greet visitors to Preston Manor, in a spacious Entrance Hall that was designed to make an impression.
This striking space, redesigned in 1905 by esteemed architect Charles Stanley Peach, embodies sophistication with its sweeping Greek-style columns and refined architectural details.
Ellen Thomas-Stanford and her husband, Charles, commissioned the transformation, elevating the entrance hall into a statement of grandeur. The redesign modernized the manor, blending classical influences with contemporary luxury. Visitors stepping through its doors are greeted by a sense of prestige and history, reflecting the manor’s esteemed lineage.
Ellen inherited Preston Manor in 1853 at just five years old. After decades of family residency, she and Charles made it their home, orchestrating its evolution. Charles, a former MP for Brighton and Mayor, later received a baronetcy in 1929, granting Ellen the title of Lady Ellen.
Status, wealth and taste
Arriving in style was important to the Thomas-Stanfords. They may have furnished the Entrance Hall with easy chairs and used it as an informal sitting room, but they also placed their best 17th and 18th-century furniture here, so visitors’ first impressions would be of their wealth and taste. Family portraits are also on display, highlighting the Stanfords’ status and ancestry.
A warm welcome for guests
Two chimneypieces, both with 17th-century Sussex firebacks, flank the walls. Andirons – metal supports for burning firewood – were installed in 1916. A warm welcome was desirable in the early 20th century, and these arrangements meant guests were greeted by an open fire in winter.
Other interesting features include a French gilt bronze and copper chandelier made in 1810, a clever mahogany revolving bookcase, and a Victorian plaster figure of a Yorkshire terrier, looking expectantly towards the front door.