Cuckmere Valley
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| Cuckmere Valley | |
  Cuckmere Valley shown within East Sussex |
|
| Area[1] | 6.8 sq mi (17.6 km²) |
|---|---|
| Population | 197 (2007)[1] |
| - Density | 30/sq mi (12/km²) |
| OS grid reference | |
| - London | 50 miles (80 km) NNW |
| District | Wealden |
| Shire county | East Sussex |
| Region | South East |
| Constituent country | England |
| Sovereign state | United Kingdom |
| Post town | POLEGATE |
| Postcode district | BN26 |
| Dialling code | 01323 |
| Police | Sussex |
| Fire | East Sussex |
| Ambulance | South East Coast |
| European Parliament | South East England |
| UK Parliament | Lewes |
| Eastbourne | |
| List of places: UK • England • East Sussex | |
Cuckmere Valley is a civil parish in the Wealden District of East Sussex, England. As its name suggests, the parish consists of a number of small settlements in the lower reaches of the River Cuckmere.[2]
Contents |
[edit] The settlements
The settlements within the Cuckmere Valley parish are Litlington, Lullington and West Dean.
[edit] Lullington
Lullington is the most northerly of the three, about 10 miles southeast of Lewes, East Sussex, England. It lies on a shoulder of the South Downs at the point where the River Cuckmere cuts through the downs. It lies on the opposite bank of the river to Alfriston.[3] A medieval village, Lullington Court, was abandoned after the Black Death; its site was to the east of the present Lullington. The church, dedicated to the Good Shepherd, is believed to be the smallest in England, having been rebuilt utilising only the original chancel after a fire had destroyed the remainder of the building. Services are only held in the summer months, since there are no electricity supplies to the building.[4][5] The village is home to a Site of Special Scientific Interest, Lullington Heath.
[edit] Litlington
The name is Saxon, and probably indicates Litl's homestead. The twelfth century church here is dedicated to St Michael the Archangel. Maria Fitzherbert (1756–1837), mistress of George IV, lived at Clapham House in the village.
In 1924 a chalk figure of a horse was cut into the downs to the west of the village, replacing one cut in the 19th century.[6] The village inn is the Plough and Harrow[7]
[edit] West Dean
West Dean is located on the edge of ‘’Friston Forest’’. Its church is dedicated to All Saints[8]
[edit] Exceat
Exceat (pronounced ex-seat) was an ancient village, today in the parish of Cuckmere Valley, and located on what is now the A259 just east of the River Cuckmere. The name may have come from the Old English for "the place of the Aese", early kings of Kent. After the Norman conquest, the village was given to Robert, Count of Mortain, half brother of William the Conqueror. Both Exceat and the land were given later to Grestein Priory in Wilmington.
Until the 14th century, Exceat was an important village with its own church. The village suffered French raids; and was devastated by the Black Death, which led to its being effectively abandoned by the 15th century
Today, the main features are the Visitors Centre for the nearby Seven Sisters[9] and the Golden Galleon Public House[10] across Exceat Bridge over the Cuckmere.
The National Trust owns land on the western side of the river south of the A259.
[edit] References
- ^ a b East Sussex in Figures. East Sussex County Council. Retrieved on 2008-04-26.
- ^ Parish Election results (includes map showing location of the parish)
- ^ Kelly's Directory of Kent, Surrey & Sussex, 1891 Lullington notes
- ^ Lullington church
- ^ Notes on Alfristion, including further notes on Lullington
- ^ Short item on history of Littlington Horse
- ^ Plough and Harrow Inn
- ^ West Dean church
- ^ Seven Sisters Country Park Visitors Centre
- ^ Golden Galleon
