Westham

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Westham
Stone Cross Windmill
Westham shown within East Sussex
Area[1]	5.5 sq mi (14.2 km²)
Population	5829 (Parish-2007)[1]
- Density	1,067/sq mi (412/km²)
OS grid reference	TQ637045
- London	51 miles (82 km) NNW
District	Wealden
Shire county	East Sussex
Region	South East
Constituent country	England
Sovereign state	United Kingdom
Post town	PEVENSEY
Postcode district	BN24
Dialling code	01323
Police	Sussex
Fire	East Sussex
Ambulance	South East Coast
European Parliament	South East England
UK Parliament	Bexhill and Battle
Website: http://www.westhamparishcouncil.co.uk/
List of places: UK • England • East Sussex

Coordinates: 50°49′N 0°19′E / 50.82, 0.32

Westham is a village and large civil parish in the Wealden District of East Sussex, England. The village is adjacent to Pevensey five miles (8 km) north-west of Eastbourne. The parish consists of three settlements: Westham; Stone Cross; and Hankham. The parish is virtually part of the Greater Eastbourne conurbation, and much expansion has been occurring here: hence the large population.

Contents 1 History 2 Governance 3 Geography 4 Demography 5 Economy 6 Landmarks 7 Transport 8 Education 9 Religious sites 10 Leisure and Culture 11 Notable people 12 References

[edit] History

Although overshadowed by its close neighbour, Pevensey, Westham is recorded in the Domesday Book. Its name derives from being a hamlet to west side of Pevensey Castle.

[edit] Governance

The parish council has twelve elected members.^[2]

[edit] Geography

The parish lies along a ridge at the western end of the Pevensey Levels, the area once an inlet of the sea. The main village centre, Westham, is at the eastern end of the parish, and is virtually coterminous with Pevensey village.

[edit] Demography

[edit] Economy

[edit] Landmarks

Stone Cross is the home to a windmill which is located on high ground in the village. This tower mill was built between 1875 and 1876, the last of the type built in Sussex. Although ceasing commercial operation in 1937, it has since been refurbished and is open to the public.^[3] It is a Grade II* listed building ^[4]

[edit] Transport

The village is served by Pevensey and Westham railway station on the East Coastway Line. The A27 trunk road crosses the parish from west to east.

[edit] Education

There are three primary schools serving the parish: Pevensey and Westham School; Hankham County Primary School; and Stone Cross School.^[5]

[edit] Religious sites

There are two churches in the civil parish.^[6] The 11th-century St Mary's church at Westham ^[7], is reputed to be the first Norman church in England, although the church at Bramber also claims that title.

St Lukes parish church at Stone Cross (also serving the settlement of North Langley) ^[8] is a more recent building of 1926; it stands at a crossroads near the windmill. The church fell into disrepair during the 1970s and was refurbished and re-opened in 1988. The church hall is a recent addition to the church and was built in 2003. To the front of the church is the war memorial with the names of local people who lost their life during two world wars, whose names are read out during each Remembrance Sunday service.

[edit] Leisure and Culture

[edit] Notable people

Ian Gow (1937–1990), politician, was assassinated at his home in Hankham by an IRA bomb.

[edit] References