Tottington Manor and the Secret Sussex Resistance: A Remarkable Second World War Story

Behind the calm gardens, AA Rosette dining and boutique hotel bedrooms of Tottington Manor lies one of the most extraordinary chapters in the history of the South Downs: during the Second World War the Manor served as the Sussex regional headquarters and a training base for the secret Auxiliary Units prepared to resist a German invasion.

A quiet South Downs manor with a secret purpose

Today, Tottington Manor is known as an independent boutique hotel, restaurant, wedding and events venue near Henfield. During the Second World War, however, its isolated position beneath the Downs made it useful for a very different purpose.

Local historian Stewart Angell’s detailed account on Fulking.net records that Tottington Manor became the regional headquarters for the Auxiliary Units in Sussex. These highly trained volunteers were intended to operate as a resistance force if Britain were invaded. The Manor’s central Sussex position and relative isolation made it well suited to covert training and coordination.

Who were the Auxiliary Units?

The Auxiliary Units were organised under the cover of the Home Guard but were trained for a much more specialised role. Small patrols were prepared to work from concealed operational bases, disrupt enemy activity and continue resistance after an invasion.

According to the Fulking history, Sussex had eastern and western scout patrols, and weekend training for Sussex patrols took place at Tottington Manor. Lectures and practical training were delivered by military personnel, with the surrounding countryside providing space for night exercises and inter-patrol competitions.

The underground hideout beneath Tottington Manor

One of the most striking elements of the story is the underground hideout constructed beneath the Manor. The Fulking account describes access through a concealed hatch in the cellar floor, leading to underground rooms with bunks, stores, cooking facilities and an emergency tunnel running out beneath the garden.

The intention was that, if invasion came, the building above could appear abandoned while personnel operated secretly below. It is a remarkable contrast with the same building today, where guests might arrive for afternoon tea, a family celebration, a wedding weekend or an overnight South Downs stay.

Training in the landscape around the hotel

The dramatic hills surrounding Tottington Manor were not just a backdrop. They were part of the practical landscape in which wartime training took place. The local history records an assault course in the grounds and lookout points positioned to observe movement across the surrounding area.

That geography is still one of the defining features of Tottington Manor. The hotel sits at the foot of the South Downs National Park, within easy reach of Brighton, Worthing and Burgess Hill, but feels distinctly rural. For modern visitors, the same setting offers walking, cycling, countryside views and the chance to connect with Sussex history.

Remembering the people behind the story

The history is ultimately about people rather than buildings. The Auxiliary Units relied on volunteers, local knowledge and secrecy. Their expected task would have been exceptionally dangerous had invasion occurred.

Tottington Manor’s wartime past has been researched and preserved by local historians and continues to attract interest. The Sussex Express has also reported on the hotel’s efforts to celebrate this history, helping bring a little-known part of the county’s wartime story to a wider audience.

From secret headquarters to boutique hotel

The role of Tottington Manor has changed dramatically, but its position in the Sussex landscape has not. Today the building combines 12 boutique bedrooms, TERRA Restaurant, AA Rosette dining, weddings, celebrations, business away days and private events.

For guests interested in local history, a stay can be combined with exploring the South Downs, nearby villages and historic sites across West Sussex. It is a chance to experience the landscape while understanding a little more about what happened here during one of the most uncertain periods in modern British history.

At a glance

• Sussex regional headquarters for the wartime Auxiliary Units
• Weekend training for secret resistance patrols took place at the Manor
• An underground hideout was constructed beneath the building
• The surrounding South Downs landscape played a practical role in training
• Today the site is a boutique hotel, AA Rosette dining destination and events venue