Herstmonceux
| Herstmonceux | |
| Sussex | |
|---|---|
 Windmill Hill Mill, Herstmonceux | |
| Location | |
| Grid reference: | TQ635125 |
| Location: | 50°53’24"N, -0°19’12"E |
| Data | |
| Population: | 2,598 (2007 est.) |
| Post town: | Hailsham |
| Postcode: | BN27 |
| Dialling code: | 01323 |
| Local Government | |
| Council: | Wealden |
| Parliamentary constituency: |
Bexhill and Battle |
| Website: | Herstmonceux Parish |
Herstmonceux is a village in Sussex, most famous for Herstmonceux Castle.
The village was previously called Gardner Street, and is part of a wider 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.
Name
The unusual name Herstmonceux combines two languages. It comes from Old English hyrst meaning "wooded hill", plus the name of the Monceux family who were lords of the manor here in the 12th century.
Landmarks
Herstmonceux Castle stands some two miles south-east of the village. Here too 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 Mediæval Festival.[1]
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.[2] 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.[3]
Churches
The parish church is All Saints.[4] It has a 12th-century west tower and 13th/14th century nave, and 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.
Big Society
The Herstmonceux Mediæval Festival is held annually in August.[5]
Outside links
 |
("Wikimedia Commons" has material about Herstmonceux) |
References
- ↑ The Observatory Science Centre, Herstmonceux
- ↑ SSSI listing and designation for Herstmonceux Park
- ↑ SSSI listing and designation for Pevensey Levels
- ↑ All Saints church
- ↑ Herstmonceux Mediæval Festival