Cowdray Park
16 April 2024 by Lucia Bruton
Just at the edge of Midhurst sits the magnificent Cowdray Estate, a 16,500 acre estate steeped in history and now widely regarded as the ‘Home of British Polo’. This summer we have been invited to attend a few key Polo matches, we shall be hosting a stall to offer a chance for an informal chat about our architecture and how we might be able to help you with your next build project. We look forward to meeting you there!
The Cowdray Estate is well known for its connection to international Polo, but there is much more to be enjoyed at this diverse destination, it is well worth a visit even if you cannot attend the Polo this summer. We are impressed with how the Estate has used the potential of their site to create a thriving, diverse business destination, for those of you who are not that familiar with the estate here is a quick overview of some of our favorite bits.
Cowdray Park Polo Club
Polo has been played at Cowdray Park since 1910 and is an integral part of the estate, we are thrilled to be attending this year for three different events. First up we will be at the Midhurst Town Cup on Sunday 30th June, the family fun day includes the Gold Cup tournament alongside a range of entertainment, street food, shopping village and mini funfairs.
We shall also be in attendance for the premier polo tournament, the Gold Cup Semi Final on Wednesday 17th July and the Gold Cup Final on Sunday 21st July, the biggest polo event of the year in the UK and a highlight for aficionados of the sport.
History of Cowdray Estate
At the heart of the 16,500 acre estate are the ruins of the original Cowdray House, a wonderful example of a Tudor mansion. The house has a rich history, famous guests include both King Henry VIII and Queen Elisabeth I, at one point Guy Fawkes was employed at the house which led to then owner, Antony Maria Browne, being imprisoned for not attending Parliament on 5th November 1605.
The magnificent house was destroyed in a fire in 1793, whilst redecoration work was being carried out on the property, which rendered the house uninhabitable. The ruins remained mostly untouched until 1909, when some restoration work was started to preserve the building and ensure it did not totally collapse. Thanks to this work it is still possible to enjoy the architecture of what was once one of England’s most important Tudor houses today.
At the time of writing this article the ruins are currently closed for conservation work, but do check the Cowdray Estate website for updates.
Cowdray House
The current Cowdray House is a stunning Grade II Listed Victorian property set in 110 acres of parkland and landscaped gardens, the house incorporates a former keep’s lodge and was built to replace the original house after it was destroyed by fire. The magnificent 22 bedroom country house was redeveloped in early 2000’s to create an exclusive-use venue, in collaboration with Boher Architects the property was transformed the property from a private home into a mixed-use development which is now available for holidays, corporate events and weddings.
The main body of the house was sensitively adapted and reconfigured to be used for private events and functions. At the heart of the home is ‘Buck Hall’ a magnificent double height hall with a beautiful vaulted ceiling which creates a glorious venue, the hall contains main stunning details such as a huge stone fireplace, an arched minstrels’ gallery and decorative stained glass windows.
Across the estate and local area are other more modest properties which are available for hire, these sympathetically restored cottages once used by Estate workers. Recently they have also added treehouses to their collection of properties for those who want to stay in luxury with a bit of a twist.
Shopping at Cowdray
We will use any excuse to visit Cowdray Farm Shop as it sells so many delicious, sustainably grown, local produce, we cannot resist buying their heavenly food whenever we visit.
A few of our personal favorite items include their beautifully made ready meals which are perfect after a busy day, their huge selection of organic fruit and vegetables, the Kefir by Susana & Daughters made with Cowdray milk is packed with health probiotics, and the Cowdray branded truffle chocolates make a very welcome gift for anyone special in your life.
Walking across Cowdray Estate
Although the Estate is privately owned it is possible to enjoy walks across it to enjoy the beautiful variety of landscapes it offers, you can find a full map here to help you on your way.
As architects we are drawn to the stunning properties across the estate, but another point not to miss is the Queen Elizabeth Oak, which can be found in the Deer Park near the Jubilee Lime Avenue, believed to be nearly 1,000 years old and is one of the oldest Oak trees in Britain.
If you are visiting Cowdray Park you might also be interested in our articles we have previously written about things to do in Midhurst, Haslemere and Petworth.