Efforts are being made to protect a forgotten masterpiece by renowned architect Sir Edwin Luytens.

Few people who pass the White Lodge at The Cliff in Roedean realise it was designed by Sir Edwin.

He is best known for designing the Cenotaph in Whitehall and for his role in the creation of New Delhi.

But Sir Edwin, who died in 1944, was also an acclaimed designer of houses in the first 40 years of the past century.

Interior designer Kitty Edwards-Jones is campaigning to have the building in East Brighton listed as being of architectural or historic importance.

English Heritage has declined because it has been extensively altered but Brighton and Hove City Council is asking the conservation quango to have another look.

The house is currently divided into seven flats and Miss Edwards-Jones' parents, Catrin and Crawford, live in one of them.

She is worried that, without the protection listing gives, the house and gardens would be vulnerable to further alterations, ruining its character.

Miss Edwards-Jones said: "I feel passionate about saving this wonderful building and would like to see it reinstated.

"It is a great pity that it has been altered but it is still a fine building."

Sir Edwin built the house in 1924 for Lady Sackville. It has a sunken rose garden, which was either designed by him or Gertrude Jekyll.

The only other house in the area known to have had any work carried out by him is The Grange at Rottingdean, where he remodelled several rooms, although he may have been responsible for internal alterations at a house in Sussex Square.

Council conservation and design manager Rob Fraser has visited the building and was impressed with the house and the research work by Kitty Edwards-Jones.

He said English Heritage had not listed it because of the alterations but added: "We will ask them to have another look. It is of great interest and has an excellent garden. There are very few Luytens houses that are not listed."

Mr Fraser said the council would place it on its own list of buildings of local interest.

Anyone who knows about the history or has photographs of the house can contact Kitty Edward-Jones on 0207 387 3719.