Evidence of Field Place’s history and development can be seen in the present house which contains fine examples of Jacobean oak panelling and carved fireplaces. The splendid carvings of the Oak room, which is now used for board meetings, contain the device of the Cooke family who lived in the house for over 300 years.
After the Cooke family the Westbrooke – Richardsons owned the house before passing it on to the Henty family during the mid to late 1700s . The Hentys were very successful farming and business people who used some of their wealth to upgrade the house into a fine Georgian residence. They are Responsible for the present house frontage.
During the agricultural depression the Henty’s revenue declined and Thomas Henty, the younger son of Sarah and Thomas began to write from Field Place to his business contacts in Australia to enquire about land and prospect there for his family. Eventually after much planning he set sail from Littlehampton in the 'Caroline' and ' Fourth of Alloway' with his wife Frances Elizabeth , their children George, James, Charles, Edward, Jane, William , John, Stephen and Francis, a flock of Merino sheep newly acquired from the flocks of King George III and dressed in flannel coats against the wind, agricultural equipment and staff – accounting for half the village of Tarring.
On arrival in Australia the family found life very hard but eventually prospered in banking, farming, politics and business. The youngest son of the family, Francis, later built a house in 1876 called Field Place in Melbourne, Australia. The house still stands today.
Towards the end of the 19th century Colonel E.W.Margerson, who also owned Findon, occupied the house. In 1909 Alfred Bates purchased the house and spent £250,000 on renovations, including the installation of an underground electrical supply. When Bates died the house was changed to the Manor Country Club.
During the Second World War Field Place was used by the RAF to test early radar. Later it became the Falmingo Country club before the house was brought by Worthing Borough Council in 1956 for £17,500.
Improvements have been made, the original flint barn dated 1773 has been refurbished and was reopened in 1988 as the ideal venue for wedding receptions, seminars, plays and dances.
The main house was refurbished in 1989 and this revealed much of the original splendid panelling and stonework.
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