Alfriston East Sussex hotels:

A 14th-century half-timbered hall house set in a charming cottage garden with scented flowers and an orchard. Lovely views along the river valley. Bought in 1896 for the princely sum of #10, this was the first building to be acquired by the National Trust. The interior has a fine medieval hall with a chalk and sour milk floor, and an exhibition. Alfriston is typical of many thousands of timber-framed 'Wealden' houses put up during the late Middle Ages, predominantly in Kent and Sussex. The oak frame was filled in with interwoven strips of chestnut or oak, which were covered with daub and finally limewashed. The front garden is filled with traditional 'cottage' favourites, some grown since Roman times and including rarities now almost lost to civilisation. Kitchen/Vegetable/Fruit/Herb; Small herb garden, containing a wide variety of cooking, strewing and medicinal plants; more herbs can be found in the topiary garden. Topiary/Knot/Parterre; Four magnificent clipped box trees are underplanted with old laced pinks in beds divided by a sundial.