Pelham House

The house was built for George Goring, one of the two members of parliament for Lewes, in about 1579. It remained in the Goring family until 1649, when it was sold to Peter Courthope, who served as Sheriff of Sussex in 1650. In 1938 the building also became the meeting place of the county council, replacing the old County Hall, following the completion of an extension incorporating a council chamber and committee rooms. In addition, the county council built itself a large new office block called Southover House on the former gardens to the south of the house, which was also completed in 1938. During the Second World War, the Home Guard established a miniature rifle range in the grounds…