Luxford House
Historic site in Crowborough From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
Luxford House is a 16th-century Grade II listed building near Crowborough, East Sussex.[1] It is near the 11.5-acre (4.7 ha) Luxford Farm.[2] It was used by several rock musicians in the 1970s under the guidance of Tony Stratton Smith.
| Luxford House | |
|---|---|
 South elevation | |
| Location | Crowborough |
| Coordinates | 51°02′39″N 0°10′23″E |
| OS grid reference | TQ 52433 29432 |
| Area | East Sussex |
| Built | 16th century |
Listed Building – Grade II | |
| Official name | Luxford House |
| Designated | 26 November 1953 |
| Reference no. | 1028448 |
  Location of Luxford House in East Sussex | |
Luxford house was constructed in the early 16th century as a smoke bay house.[3] During the 1930s it was bought by Sir Hugh Beaver, former Ministry of Works director general and founder of the Guinness Book of Records, who renovated and extended it.[4][5] It was Grade II listed on 26 November 1953.[1]
Following Beaver's death in 1967, ownership of the house passed to his daughter Cerise and son-in-law, Rev Christopher Lawson-Tancred.[6] It was let to rock music manager Tony Stratton Smith who lived there through the early 1970s.[4] He encouraged groups signed to his label, Charisma Records, including Genesis and Van der Graaf Generator, to rehearse there.[4]
Genesis wrote their 1971 album Nursery Cryme at Luxford House that summer.[4] A picture of Van der Graaf Generator taken at the house appeared on the inner gatefold sleeve of their 1971 album Pawn Hearts,[7][8][9] and the cover of Neil Diamond's album Stones also uses a picture taken on the property—of a stone wall—as its cover.[4] Bert Jansch recorded his 1974 album L.A. Turnaround at Luxford House, using the library as the live room, and made a promotional video featuring the premises.[6]
In December 2017, the property and estate was put up for sale.[6]
Luxford house is set in a 4,500 square feet (420 m2) estate with several lawns and gardens. The house features six bedrooms and a gym/studio constructed of Wealden stone.[6]
The exterior is timber-framed with plaster infilling, supported by a set of diagonal braces on the first floor and covered with a tile roof.[1]
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