Sedlescombe is a village and civil parish in the Rother district of East Sussex, England. The village is on the B2244 road, about 6 miles (10 km) north of Hastings. The parish includes the hamlet of Kent Street, which is on the A21 road.

Sedlescombe
St John the Baptist parish church
Sedlescombe is located in East Sussex
Sedlescombe
Sedlescombe
Location within East Sussex
Area12.6 km2 (4.9 sq mi) [1]
Population1,476 (2011 Census)
• Density273/sq mi (105/km2)
OS grid referenceTQ781180
• London48 mi (77 km) NW
Civil parish
  • Sedlescombe
District
Shire county
Region
CountryEngland
Sovereign stateUnited Kingdom
Post townBattle
Postcode districtTN33
Dialling code01424
PoliceSussex
FireEast Sussex
AmbulanceSouth East Coast
UK Parliament
WebsiteSedlescombe Parish Council
List of places
UK
England
East Sussex
50°56′N 0°32′E / 50.93°N 0.53°E / 50.93; 0.53

The parish is in the High Weald Area of Outstanding Natural Beauty. The River Brede and its tributary, the River Line, flow through it; Powdermill Reservoir is on its eastern boundary. The 2011 Census recorded the parish's population as 1,476.[2]

Manor

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In the reign of Edward the Confessor (1042–66) Countess Godgifu was overlord of the manor of Sedlescombe. Her Lord of the manor was a Saxon called Leofsi,[3] who also held a manor at Marden in what is now West Sussex. The Domesday Book of 1086 records that, by that date, the Norman nobleman Robert, Count of Eu held the manor of Sedlescombe. His tenant-in-chief was one Walter, son of Lambert,[3] who also held manors at Crowhurst, Hazelhurst and Ripe. The village name seems to derive from Old English 'setl' meaning a seat or residence, and 'comb' meaning valley or low place.[4][5]

Notable buildings

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Manor houses

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Manor Cottages in The Street is a 15th-century timber-framed building with a 16th-century extension. It was built as a single manor house but was later divided into five cottages. It was a Grade I listed building.[6]

Durhamford Manor in Stream Lane is an early 16th-century timber-framed house. It is a Grade II* listed building.[7]

Churches

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St John's parish is now part of the Benefice of Sedlescombe with Whatlington.[8] The Church of England parish church of St John the Baptist has a 15th-century Perpendicular Gothic nave, north aisle and west tower. The present chancel, south aisle and south porch were added in 1866–74 as part of a restoration by Norman and Billing. The chancel's north and south windows have stained glass made by CE Kempe in 1890.[9] The building is Grade II* listed.[10]

The west tower has a ring of six bells. Robert Mot of Houndsditch and Whitechapel cast the tenor bell in 1592. Joseph Carter of Whitechapel cast the fifth bell in 1606 and the second, third and fourth bells in 1607. Mears & Stainbank of the Whitechapel Bell Foundry cast the treble bell in 1929.[11]

 
United Reformed Church

There is also a United Reformed Church.[12]

Other

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Asselton House in The Street is a 15th-century timber-framed house. Its northwest wing was added in the 19th century.[13]

Pestalozzi International Village, named after the Swiss philanthropist Johann Heinrich Pestalozzi, is an educational charity founded in 1946.[14] In 1959 it moved to Oaklands, a Tudor Revival house in Sedlescombe. A Warden's House and International House were designed for it by Hugh Casson and Neville Conder.[9]

Amenities

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The Queen's Head

Sedlescombe has a 15th-century pub, the Queen's Head Inn,[15] that is now a gastropub.[16] There is also a hotel[17] and a bed and breakfast.[18]

The village has a post office and general store[19] and a Church of England primary school.[20]

Just outside the village is Sedlescombe Golf Club,[21] which hosts the James Andrews School of Golf.[22]

Notable people

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See also

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References

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  1. ^ "East Sussex in Figures". East Sussex County Council. Retrieved 26 April 2008.
  2. ^ "Area: Sedlescombe (Parish): Key Figures for 2011 Census: Key Statistics". Neighbourhood Statistics. Office for National Statistics. Retrieved 31 August 2015.
  3. ^ a b Sedlescombe in the Domesday Book. Retrieved 1 September 2015.
  4. ^ [1] VillageNet Kent & Sussex Village name Derivations
  5. ^ [2] Old English Translator
  6. ^ Historic England. "Manor Cottages (Grade I) (1274791)". National Heritage List for England. Retrieved 31 August 2015.
  7. ^ Historic England. "Durhamford Manor (Grade II*) (1222027)". National Heritage List for England. Retrieved 31 August 2015.
  8. ^ Archbishops' Council. "Benefice of Sedlescombe with Whatlington". A Church Near You. Church of England. Retrieved 31 August 2015.
  9. ^ a b Nairn & Pevsner 1965, p. 604.
  10. ^ Historic England. "The Parish Church of St John the Baptist (Grade II*) (1275087)". National Heritage List for England. Retrieved 31 August 2015.
  11. ^ Rix, Geoff (23 August 2011). "Sedlescombe: S John Bapt". Dove's Guide for Church Bell Ringers. Retrieved 31 August 2015.
  12. ^ "United Reformed Church Directory". United Reformed Church. Retrieved 31 August 2015.
  13. ^ Historic England. "Asselton House (Grade II) (1222076)". National Heritage List for England. Retrieved 31 August 2015.
  14. ^ Pestalozzi
  15. ^ Historic England. "The Queen's Head Inn (Grade II) (1222072)". National Heritage List for England. Retrieved 31 August 2015.
  16. ^ The Queens Head
  17. ^ The Brickwall Hotel Battle
  18. ^ Kester House Bed & Breakfast
  19. ^ Sedlescombe Post Office and Store
  20. ^ Sedlescombe CE Primary School
  21. ^ Sedlescombe Golf Club
  22. ^ The James Andrews School of Golf

Sources and further reading

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The Green, with Sedlescombe Post Office and Stores on the right
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