Situated in the South Downs National Park, it is the family home of the Viscounts Hampden, whose forebears built the house in 1569.

In 1883 the Brand family estate consisted of 8,846 acres (35.80 km2) in Sussex (inherited through the families of Morley and Trevor, and valued at £8,121 a year), 6,658 in Hertfordshire, 3,600 in Essex, 2,081 in county Cambridge, and 978 in Suffolk.

[2] From 2008 - 2013, the house was subject to a major renovation, organised by the 7th Viscount Hampden, and funded by the sale of one of the estate's paintings.

[3] The house and gardens, the latter being Grade II* listed,[4] are open to the public for tours.

Since 2013, it is the site of the Love Supreme Jazz Festival, which takes place every summer.