The Wattle House Project
Preserving a Unique Piece of Findon's Heritage
The Wattle House is one of Findon's most distinctive and treasured historic buildings. Standing on Nepcote Green and closely linked to the internationally renowned historical Findon Sheep Fair, it forms an important part of Findon's identity, history and sense of place.
For generations, the Wattle House has been woven into the story of village life. Over its lifetime it has served a variety of purposes, including as a home, a library and a community meeting place. Today, although the building remains structurally protected, its interior is in a dilapidated condition and requires significant conservation-led restoration.
Findon Parish Council is committed to safeguarding the Wattle House and securing a sustainable future for this unique historic asset, exploring how it can once again serve the community while preserving its special character and heritage significance.
Why Does the Wattle House Matter?
The Wattle House is far more than an old building.
Its historic association with the Findon Sheep Fair, its prominent position on Nepcote Green and its continued ownership in charitable trust by the Parish Council make it truly unique.
Many similar buildings have disappeared over time. Some were abandoned and gradually lost to decay. Others were converted into private homes, removing them from public use. The Wattle House has followed a different path.
Because it remains in community ownership, there is a rare opportunity not only to preserve an important historic building, but also to return it to active use for the benefit of residents and visitors alike.
The Wattle House has continually adapted to meet the needs of the community throughout its history. Its restoration offers the opportunity to write the next chapter in that story.
The Parish Council's vision is not simply to repair a building. It is to create a sustainable heritage asset that celebrates the history of Findon, provides opportunities for learning and interpretation, and enables future generations to experience and enjoy this remarkable building.
Once lost, the Wattle House could never be replaced. Preserving it means safeguarding a unique part of Findon's heritage for future generations.
The Journey So Far
2015: Securing the Building
Recognising the importance of protecting the Wattle House from further deterioration, the Parish Council invested significant funds in essential stabilisation and weatherproofing works.
These included:
These works helped secure the building and prevent further decline while longer-term solutions could be explored.
November 2025: National Lottery Heritage Fund Application
In November 2025, Findon Parish Council submitted an application to the National Lottery Heritage Fund to support the development of a conservation-led project for the future of the Wattle House.
Since then, the Parish Council and the Wattle House Working Group have been working extensively to develop a robust and sustainable vision for the building.
Working with Experts and Partners
Developing a project for a historic building requires specialist expertise, careful planning and collaboration.
Over the past year, the Parish Council has been working with:
The Council has also been building supportive relationships with a growing network of organisations, including:
Together, these organisations bring expertise in conservation, heritage interpretation, education, traditional buildings, landscape management, biodiversity and community engagement.
Their support is helping to shape a project that respects the significance of the Wattle House while exploring opportunities for heritage learning, environmental education and public engagement.
Listening to the Community
Community engagement has been central to the development of the project.
At the independent community Thinking Day held in July, residents shared their aspirations, ideas and concerns for the future of the Wattle House.
The event demonstrated strong support for:
At the same time, residents made it clear that they value the peace and tranquillity of Nepcote Green and wish to see any future use of the building remain sympathetic to its historic and rural setting.
This feedback continues to shape the development of the project and has been invaluable in helping to establish the community's priorities.
Read the report following the Thinking Day - Report
Accessibility and Inclusion
The Parish Council believes that everyone should have the opportunity to experience and enjoy the Wattle House.
As part of the emerging proposals, we are working with conservation architects and SDNPA Conservation Planners in exploring the possibility of providing a small area of accessible parking to help meet Equality Act requirements and improve access for people with mobility needs.
Any accessibility improvements would be conservation-led in their design and delivery.
This could include:
The aim is to improve accessibility while preserving the special character of the site.
Opportunities Being Explored
The Parish Council is exploring a range of opportunities that could help secure a sustainable future for the Wattle House.
These include:
The vision is to create a living heritage building that remains open, accessible and relevant to both residents and visitors.
A Sustainable Future for the Wattle House
The objective is not to create a large tourist attraction or an intensive commercial venue.
Instead, the Parish Council is seeking a conservation-led solution that:
The emerging vision is for the Wattle House to become a place where residents, schools and visitors can discover Findon's story, explore its rich heritage and experience one of the village's most remarkable historic buildings.
Working alongside the community, specialist advisers and organisations including the South Downs National Park Authority, National Trust, Weald & Downland Living Museum, Sussex Heritage Trust and Sussex Wildlife Trust, Findon Parish Council is developing plans that honour the building's past while securing its future.
The Wattle House has served the people of Findon in many different ways throughout its history. With care, collaboration and investment, it has the potential to do so once again for generations to come.