Bateman's, a Jacobean Wealden sandstone mansion built in 1634, was the home of author Rudyard Kipling from 1902 until his death in 1936. The rooms in the house are kept as they were when Kipling and his wife Carrie and their children Josie, Elsie and John lived there.

Kipling's booklined study, contains his walnut refectory table by a window overlooking the front lawn. His pens paperweight and pipe are still there. It is here he wrote many of his great works such as "If", "Puck of Pooks Hill", and "The Glory of the Garden".

The gardens at Bateman's are indeed glorious and feature an orchard, vegetable garden and large pond. In the visitors book, Kipling made a habit of writing FIP (Fell In Pond) beside some names. Kipling notes that on 20 August 1920 at about 6:30pm his mother fell in the pond.

His wife left the house to the National Trust on her death in 1939, and it has since been opened to the public.

The National Trust for Places of Historic Interest or Natural Beauty, known as the National Trust, conserves over 500 properties in England, Wales and Northern Ireland, such as historic houses, gardens, mills, coastline, forests, farmland, moorland, islands, castles, nature reserves, and even entire villages. It was established in 1895 and its first property was Alfriston Clergy House in East Sussex.

Many sites are in the countryside. When visiting please follow the Countryside Code. Leave only your footprints, take away only memories. If dogs are allowed, please keep them under control. Leave gates and property as you find them. Respect people, wildlife and property.

The National Trust is a registered charity and donations are gratefully received to fund important work. You may donate by clicking the Charity Link below.