A historic country house with a rich past housing Canadian troops during World War Two is opening its doors to the public this spring.

Firle Place, four miles south-east of Lewes, will welcome visitors from May 3.

Home to the Gage family for more than 500 years, the house has a Georgian facade, Tudor roots and a renowned collection of art and antiques.

Firle Place, the stately home near Lewes that has been in the Gage family for more than 500 years. (Image: NQ)

Visitors can see paintings by Van Dyck, Gainsborough and Reynolds, plus rare Sevres porcelain and Chippendale’s Melbourne cabinets.

Some of the collection was stolen in July 2009, including a Chippendale table and the “Firle Vases”, but police later recovered antiques worth about £5 million.

Firle Place was built in the late 15th century by Sir John Gage, and its Georgian exterior cladding was later added using Caen stone to give it a classical French chateau look.

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Graham Hawthorn, a member of the Facebook group History of Sussex, said: “During the Second World War, the pupils of Southover Manor School in Lewes occupied the house using the state rooms as classrooms and dormitories, and eating their meals in the Great Hall.”

He said the pupils caused little trouble compared with three divisions of Canadian soldiers based there from 1940 to 1945.

Hawthorn said the soldiers were accused of damaging the house and draining the wine cellars.

Firle Place has also featured on screen as the setting for the 2020 adaptation of Jane Austen’s Emma.

Johnny Flynn and Anya Taylor-Joy on the set of the 2020 film Emma at Firle Place in East Sussex (handout image). (Image: NQ)

The Times described it as having a “feudal but aesthetic vibe.”

The Times named Firle among the UK’s 25 prettiest village mini-breaks in 2025.

It added that “much of this village near Lewes is still owned by the Gage family.”

Lord Gage pictured outside Firle Place. (Image: NQ)

More details and visitor information are available on the Firle Place website.