Walls That Talk: Rare Historic Paintings Discovered at The Mint House

The Mint House has always whispered of the past—but now, thanks to a recent conservation survey by leading wall paintings specialist Andrea Kirkham (generously funded by the Pilgrim Trust), those whispers are becoming vivid stories.

Hidden beneath layers of paint and plaster, Andrea has uncovered further traces of rare 16th- and 17th-century wall paintings—some astonishingly well-preserved. The findings reveal a previously unseen richness of interior decoration, ranging from boldly coloured, exuberant patterns to refined, understated schemes not previously recorded in Sussex. It’s a tantalising glimpse into the aesthetics of Tudor and Stuart-era hospitality—an early form of ‘pub décor’ with surprising sophistication.

Even more evocative are the naïve, graffiti-like sketches revealed: a ship painted on the plaster, fragmentary lettering, and the outline of a figure clad in doublet and hose. These intimate, informal images offer a rare and raw perspective into how these rooms were once used, inhabited, and imagined by the people who passed through them.

These discoveries deepen our understanding of The Mint House’s layered past—and mark an exciting new chapter in our journey to uncover its secrets.

Stay tuned: who knows what else lies beneath the surface?