Built in 1676 and used continuously since then by the Quaker community for worship, it is one of the oldest purpose-built Friends meeting houses in the world.

[7] As early as 1655, George Fox—one of the founders of the Religious Society of Friends—and a Quaker preacher, Alexander Parker, held meetings and preached at a private house in the village.

[1] William Penn lived nearby before leaving England for America and founding Pennsylvania; he had links with the local Quaker community and the meeting house in their early days,[2] and clashed with Henry Halliwell.

[7] By 1676, 27% of adults in the parish of Ifield, which covered 4,000 acres (1,600 ha) of mostly rural land in north Sussex, described themselves as Nonconformist.

[1] In 1676, land and money bequeathed by a local blacksmith, Robert Robinson,[2] was used to build a dedicated, purpose-built meeting house for the community.

HMDW Architects surveyed the buildings and managed the project, and Alfred Cox & Sons (Brighton) carried out the work.

The entrance doorway is centrally placed between the bays and still has its original rustication at the quoins,[1][2] although the door itself is modern.

English Heritage classified the cottage, which is still used by the warden of the meeting house, as a Grade II* listed structure on 23 February 1983.

The structure is recognised separately by English Heritage, which listed it at Grade II on 23 February 1983.