The house and gardens were created in the 1890s for James and Margaret Beale. Margaret worked closely with Philip Webb and together they used the firm of Morris & Co to craft Standen into a comfortable family home. Not a grand house, it became a base for the Beales to spend holiday time with their family. From innovative technologies such as electricity, to new plants and the very latest interior designs, Standen was refreshingly modern whilst reflecting the understated character of the Beale family.

Today you’ll see Standen very much as the Beale family would have known it in the 1920s - the garden at that time had reached maturity (under the keen green fingers of Margaret) and the late Victorian interiors of the house had mellowed to form the comfortable backdrop to family life which you’ll experience today. Designed by Philip Webb, the house is one of the finest examples of the Arts & Crafts with Morris & Co. interiors and decorative art of the period. More than simply interior design, Arts and Crafts refers to a reforming social movement which placed good design as central to society’s wellbeing. Its legacy is far reaching and inspires design theory today.

Covering 12 acres of hillside, the gardens are made up of outdoor ‘rooms’ which were used for leisure, growing fresh produce and showcasing the plant collection developed by Mrs Beale. There’s plenty to explore after the completion of a five year Garden Revival project of this 1920s Arts and Crafts inspired garden for all seasons. Make sure you head up to the top of the garden for uninterrupted views across to Weir Wood Reservoir, and the Ashdown Forest. Explore the 80 acres of ancient meadow and woodlands that make up the Standen Estate, with bluebells in the spring and an abundance of wildlife all year round.

The converted 18th-century barn serves seasonal lunches and homemade cakes, some made with produce from the kitchen garden. In the shop you’ll find Arts and Crafts and Morris & Co. inspired gifts, textiles and ceramics with a range of seasonal plants and pots to fill your garden.

©National Trust Images/Rupert Truman ©National Trust Images/David Selman
©National Trust Images/Robert Morris ©National Trust Images/Andrew Butler