Chauncey: I'm a partner in my assignment expert The property in Thakeham, West Sussex, was built in 1902 by Sir Edwin Lutyens, who went on to design famous sites including New Delhi and the First World War Thiepval memorial in France. The architect had spent 50 years working on many iconic buildings, but said this was 'the best private house of the bunch'. It was commissioned by wine importer Ernest Blackburn.