Herstmonceux

Herstmonceux
The windmill
Herstmonceux  Herstmonceux shown within East Sussex
Area	24.7 km2 (9.5 sq mi) [1]
Population	2,613 (2011)[2]
– density	273/sq mi (105/km2)
OS grid reference	TQ635125
– London	45 miles (72 km) N
District	Wealden
Shire county	East Sussex
Region	South East
Country	England
Sovereign state	United Kingdom
Post town	HAILSHAM
Postcode district	BN27
Dialling code	01323
Police	Sussex
Fire	East Sussex
Ambulance	South East Coast
EU Parliament	South East England
UK Parliament	Bexhill and Battle
Website	Herstmonceux Parish
List of places UK England East Sussex

Coordinates: 50°53′N 0°19′E / 50.89°N 0.32°E / 50.89; 0.32

Herstmonceux (/ˌhɜːrsmənˈzuː/ hurs-mən-ZOO or /-ˈsuː/ -SOO)^[3] is a village and civil parish in the Wealden District of East Sussex, England. The parish includes Herstmonceux Castle, the village of Cowbeech and a number of smaller hamlets.

History

The name ’’Herstmonceux’’ comes from Anglo-Saxon hyrst, "wooded hill", plus the name of the Monceux family who were lords of the manor here in the 12th century.

Governance

The parish council consists of eleven elected members. An electoral ward in the same name exists. This ward had a population at the 2011 census of 2,852.^[4]

Geography

The village (previously called Gardner Street) is part of the larger Herstmonceux civil parish, which includes Cowbeech and the hamlets of Foul Mile, Trolliloes, Cowbeech Hill, Stunts Green, Ginger's Green, Flowers Green and part of Windmill Hill. Cowbeech village is located to the north-west of the parish.

Landmarks

Herstmonceux Castle

Former Royal Greenwich Observatory.

Herstmonceux Castle (some 2 miles (3.2 km) south-east of the village) is a former site of the Royal Greenwich Observatory. It is now home to the Bader International Study Centre of Queen's University, Kingston, Canada, and the area therefore enjoys an influx of Canadian and other international students each school year. The castle grounds are also home to the Observatory Science Centre, which is operated by Science Projects Limited, and the Herstmonceux Mediaeval Festival.^[5] Buckwell Place was the seat of the Hare family.

There are two Sites of Special Scientific Interest within the Parish. Herstmonceux Park is of importance because of its wetland habitat and fen vegetation. It is the only known location of Milk Parsley (Peucedanum palustre) in the south-east.^[6] The second site, Pevensey Levels, lies partially in the parish. The site is of biological interest consisting of low-lying grazing meadows, hosting a wide variety of wetland flora and fauna.^[7]

Education

Education is provided at Herstmonceux CE Primary School.^[8]

Religion

All Saints (Church of England) parish church,^[9] with its 12th century west tower and 13th/14th century nave, overlooks the Castle. Herstmonceux Congregational Church, located just outside the village on the way to the castle, was erected in 1811 and is now a listed building.

Economy

The Herstmonceux area is famous for the making of trugs – baskets made from split willow boards set in an ash or chestnut frame. A number of local people continue this tradition. There are also a number of local B&Bs which provide lodgings for tourists staying in the area due to its rural nature but close proximity to London, Brighton and other coastal towns and cities.

Leisure

The Herstmonceux Medieval Festival is held annually in August.^[10]

Twinning

The village is twinned with Varengeville-sur-Mer, in Normandy, France.^[11]

References

External links

Wikimedia Commons has media related to Herstmonceux.

Wikisource has the text of the 1911 Encyclopædia Britannica article Hurstmonceaux.

• Cowbeech village website