Crown Tegleaze

Crown Tegleaze
Sussex
Through Tegleaze Woodland on Crown Tegleaze
Range:	South Downs
Summit:	837 feet SU940150 50°55’37"N, -0°39’45"W

Crown Tegleaze is a hill in the South Downs of Sussex, just south of the village of Graffham. It is part of a long ridge in the west of the South Downs, encompassing Duncton Down, a noted viewpoint, immediately to the east.

The hill's precipitous escarpment is to the north, the dip slope to the south, and along the top of the escarpment run the South Downs Way long-distance footpath. Crown Tegleaze is the highest point on the South Downs in Sussex (and slightly higher than the 814 feet boasted by Ditchling Beacon), and the highest part of the South Downs Way in the county.

The hill is thickly wooded, but one solitary, isolate farm, Tegleaze Farm, is here.

The name of the hill is from the 'teg': a Sussex word for a yearling (a sheep in the second year of its life).

When the woods give way, the hill provides a fine viewpoint (50°55’54"N, -0°39’36"W; 774 feet) with views over Woolavington Down and beyond the sandy heathland of Lavington and Graffham Commons and on towards Hampshire.

History and heritage

Ancient traces are found on the hill, including a prehistoric linear boundary earthwork.

There's an interesting signpost by the viewpoint marking the way to Roman Chichester and inscribed with indecipherable initials. The signpost is not ancient though: it was put up by the Cowdray Hunt.

References

• [www.westsussex.info/south-downs-way-crown-tegleaze.shtml South Downs Way: Crown Tegleaze] – WSCC