main construction of the house would have involved creating an oak framework, all cut by hand, which was infilled with brick. At Brook House this has been made into a feature, with the rendered gables celebrating the black and white timber framing that characterised the Tudor period. Whether the cricket pitch was already in existence when the renovations were taking place is unclear, but the pitch at Brook House is one of the oldest cricket grounds in Sussex. Legend has it that when the cricket pitch at Nottingham’s Trent Bridge was refurbished in 1906, Stephenson Clarke had it dug up and brought back to Brook House to be laid on his own pitch. What’s more, the first time the Australian cricket team came on tour to the UK in 1884, they played their second ever match on British soil at Brook House (the first being played just down the road), leading some to claim that the pitch was the site of the second ever Ashes test. Throughout the early years of the 20th century, the staff at Brook House would use the pitch to play against the staff of other
Stephenson Clarke died at the age of 66 years and his widow, Agnes Maria Clarke decided to leave London and move permanently to Brook House. The couple had fourteen children born between 1862 and 1891 and thirteen of them moved with her. However, their eldest son and heir, Stephenson Robert Clarke continued to buy land around Brook House and in 1893, purchased the Borde Hill Estate, which he made the family seat and his permanent home, going on to create the garden and arboretum. Three of Agnes’s children did continued on page 26
local houses, reportedly enjoying a flagon of beer on the wagon during the journey up from the stable block and a bonus flagon if they won. Whether that tradition continues amongst the High Brook team who still play there today is unclear. What we do know though is that on 3rd April 1891,
Terry Healy - chimney sweeps Notice
TO: EVERYONE WHO OWNS EITHER A ‘WOOD BURNER’ OR A ‘MULTIFUEL STOVE’ CHECK YOUR INSTRUCTION BOOKLET! Many stove suppliers insist that if you have a metal flue liner, it needs to be cleaned regularly for the guarantee to remain valid. Metal liners are considered temporary and need to be looked after. Now is the time to get them cleaned and back to stainless steel. Do not let that tar or soot sit on your flue liner during the summer months, as when it is mixed with moisture such as condensation or rain it will form a very mild acid which may, if they are not cleaned regularly, shorten the life of your liner. Once swept, they can be used during cold spells during the summer as most of the tar/soot has been removed.
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Bookings tel no: 01444 453228 Web: www.chimneysweepmidsussex.co.uk (see usual advert in the classified section at the back)
S u ss e x L i v i n g July 2016
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