Chiddingly

Chiddingly is a village and civil parish in the Wealden District of East Sussex, some five miles (8 km) north-west of Hailsham. The parish is rural in character: it includes the village of Chiddingly and a collection of hamlets: the largest of these being Muddles Green and Thunder's Hill; others being Gun Hill, Whitesmith, Golden Cross and Upper Dicker. It covers of countryside. Of the more than 340 dwellings in the parish, over fifty have the word "Farm" in their postal address.

History

Chiddingly is mentioned in the Domesday Book as Cetelingei: the final -ly of the name shows it to have had Saxon origins. The presence of iron-bearing rocks on the Weald led to Romans being in the area. There are a large number of manorial buildings in the parish, including Chiddingly Place.

Geology

In geographical terms, the parish is located on the Weald; it is said that, like Rome, it is founded upon seven hills: Burgh Hill; Thunders Hill; Holmes Hill; Scrapers Hill; Stone Hill; Pick Hill; and Gun Hill, the latter being on the A22 road in the south of the parish. Tributaries of the River Cuckmere flow both north and south of the village.

Landmarks

Burgh Hill Farm Meadow is a Sites of Special Scientific Interest (SSSI) within the parish. This is a hedgerow-surrounded meadow of an uncommon grassland type.

The parish church at Chiddingly is of unknown date and dedication, but references to it occur from the 13th century. There is also a chapel. Chiddingly Primary School provides education for the area.

The annual Chiddingly Festival includes a variety of entertainments around the village. Chiddingly has three public houses: The Gun Inn in the village; and The Six Bells Inn and The Inn on the Park, both at Golden Cross. There is also a village hall.