Maud Messel 1875-1960

Nymans is in West Sussex, a beautiful romantic house with ruins in a glorious park and woodland setting, and the finest gardens we have ever seen.

This is Maud Messell, wife of Leonard who inherited the house from his father and continued the planting of the amazing gardens.Full of colours and inspiration.. Maud only moved to the house after the death of Leonard’s father on condition that it was completely remodelled from the Victorian country house it was to the medieval style manor it is today. This photo of Maud is so beautiful, I couldn’t resist it

On the morning of Leonard’s 75th birthday in 1947, they awoke to find the house on fire. There was so much damage and Leonard was so devastated that he never entered the house again. The National Trust took over in 1954. We will be going back for a longer visit when it’s less crowded.