Kirdford | |
Kirdford
Kirdford shown within West Sussex |
|
Area | 20.09 km2 (7.76 sq mi) [1] |
---|---|
Population | 912 [1] 2001 Census |
- Density | 45 /km2 (120 /sq mi) |
OS grid reference | TQ017266 |
- London | 38 miles (61 km) NNE |
Parish | Kirdford |
District | Chichester |
Shire county | West Sussex |
Region | South East |
Country | England |
Sovereign state | United Kingdom |
Post town | BILLINGSHURST |
Postcode district | RH14 |
Dialling code | 01403 |
Police | Sussex |
Fire | West Sussex |
Ambulance | South East Coast |
EU Parliament | South East England |
UK Parliament | Horsham |
List of places: UK • England • West Sussex |
Kirdford is a village and civil parish in the District of Chichester in West Sussex, England located 6.5 kilometres (4.0 mi) north east of Petworth. The parish has a land area of 2,008 hectares (4,960 acres). In the 2001 census 912 people lived in 373 households, of whom 448 were economically active.[1]
The village has an Anglican church dedicated to St John the Baptist and a chapel and two pubs, The Foresters and the Half Moon. Other amenities include a shop and the village hall which was enlarged in 1977.
In the Middle Ages iron production using ironstone and charcoal, and forest glass making were important industries. In the twentieth century apple growing was established through a cooperative venture, Kirdford Growers, based at the western end of the village. This has now ended and the warehouse site is being used for house building.
In 2011, Kirdford Village Stores won 'Best Corner Shop' in the Telegraph's Best Small Shops in Britain Awards.
There is no reference to a church in the Domesday Book of 1086. The Grade I listed church of St. John the Baptist is built of local sandstone and roofed with Horsham stone slabs.[2] Herringbone masonry and the style of column capitals indicate that the nave is early twelfth century.[3] The north aisle is thirteenth century and the tower fifteenth. The tower carries a peel of six bells and a clock. There are four stained glass windows by Charles Eamer Kempe.[4]
Near the road junction to the west of the church an inscribed stone set into the old rectory wall warns against drunkenness in no uncertain terms.