John Bullock (1731–1809)

Born in Faulkbourne, Essex, he was a prominent member of the Bullock family whose long service in the British Parliament resulted in the title of father of the House being bestowed on him.

At the age of 23, he embarked on a parliamentary career that lasted 56 years and culminated in him becoming father of the house until his death.

[1] He commenced his parliamentary career in 1754 as member for Maldon; he was returned twice more for the borough in 1761 and in 1768 (polling 443 votes against the 455 of John Huske and the 328 of Jon Hennker).

Steyning began returning two Members of Parliament from 1278 and as a rotten borough made up of a depopulated port became similar to Dunwich until the Reform Act 1832.

This absence of contest was due a "family compact", which was the outcome of the ruinous expenses of the two previous elections, by which for more than thirty years one Whig and one Tory were regularly returned.

[6] The long duration of the "compact" was due to the high respect in which Colonel Bullock was held throughout the county for his political independence and he was well-liked.

A drawing shows a Palladianisation of the west front, but the later work seems to have taken it back to – and extended – the gothic original look.

In the early 1770s, a fine portrait was painted by Gainsborough showing the colonel in full uniform resting his left elbow on a pedestal which supports a classic urn.