In Conversation with Martin Johnson & Paul Wong of Martin D Johnson Antiques

Talented and popular couple Martin Johnson and Paul Wong are creating a magical home and destination for visiting clients and friends at Foxhunt Manor, their historic estate in the marvellous Sussex landscape.

A long term project, which has seen dramatic yet sympathetic restoration and revival since they arrived a few years ago, now includes a glorious garden selling courtyard where their collection of statuary and antiques for the garden can be shown at its best. 

They are recognised as a go to stand at The Decorative Antiques & Textiles Fair for their stellar displays and also known for the many parties and events they host from their home.  They tell us about plans for the estate and the business in the post pandemic Brexit era.

Open Day at Foxhunt Manor, Foxhunt Green, Waldron, East Sussex TN21 0RX

Saturday 19 August, 2023 from 11.00 am - 5.00 pm

ANF - We were excited to hear about the Foxhunt Manor Open Day on Saturday 19 August 2023 and would love to hear more about this?

MDJ - We have had many requests from dealers and private clients about access to the showrooms and selling garden. There are many people local to us are who are interested in seeing the grounds of Foxhunt Manor as it has been a closed order Monastery/Convent for the last sixty plus years.  We would have held an official opening when the showrooms were first opened but gathering restrictions because of COVID prevented this. Now that things are back to normal, we are delighted to open the showrooms and grounds up for people to explore.

ANF - What is the history of the estate?  Was it once a Catholic Monastery?

MDJ - Though the manor house is only 125 years old, the hunting estate dates back to 1042 when it was owed by Edward the Confessor.  Subsequent owners were John Duke of Norfolk, Thomas Pelham and Joseph Lucas, who built the current house in 1898.  In 1936 the house was purchased by the Xaverian Brothers, who ran it as boys boarding school. 

During world War II the house was commandeered by the army, soldiers camped in the grounds prior to the D Day landings.  In 1959 a contemplative order of nuns, the Order of the Visitation, took over the house for a monastery.  Until 2015 the order was closed and the building unseen, even by locals.  We took the house on in 2018 and the story continues.    

 Antiques in the Selling Show Garden

ANF -  What are your plans for the estate going forward?  We heard that you will be developing the grounds and the manor house as a wedding venue? 

MDJ - We are still considering our options for the estate; wedding venue is one option, and we have a few outbuildings which will be converted to holiday lets.  One of the most exciting parts of the restoration is the gardens. Once these are complete, we hope to open them up to the public under the National Open Garden Scheme.

The Wedding Ceremony Garden - Fozhunt Manor

ANF - We also heard that you will be developing some of the many bedrooms for visiting US trade clients to stay and to use the estate as their base at they travel around England on their buying trips?  Will you be offering any other business related events for the trade?

MDJ - We are developing the holiday lets for our visiting US trade clients. We are also considering what other facilities our clients would need to assist them in their work e.g. caterers, storage space etc.

ANF - Your business has changed over the years – you were originally an oak and silver dealer back in the early Seaford days in the 80s and 90s?  When did you have the lightbulb moment to pivot towards the decorative trade? 

MDJ - In the early days I did specialise in silver, but I have also always had an interest in all aspects of the antiques world. My father was dealing mainly with American trade clients and it was this exposure that showed me that they were interested in decorative antiques. When the business was expanded 25 years ago, we decided to make decorative antiques our focus. It was at this time that my partner Paul joined the business and help with the expansion.

A past display at The Decorative Antiques & Textiles Fair, Battersea

ANF - Martin, your father, David Johnson of Seaford Antiques, was a well known South Coast dealer in the 70s – did you decide to join the family firm and how much did your father influence your career path?  What did he think about the big decision to acquire Foxhunt?

MDJ - It is true that my father was well known in the antiques world, especially in and around the Brighton area. He was very proud of what we had achieved if not, like most people, a little scared off the ongoing workload. Sadly didn’t live long enough to see the showrooms open, but both the show gardens and showrooms now bear a plaque in his name.

I chose not to join the family business, instead I went to work for Julian Dawson a Lewes based auction house, where I trained and learned about about all aspects of the antiques business.  I did this for 10 years and also sold from Bermondsey market for a further 10 years before purchasing my own building in Seaford where I ran a successful business for many years.

A past display at The Decorative Antiques & Textiles Fair, Battersea

ANF - We are delighted to hear that you will be exhibiting at The Decorative Antiques & Textiles Fair at Battersea Park 3-8 October this year.  How long have you been a regular exhibitor at the fair?  How much is the fair a part of your business?

MDJ - Paul and I made the decision to step away from the Decorative Fair at Battersea for one year in order to focus on the restoration of Foxhunt. We have been exhibiting at the decorative fair for 15 years and attended all three fairs each year. We love attending the fair for the interesting people, the creative atmosphere and good business opportunities, but mainly because we love to put on a show. We look forward to returning in October with a new refreshed look.  

Garden Antiques Selling Show Gardens

ANF - You have always been a regular buyer in Europe, how has Brexit affected your travel routine and what is your assessment of how it has affected the UK trade? 

MDJ - It is no secret that we did not support Brexit as regular visitors to France and other parts of Europe. The additional red tape associated with Brexit has made importing stock more complex and more expensive. That said, we as a country have made this democratic decision and we will have to do our best to make it work.

ANF - Paul, you came from a corporate background in tech with a high flying job travelling the world – how have you adapted to the somewhat eccentric world of the decorative antiques trade?  What is the best part and the worst?

PW - I started my career with a focus on technology but at the end of my corporate career I was employed as a business change consultant, so the transition wasn’t too painful. I consider myself to be more artistic than practical and moving into the decorative antiques world has allowed me to have a second career using a different set of skills. The best part of this new career for me is creating the stands for the Decorative Fair, I think I may be a frustrated theatre set designer. The worst aspect of the business – there is a general resistance to change.

Foxhunt Manor

ANF - You are an extremely socialable couple and enjoy entertaining frequently, but how do you actually unwind when you get some rare free time away from the business plus acres of grounds to maintain and a historic manor house to restore?

MDJ - We both enjoy walking with our dogs, I spend much of my down time in the garden. Paul also enjoys gardening and cooking for our friends.  

Martin & Paul at Foxhunt Manor

For more information about visiting Foxhunt Manor contact Martin or Paul at Martin D Johnson Antiques

For ticket enquiries for the Decorative Antiques & Textiles Fair, 3-8 October, 2023 contact Tickets at The Decorative Fair