The name Stanmer derives from the Saxon "Stony Mere" - meaning "Stoney Pond".
In 1713, Henry Pelham of Lewes bought Stanmer Estate for £7,500. He died in 1721 and his eldest son Henry then appointed Nicolas Dubois to design a new house in the fashionable Palladian style. With the old Manor demolished, work began on the new house in 1722.
In 1775 the Pelham family also acquired Falmer Manor, and the two estates were combined - later to be known as the Chichester Estate.
The Pelham family continued to live in Stanmer House until the death of the 8th Earl, John Buxton who was killed in WWII.
In 1942 Stanmer was requisitioned by the War Office and in 1946 Stanmer House was bought by Brighton Corporation as the Pelham's were badly hit by Inheritance tax. The house was leased to the University of Sussex from 1961 to 1980.
Finally after years of neglect in 2004 Cherrywood Investments bought and rennovated the house in the beautiful venue it is today.