There was extensive felling of the forest trees in the 16th and 17th centuries when the Weald became the centre of England's iron industry, producing cannon and cannonballs, firebacks, hinges, horseshoes and nails.

With the demise of the Wealden iron industry in the 17th century Gosden furnace was silenced, leaving behind the ponds, which later became a picturesque feature of the gardens, and allowing the woodlands to regenerate.

[citation needed] King Charles II granted the lands of St Leonard's Forest to his physician, Sir Edward Greaves, and from him they were passed down to the Aldridge family.

The estate was now lightly wooded, mainly with oak, beech and chestnut, with some ancient pines and larch plantations, and in which there were a series of seven man-made ponds, some of which once provided power for the Wealden iron industry.

[2] Charles Beauclerk included an American garden with conifers, palms and giant sequoia Sequoiadendron giganteum as well as planting the first camellias, rhododendeons and magnolias that suited the acidic soil.

[citation needed] In February 2010 it was announced that estate had been sold by the Loder family to an international businessman and that, after the 2010 April to June season, the gardens would be closed to the public.

[9] Before closure, Leonardslee also contained a collection of Victorian motor cars, a miniature exhibition called Beyond the Doll's House, and a display of modern outdoor sculptures, and attracted 50,000 visitors per year.

[citation needed] The house and gardens were acquired in July 2017 by the Benguela Collection Hospitality Group, owned by the South African-based entrepreneur Penny Streeter.