The manor house, "Walshes," is perhaps the most interesting place, from its having been the family residence of Sir Henry Fermor, Bart., the founder of the Fermor Chapel and School. It is said to have been in the possession of the family of Fermor for more than 200 years.

The ancestors of Sir Henry came originally from Picardy, in France, and took up their abode in England during the reign of Edward III.

The Manor derived its name from the family of Walsh. The original house stood on a different site from the present one, and there are indications of its having been surrounded by a moat.

The present house was built by Alexander Fermor and his wife, Elizabeth Fowle, in the sixteenth century. On the oak beam over the door, within the porch, their monograms are carved, with the date 1551.

"Sir Henry Fermor was made a baronet in 1726 and died in 1734. By his patent of baronetcy the title descended to his kinsman, Sir C. Eversfield, of Denne Park, Horsham, and became extinct in 1784."

Walshes is situated in the district of Jarvis Brook. The way to it from Crowborough is through White Hill, near the end of which the road branches off to the left. Some distance down this road the second turning on the right-hand side leads through a gate to the house.

It is snugly placed under the lee of the hill, and sheltered from the north and east winds. At the private gate is a fine old oak tree, with innumerable branches extending widely in all directions.

We may give its age as at least 400 years There is a small stream running by the side of the road, which probably supplied the moat, for a little way further on we come to three or four pieces of water, which are fed by this stream, and which probably formed part of the moat which surrounded the old mansion.