East Dean and Friston

From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia

East Dean and Friston
Seven Sisters from Birling Gap
East Dean and Friston shown within East Sussex
Area^[1]	3.3 sq mi (8.5 km²)
Population	1577 (2007)^[1]
- Density	475/sq mi (183/km²)
OS grid reference	TV552983
- London	53 miles (85 km) NNW
District	Wealden
Shire county	East Sussex
Region	South East
Constituent country	England
Sovereign state	United Kingdom
Post town	EASTBOURNE
Postcode district	BN20
Dialling code	01323
Police	Sussex
Fire	East Sussex
Ambulance	South East Coast
European Parliament	South East England
UK Parliament	Eastbourne
Website: http://eastdeanvillage.org.uk/
List of places: UK • England • East Sussex

Coordinates: 50°46′N 0°12′E / 50.76, 0.2

East Dean and Friston is a civil parish ^[2] in the Wealden District of East Sussex, England.The two villages in the parish are in a dry valley on the South Downs - between Eastbourne three miles (4.8 km) to the east and Seaford an equal distance to the west. The main A259 road goes through both village centres.

[edit] The villages

East Dean lies in the valley bottom: Friston is at the top of the hill to the west. Within both villages are a large number of buildings of historic interest ^[3]

The church in East Dean, dedicated to St Simon and St Jude, has an Saxon tower and an unusual tapsel gate (preventing cattle from entering the churchyard); that at Friston is dedicated to St Mary the Virgin ^[4]. The churches have formed a United Benefice since 1688. The latter contains Tudor monuments to the local family Selwyn.

[edit] Birling Gap

Birling Gap, July 2001

Birling Gap is a coastal hamlet within the parish. It is situated on the Seven Sisters not far from Beachy Head and is owned by the National Trust. Coastal erosion has already removed some of the row of fishing cottages built in 1878.^[5] Today there is a hotel with a café/tea room, and steps leading down to the enclosed pebble beach and the Seven Sisters chalk cliffs.