Ditchling

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Ditchling
Ditchling (East Sussex)
Ditchling

Ditchling shown within East Sussex
Area[1] sq mi (15.49 km²)
Population 2,027 (2007)[1]
1,802 (2001 Census)
 - Density 338.9/sq mi (130.9/km²)
OS grid reference TQ325151
 - London 37 miles (60 km) N
District Lewes
Shire county East Sussex
Region South East
Constituent country England
Sovereign state United Kingdom
Post town HASSOCKS
Postcode district BN6 8
Dialling code 01273
Police Sussex
Fire East Sussex
Ambulance South East Coast
European Parliament South East England
UK Parliament Lewes
List of places: UKEnglandEast Sussex

Coordinates: 50°55′N 0°07′W / 50.92, -0.11

Ditchling is a village and civil parish in the Lewes District of East Sussex, England. An artistic community founded by the artist Eric Gill during the early 20th century, and known as The Guild of St Joseph and St Dominic[2] survived until 1989.

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[edit] Location

The village lies at the foot of the South Downs in East Sussex, but very close to the border with West Sussex. The settlement stands around a crossroads with Brighton to the south, Burgess Hill and Haywards Heath to the north, Keymer and Hassocks to the west, and Lewes to the east, and is built on a slight spur of land between the Downs to the south and Lodge Hill to the north.

[edit] History

The history of Ditchling starts properly in Saxon times when the people of Dicul settled here and King Alfred the Great held lands as a Royal Manor.

[edit] The Guild of St Joseph and St Dominic

Eric Gill, the sculptor and letter cutter, came to Ditchling in 1907 with his apprentice Joseph Cribb and was soon followed by other craftsmen. In 1921 they founded the Guild of St Joseph and St Dominic, a Roman Catholic community of artists and craftsmen, inspired by ideas of the medieval guilds and the Arts and Crafts movement. The community had its own workshops and chapel, and thrived for many years. Its affairs were finally wound up in 1989, and the workshops demolished.


[edit] Notable Residents

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