Playden
| Playden | |
| Sussex | |
|---|---|
 Playden Oasts Hotel, Playden | |
| Location | |
| Grid reference: | TQ925226 |
| Location: | 50°58’12"N, 0°44’24"E |
| Data | |
| Population: | 340 (2011) |
| Post town: | Rye |
| Postcode: | TN31 |
| Dialling code: | 01797 |
| Local Government | |
| Council: | Rother |
| Parliamentary constituency: |
Hastings and Rye |
Playden is a village in Sussex, a mile north-west of Rye.
History
Playden appears in the Domesday Book as Pleidena. It is a largely rural parish, having no village centre, and the hamlet of Houghton Green is included in the parish. Playden's main occupation was fishing: the fish were salted in a one-time settlement known as Saltcote, after the fact that it had a fish salting industry based there. Saltcote Street is now all that remains of that industry.
Parish church
The parish church, St Michael, is a Norman church. It was begun in 1190, and contains a ladder to the bell tower dated 1686.[1]
The field in front of the Church formerly known as Beacon Oak Field was the site of a 15th century beacon at Sawcut, sighting from Tenterden and Alomsbridge (about Newington Bridge, Kent, name has disappeared). The beacon was in the form of a tar filled barrel and was set in an oak tree. The tree was burnt down around 1930 but the stump remains.
About the village
The parish includes a two-acre field known as The Butt Field, which since 1703 has been available to the people of the village for "archery practice, recreation and sport".[2] It is now mainly used for the grazing of sheep.
Within the parish Houghton Green Cliff is designated a Site of Special Scientific Interest. This is an exposed cliff face displaying sandstones of geological interest.[3]
In addition, part of the 'Dungeness, Romney Marsh & Rye SSSI' lies within Playden parish.
Outside links
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("Wikimedia Commons" has material about Playden) |
References
- Vidler, Leopold Aaron: 'A New History of Rye' (1934)
- Lambarde, William: 'A Perambulation of Kent' (1596)
- Horsfield, Thomas Walker: 'The History, Antiquities and Topography of the County of Sussex' (1825)