Monk's House
Leonard and Virginia Woolf's 16th-century country retreat
Monk's House
Overview
Leonard and Virginia Woolf's 16th-century country retreat
Nestled in the heart of rural Sussex, Monk’s House is a tranquil 16th-century weatherboarded cottage inhabited by Leonard and the novelist Virginia Woolf from 1919 until Leonard's death in 1969.
Get to know Leonard and Virginia Woolf and the wider Bloomsbury Group by visiting Monk's House. Full of their favourite things, the house appears as if they just stepped out for a walk.
The Woolfs bought Monk's House for the 'shape and fertility and wildness of the garden'. Today, the lovely cottage garden contains a mix of flowers, vegetables, orchards, lawns and ponds.
Useful information:
Monk's House is a small house and occasionally we have to limit numbers to avoid overcrowding and to protect the interior, so there can sometimes be a wait to enter the house. This is never more than a few minutes. The house operates on a free flow basis. There is no timed entry.
It is not possible to reserve entrance tickets in advance. Please purchase a ticket on the day of your visit.
- Telephone
- 01273474760
- monkshouse@nationaltrust.org.uk
Monk's House
How to get here
- Address
- Rodmell, Lewes, East Sussex, BN7 3HF
- By cycle
- If you like to cycle then Monk's House is an ideal destination. Rodmell is a short ride off the South Downs Way and made easily accessible by the creation of The Egrets Way from Newhaven and Lewes. There are a variety of routes available for different abilities. You are welcome to leave your day packs in our visitor reception. We also have a bike pump and repair kit available for use.
- Cycle route information
- On foot
- There are many ways to visit us without bringing the car. Walk in Virginia's footsteps along the river from Southease railway station or Lewes. If you're feeling a little more energetic hike the South Downs Way or take a walk to Charleston Farmhouse , the home of Virginia's sister Vanessa Bell and Duncan Grant. There are a variety of routes available to suit all abilities. Walkers are welcome to leave their day packs at our visitor reception.
- By train
- The nearest mainline station is in Lewes, where trains run from London (Victoria Station), Brighton, and Eastbourne. Southern Trains also stop at Southease Station which is convenient for local residents and walkers. It is a pleasant walk (approx 1.5 mile) along the river and through the water meadows to Rodmell or via the village of Southease. We advise consulting a map before travel as Monk's House is not signposted once you alight at these rural stations. Train timetables for journeys to Lewes and Brighton, or to Newhaven and Seaford, can be found Southern Railways
- By road
- Rodmell is a small rural village located roughly 4 miles south of Lewes and 5 miles north of Newhaven on the C7 road.
Approaching from the A27
From the West (Brighton, London) journey along the A27 and at the first Lewes roundabout take the third exit signposted 'Kingston' (height and weight restrictions apply on this road). From the opposite direction (Eastbourne, Hastings) travel along the A27 ignoring initial exits for Lewes until you reach a roundabout signed posted Lewes right and Kingston left. Take the first exit left to Kingston. Continue through the village of Kingston until you reach the junction with the C7 road (signposted Lewes left and Newhaven right). Turn right and follow this road until you reach Rodmell. Take the first road on the left after the Abergavenny Arms public house, signposted 'The Street'. Monk's House is located 400 yards further down on the right hand side. The National Trust car park is located 100 yards further on. Please try to avoid parking on the lane, as these spaces are intended for Rodmell residents.
Approaching from the A259
From the West (Brighton) as you enter Newhaven the A259 descends and merges with the one-way system from your right. Stay in the left hand lane and take the immediate left signposted Rodmell. From the East (Seaford, Eastbourne) enter Newhaven crossing over the river and you will merge into the one-way system that circles the main town centre. Ignore the exit for Brighton and take the next exit on your left signposted Rodmell.Continue along the C7 road until you reach the village of Rodmell. Take the road on your right before the Abergavenny Arms public house, signposted 'The Street'. Monk's House is located 400 yards further down on the right hand side. The National Trust car park is located 100 yards further on. Please try to avoid parking on the lane, as these spaces are intended for Rodmell residents. Please note there is no access from A26. - Parking: Parking located 100 yards further on from property. One designated disabled space. Height restriction barrier of 6ft 6 or 198cm.
- SatNav:
- By bus
- There are two buses which serve Rodmell, the 123 and the 130. The 130 is a weekday service from Rodmell to Brighton Station only. The main service is the 123 bus travelling in both directions Lewes to Newhaven. It operates 7 days per week and stops near the Abergavenny Arms in Rodmell, just a short walk from Monk's House. Details of times can be found on the national travel web site, Traveline. Also one can load down an app which links with Traveline and is very easy to use: http://www.traveline.info or http://www.buschecker.com/?app=UK You can also plan your bus travel in East Sussex on this web site: http://www.cartogold.co.uk/eastsussextransport/map.htm This site is particularly useful if you're planning onward journeys connecting by bus. The 123 operates from Lewes Rail Station and Lewes Bus Station as well as from Newhaven Rail Station where it connects with rail services and coastal bus services.
Monk's House
Prices
Admission free
What is Gift Aid?
Most of our places run the Gift Aid on Entry scheme at their admission points.
Under this scheme, if you're not a member you have the choice of two entry tickets:
- Gift Aid Admission
- Standard Admission
If the place runs Gift Aid on Entry, we'll offer you a clear choice between the Gift Aid Admission prices and the Standard Admission prices at the admission point. It's entirely up to you which ticket you choose.
Gift Aid Admission includes a 10 per cent or more voluntary donation. Gift Aid Admissions let us reclaim tax on the whole amount paid - an extra 25 per cent - potentially a very significant boost to our places' funds.
An extra £1 paid under the scheme can be worth over £3 to the National Trust as shown below:
| Gift Aid | Standard | |
|---|---|---|
| Amount paid by visitor | £11.00 | £10.00 |
| Tax refund from Government* | £2.75 | £0.00 |
| Total received by the National Trust | £13.75 | £10.00 |
*Gift Aid Admissions let us reclaim tax on the whole amount paid - an extra 25 per cent - potentially a very significant boost to our places' funds.
Monk's House
Opening times
Please note...
We are working hard to open Monk's House again for the 2021 season. Please check back for updates to our opening times and how to book your visit. Thank you
Thursday 4 March
- House Closed
- Garden Closed
Friday 5 March
- House Closed
- Garden Closed
Saturday 6 March
- House Closed
- Garden Closed
Sunday 7 March
- House Closed
- Garden Closed
Monday 8 March
- House Closed
- Garden Closed
Tuesday 9 March
- House Closed
- Garden Closed
Wednesday 10 March
- House Closed
- Garden Closed
Monk's House
Contact us
- Telephone
- 01273474760
- monkshouse@nationaltrust.org.uk
- Address
- Rodmell, Lewes, East Sussex, BN7 3HF