Westmeston
| Westmeston | |
| Sussex | |
|---|---|
 St Martin's Church | |
| Location | |
| Grid reference: | TQ338136 |
| Location: | 50°54’25"N, 0°6’0"W |
| Data | |
| Population: | 343 (2011) |
| Post town: | Hassocks |
| Postcode: | BN6 |
| Dialling code: | 01273 |
| Local Government | |
| Council: | Lewes |
| Parliamentary constituency: |
Lewes |
Westmeston is a village in Sussex heavily dependent in amenities on larger Ditchling to the near-immediate north-west. It is four miles south of Burgess Hill and six miles west of Lewes, on the northern slopes of the South Downs.
The name 'Westmeston' comes from Saxon English meaning 'most westerly farm', probably from Plumpton.[1]
History
Like much of the Wealden landscape, most of this area was common land. There was Westmeston Common and Middleton Common both enclosed within twelve years of each other in 1672 and 1684. The name 'Middleton' is thought to be so called as it sits between Streat and Westmeston.[1] Middleton Drove (TQ349169), between The Plantation and Streat Lane Green, was used by villagers to seasonally move their livestock and crops and continues deeper into the weald. It was largely cleared in recent years and is now just a path and fence line with a few surviving bluebells.
St Martin's Church
The parish church, St Martin, is a modestly sized church. It dates, with much restoration and addition, from the 12th and 14th centuries. The nave was built by the Normans soon after 1100, and the original north doorway remains.
The ecclesiastical parish is today united with Streat and Ditchling.[2] The church had frescoes painted by the Lewes Group which were only uncovered in 1862, although they were not preserved.
About the village
The scarp of the South Downs hereabouts is designated a site of special scientific interest, known as 'Clayton to Offham Escarpment', a site which passes through many parishes including Westmeston, to Lewes in the east. The site is of biological importance due to its rare chalk grassland habitat along with its woodland and scrub.[3]
A stone marking the resting place of King Ealdwulf of Sussex, circa 765, stands opposite St. Martin's Church at the village centre.
Westmeston is a thin parish that stretches from the southern parish of Falmer on the South Downs, down the escarpment and to the Wivelsfield parish in the north. It sits between the Streat parish to the east and Ditchling to the west. The parish has some rich, ancient woodlands and the Bevern Stream, which feeds the River Ouse, starts here.
Outside links
 |
("Wikimedia Commons" has material about Westmeston) |
- A History of the County of Sussex - Volume 7 pp 116-119: Parishes: Westmeston (Victoria County History)
References
- ↑ 1.0 1.1 Mawer, A.; Stenton, F.M.; with Gover, J. E. B.: 'Place-Names of Sussex , Part' (English Place-Names Society, 1929/30)
- ↑ "A Church Near You". https://www.achurchnearyou.com/search/?lat=50.907&lon=-0.100.
- ↑ SSSI listing and designation for Clayton to Offham Escarpment
