Where history
meets rustic beauty

Est. 17th Century

A Brief History of
Oldlands Farmhouse

Dating back to the 17th century, Oldlands Farmhouse is one of West Sussex's most storied rural landmarks. Originally built by a local ironmaster during Sussex's iron-making era, the farmhouse has stood for over 300 years — witnessing centuries of change from working farmland to the modern landscape we know today.

Located in Tinsley Green, near Crawley, the farmhouse was built by the ironmaster who owned the nearby Tinsley Forge. During that period, the Sussex Weald was a major centre for the English iron industry — so the building has roots in one of the region's most important historic trades.

Many farmhouses of similar age were demolished or lost to development. Oldlands Farmhouse remains as a rare and visible reminder of the area's rural past — now a Grade II listed building, protected for future generations to enjoy.

Oldlands was built by William Bowyer, owner of Tinsley Forge — an iron-working facility and one of Sussex's last working forges — who raised this three-bay timber-framed house for himself in the early 17th century. Hidden across the sprawling farmhouse are three priestholes, while the original stair turret in the roof still keeps its 500-year-old pegs, once used as hand-holds.

Inside you'll find a panelled parlour and doors finished with chamfers and stops; the upper floor once served as farm storage, with a loft door to the farmyard still visible by the front entrance. The house later passed to The Worshipful Company of Cooks, whose coat of arms is built into the structure — bearing the motto Vulnerati non victi, Latin for "Wounded, not conquered."