The ruins of one of England's great houses, that of Cowdray, outside the West Sussex village of Midhurst. Started in the early 16th century on the site of an earlier building, this noble house became the home of the Browne family, later the Viscounts Montague and a repository of some of the key artefacts from English history. Its heyday fell during the Tudor period and architecturally I believe it could be compared to that of many of the great palaces and country houses of that time.
Its destruction by fire in 1790 was a great loss, but romantic ruins remain to hint at its former glory.
Currently under going a major preservation project, which will include new visitor facilities, due to open the end of 2006, the romantic roofless ruin of Cowdray House is well worth a visit.
The sombre ruins of the original Cowdray Castle are clearly visible close to the town, looking a little like the setting for a horror film.
An important man in the court of Queen Elizabeth the First, he was highly trusted by the Queen and sent by her on missions overseas to act on her behalf.
After razing many of the church buildings to the ground he evicted the monks and, as a result, was cursed by the last monk of Battle Abbey who said that his family line would perish by fire or water.
The manor-house was generally arranged for defence against robbers and thieves and was often surrounded by a moat with drawbridge, but was not provided with a keep or with towers or lofty curtain walls so as to stand a siege.
This consisted of a hall and chapel on the first floor, with cellars on the ground floor; the walls of this structure, with the chimney-piece, are still in existence.
The same is found in England; thus in Thornbury and Hurstmonceaux castles, and in CowdrayHouse, the fortifications were more for show than for use.
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