'Haunted house' reopens to public after five years

Preston Manor is thought to be one of the UK's most haunted houses

A reportedly haunted East Sussex house is set to reopen for the first time in five years with a brand new Downton Abbey-style experience.

While Preston Manor has been open for special events and to school groups, April will mark its first opening to the public since before the coronavirus pandemic with a "fresh new, immersive experience".

Once home to Ellen and Charles Thomas-Stanford, there have been reported ghost sightings at the Brighton manor since the 19th Century, according to Hedley Swain, the CEO of Brighton & Hove Museums which runs the site.

He said the manor was "steeped in ghostly mystery, with spine-chilling hauntings and tales of eerie sightings and unexplained incidents".

The grand manor tells the stories of its former inhabitants, Ellen and Charles Thomas-Stanford

"The house provides a unique opportunity to journey back in time to the grandeur of early 20th Century aristocratic life, exploring the upstairs-downstairs lives of the eminent Thomas-Stanford family," he added.

There will be guided tours to cover the history and ghosts of the house as well as the walled gardens that back onto Preston Park.

The reopened manor will also boast a tearoom serving a traditional Edwardian cream tea and a children's trail.

Preston Manor will be open between 10:00 and16:00 GMT every Friday, Saturday, and Sunday from 5 April until 31 October.