Barcombe

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Barcombe (population 1,000) is a quiet East Sussex village lying just some 4 miles (6.4km) north of Lewes. It is also the name of one of the civil parishes in the Lewes District of East Sussex. Within the parish are Barcombe itself (the older of the settlements); Barcombe Cross, the larger of the two villages; and the area around Barcombe Mills, on the River Ouse.

Barcombe is probably best known to local Sussex folk and tourists for its 'Mills', a reference to an old water-mill complex on the River Ouse at the base of the hill upon which Barcombe Cross is situated. The Mills were a favourite Sunday outing for townsfolk from Lewes and Brighton before World War II, when the mills were burnt down. Today, boating from The Anchor is the popular summer's day activity.

Barcombe was recorded in the Domesday Book as "Berchamp", a reference to fields of barley. Remains have been also found of three Roman villas and an associated bath house just to the south of the village.

Barcombe parish church is dedicated to St Mary, and is in the older village.

[edit] Communications

Road: the A26 road between Lewes and Uckfield runs south-east of the villages.
Rail: two railway lines ran through the villages: the line between Lewes and Uckfield opened in October 1868; and the line from East Grinstead, part of which is now the Bluebell Railway.

There were stations on each of the two lines: Barcombe on the East Grinstead line, and Barcombe Mills on the Uckfield line, with a junction south of the latter before the line continued to Lewes. Barcombe closed on 17 March 1958, whilst Barcombe Mills closed on 4 May 1969. Part of the line is now a cycle track.