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Crofton Hall
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From the time of King John (1166 — 1216) there has been an estate at Crofton. In its heyday the estate featured Crofton Hall itself with adjacent stable block, walled garden, formal gardens and subterranean icehouse, Coachman’s house, stone entrance archway with gatehouses, deer park and lake; not to mention several estate farms and other houses.
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The Manor of Crofton was held by the ‘de Crofton’ family in 13th and 14th centuries, passing by marriage of Margaret Crofton to Isold Brisco in late 14th century to the Brisco family, in which it descended for the next 600 years, finally being demolished c.1958. Portions of the house and estate dated from 1665, with later additions and modifications in the 1820’s.
Hylton Castle/Orton Park
Originally named Hylton Castle. 1830's for Sir Wastel Brisco, who built it for his son Hylton Brisco; mid C19 extension. Stucco on chamfered plinth with angle pilasters, string course and central parapet. Welsh slate roof with coped gables; ashlar chimney stacks. 2 storeys, 7 bays, with lower extension of 2 storeys, 5 bays. 6-panel door in painted stone architrave; pilaster and entablature doorcase. Ionic porch with fluted columns. Sash windows with glazing bars, painted stone sills. Extension: sash windows with glazing bars, painted stone sills. End wall right is slate hung. Rear: full height pilasters between each window; heavily modillioned and dentilled eaves cornice. Interior: early C19 hall ceiling of moulded plaster; cantilever stone staircase of square plan with wrought-iron decorative balusters and wood handrail. Principal ground floor room has similar moulded plaster ceiling.
Coghurst Hall
Coghurst Estate in Ivy House Lane East Sussex was acquired by Musgrove Brisco 1708-1787 on his marriage to Mary Fletcher Dyne the daughter and heiress of Edward Dyne of Lankhurst in Westfield who had married the daughter and heiress of William Fletcher who died in 1712 and was the original owner of the Coghurst Estate.
On the death of Musgrove in 1787 the estate was passed to Wastel Brisco 1753-1834 and again to Musgrove Brisco 1791-1854 the first born male, Musgrave was responsible for building Coghurst Hall around 1836 where dressed Cumberland Stone was used and it became his residence being used to host parties and the Court was held there.
On his death in May 1854 it remained for the use of his wife Frances (Woodgate) (who later married Charles Hay Frewen) up to her death in 1867 when according to the will was to pass to Musgroves younger brother Wastel Brisco 1792-1878.
Bohemia Mansion
In 1831 the building was sold to Wastel Brisco who purchased the house for £8,500 He was the younger brother of Musgrave Brisco the MP who was elected to Parliament 30 March 1844. Musgrave Brisco was involved in local politics and was elected mayor of Hastings in 1842. Time was spent improving the house and the construction of the Mock Roman Bath in the grounds. Wastel was also responsible for the stone greyhounds within the garden of the house. Greyhounds being part of the family arms.
To the north west of the house was the coach house for two carriages and stalls for six horses a harness room and sleeping accommodation for the grooms. A semi-circular trough at the end of the building was the midden. The manure would have been taken to the vegetable garden a short distance away opposite Little Horntye.
Amberley Castle
Sir John Brisco who established the family in Northamptonshire and his descendants would also become Brisco(e) Baronets. He was knighted following the restoration of the monarchy where he had supported Charles II during the Civil Wars and following the Commonwealth and was on the coast to welcome back Charles to English shores.
Sir John had the tenancy at Amberley Castle. After the Civil war, Amberley Castle was seized from the Church by Parliament and sold by the office of sequester estates to Mr John Butler, a cloth merchant from London, for the grand sum of £3,341 (14 shillings and 4 dimes) which is about £230,000 in today’s money. It was Mr Butler who built the Manor house out of the ruins which had been the Great Hall, and started the transformation of Amberley Castle as we know it today. With the restoration of the Monarchy in 1660, Charles II visited Amberley twice and in 1660 gave the castle back to the Bishopric. No mention of reimbursement to Mr Butler was made, however they eventually did negotiate a long lease and they continued to live at the castle for a further two generations
Lamplugh Hall
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Around 14 Jul 1731 Richard Brisco (age 33) and Margaret Lamplugh (age 37) were married. She was dead a week later. The churchwarden at Lamplugh church explained this a possibly being a means for Richard to gain the estate of her father with whose wife, Margaret's mother, he Richard was conducting an affair. The will left Richard the house and estates for life, then to the first and other sons of his daughter, either Margaret or Elizabeth Irton, then, to his nephew, Richard Lamplugh of Ribton and Dovenby Hall the son of his sister Grace for his life, with remainder to his first and other sons, then to "my cousin Thomas Lamplugh, grandson of Dr. Lamplugh, Archbishop of York for life, with remainder to his first and other sons."
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