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East Sussex
- Accommodation, Food and
Drink, Home and Garden
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Chalk Farm Hotel and Plant Centre
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Coopers Hill, Willingdon, East Sussex, BN20 9JD
Tel: 01323 503800 Fax: 01323 520331
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George Orwell's classic satire on the Russian
Revolution, Animal Farm, centred on a takeover, by the animals,
of Manor Farm in the village of Willingdon. Only one
such village exists in all of England and although there is not
a `Manor Farm' here there is considerable evidence
pointing to Chalk Farm as Orwell's model. Nestling in the
beautiful, tranquil South Downs, Chalk Farm is now a hotel, an
ideal setting for holidays or business travellers. The
house dates back to the 17th century and has retained many
of the original features. It is surrounded by superb
gardens and lawns maintained to the highest standard.
Eric Blair, who wrote as George Orwell, was born
in 1903 and was educated from 1911 onwards at St Cyprian's School in Eastbourne, a two hour round
walking trip from Chalk Farm. As a boy he explored the
South Downs and went on lengthy rambles and in a letter to
his mother makes mention of the neighbouring village
of Jevington. Blair never identified the site of Manor
Farm but locals in Willingdon are convinced it is Chalk
farm. And they have plenty of evidence from the book to
back this up, Williingdon is mentioned eight times in the
story. Manor Farm was described as having ` a good quarry
of limestone' and old maps show the existence of a chalk
pit and old limekilns close to the farm house. The farm is
also described as being on a slope which `led the way down
to the five-barred gate that gave way onto the main road.'
In Blair's time the main road was not, as it is known today, the A22 but the road known
as Coopers Hill. Furthermore `on Midsummer's Eve, which was a Saturday, Mr Jones went
into Willingdon and got so drunk at the Red Lion that he did not come back until midday on Sunday.'
And indeed the Red lion is still operating in the village today. There is a short walk round
the village and farm which leads to the top of a grassy knoll, which corresponds with
Orwell's description of `…the knoll where they ( the animals) were lying gave them a wide
prospect across the countryside. Most of Animal Farm was within their view; the hayfield, the
spinney, the drinking pool, the ploughed fields, where the young wheat was thick and green and the
red roofs of the farm building with the smoke curling from the chimneys'. The view
remains, unchanged with the exception of some modern housing.
Guests in the hotel can of course wander round and see for themselves how
Orwell's descriptions match reality. They can also enjoy the highest standard of accommodation
and service, including the en suite bedrooms complete with tea and coffee making facilities
and colour television. The traditional Old Barn Restaurant serves delicious English fare for lunch
and dinner and there is morning coffee and mouth watering Sussex cream teas available in
the comfortable lounges. The Plant Centre, which is part of the Farm, was established in 1994
and stocks a wide range of hardy plants many of which are propagated and grown on site.
The centre has for sale a large quantity of trees, shrubs, herbaceous plant, bedding plants
and hanging baskets. They also provide a garden maintenance and a landscaping service.
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 This
entry is in the Country Living Guide to The South of
England. For further
information on this title please
Click Here
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Travel Publishing Ltd, 7a Apollo House, Calleva Park,
Aldermaston, Berkshire, UK RG7 8TN
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