[2] William Spence (1621–1671) bought this estate in 1656 from Thomas Lucas[3] so it is therefore probable that he was the originator of the house.

At the time of his marriage William's father Robert Spence settled Moor Hall near Ardeley upon him.

William did not have any children so when he died his brother John Spence (1624–1691) inherited the house.

To commemorate their work they added an ornamental panel to the lead downpipe which can be seen at this reference.

Luke Spence (1713–1800), the eldest son and his wife Henrietta inherited the house in 1741.

When Henry Hume Spence died in 1842 he bought the house from the Trustees of the estate.

[11] Reverend Crofts was appointed as the curate of St Michael's South Malling in 1805.

This meant that he was very wealthy so he lived the life of a country gentleman with an interest in fox hunting.

Sir George Menteth Boughey, CBE, 9th Baronet (1879–1959) was Under Secretary to the Government in Punjab.

The eldest was Hermia Boughey (1914–2003) who was nine years old when the family came to live at Malling House.

For Malling was, quite simply, our idea of perfection…Malling stood in the pleasant Sussex country north of Lewes, with the Ouse flowing unhurriedly at the bottom of the fields behind the house, and bringing with it at high tide the tang of salt air from the sea".

[14] She also recalled cricket on the lawn, reading aloud around the fire on winter evenings, games of hide and seek in the darkened house.