Firstly, the old vicarage was sold in 1908 to William Newzam. In 1910 it was bought as a summer retreat by the artist William Nicholson who renamed it ‘The Grange.’ He had previously stayed in the village at North End House to produce a portrait of Rudyard Kipling.
Neighbouring ‘Hillside’ was rented by the theatre producer Sir Herbert Beerbohm Tree for his family each summer. When Steyning Beard sold it in 1910 they decamped to Nicholson’s home at The Grange. However, they rather took advantage by installing many friends and relations plus their servants! It was during this time that Felicity Beerbohm Tree built up a great friendship with the Nicholson’s son, Ben Nicholson, who was of a similar age.