The History and Origins of Uppark
Uppark emerged in 1690 as a 17th-century house situated in the South Downs of West Sussex, England. It was built for the duplicitous Lord Grey, who required a sophisticated method of pumping water to great heights to supply the home atop its hilltop position. The red brick structure, designed in the Dutch style, has remained a constant presence in the landscape of South Harting for centuries.
The estate underwent a significant transition in 1747 when Sir Matthew Fetherstonhaugh and his wife, Sarah Lethieullier, purchased the house and its surrounding lands. Their tenure involved extensive travel through France, Italy, and Austria, which informed the acquisition of various antiquities for the residence. Later, in 1780, the house became the site of a notable social scandal when Sir Henry Fetherstonhaugh took Emma Hamilton as a mistress, providing her with a cottage on the estate.
The lineage of the property continued through various heirs, including the Bullock family, until it passed to the National Trust in 1954. During the winter of 1887/88, the house provided a place of convalescence for H. G. Wells. Today, the house remains a National Trust property, preserving the social hierarchies and domestic histories that shaped its long existence.
The Architecture and Building Features
This Grade I listed building is a red brick home designed in the Dutch style. It is thought to have been built by William Talman. The structure occupies a hilltop position in the South Downs, a location that required an ingenious method of pumping water to great heights to supply the house. The interior contains a gold and white saloon, where the walls are draped in ivory silk brocade curtains beneath a plaster ceiling. In the attic, a telescope remains as a quiet presence.
The grounds and exterior have been shaped by the hand of Humphry Repton, who was commissioned to add a pillared portico, a dairy, and a landscaped garden. These additions integrate the house into its surroundings. During the 19th century, the estate expanded with the addition of separate buildings for the stables and kitchens, which are connected to the main house by tunnels intended for the use of servants.
The Art and Decorative Collections
The interior reflects the legacy of Sir Matthew Fetherstonhaugh, whose acquisitions during the mid-18th century shaped the character of the rooms. Within the house, an 18th century doll's house offers a miniature perspective of the era, complete with minute fire irons in its tiny hearths. The library holds volumes by Plato, Voltaire, and Thomas Paine, resting among the quietude of the collection. In the saloon, the gold and white walls and ivory silk brocade curtains provide a backdrop for the presence of the paintings. Fireplaces throughout the rooms feature inlaid Sienese marble, depicting the legend of Romulus and Remus.
The collection includes sporting pictures and silver-gilt trophies, reflecting the interests of the family members who resided here. These objects exist in their original settings, maintaining the atmosphere of the house. The presence of these items, alongside the miniature works of art found within the doll's house, creates a sense of continuity. Every object, from the large-scale canvases to the smallest silver piece, remains tied to the history of the estate.
