Ditchling

Ditchling is a village and civil parish in the Lewes District of East Sussex, England. An artistic community founded by the artist Eric Gill during the early 20th century, and known as The Guild of St Joseph and St Dominic survived until 1989.

Location

The village lies at the foot of the South Downs in East Sussex, but very close to the border with West Sussex. The settlement stands around a crossroads with Brighton to the south, Burgess Hill and Haywards Heath to the north, Keymer and Hassocks to the west, and Lewes to the east, and is built on a slight spur of land between the Downs to the south and Lodge Hill to the north.

Ditchling Common, close to the village itself, is the source of the eastern River Adur which meets with the western River Adur near Henfield and flows on to the English Channel at Shoreham-by-Sea.

History

The history of Ditchling starts properly in Saxon times when the people of Dicul settled here and King Alfred the Great held lands as a Royal Manor.

Landmarks

There are two Sites of Special Scientific Interest within the parish of Ditchling. Ditchling Common is of biological interest because of the variety of heath grassland habitats, created by the different drainage conditions throughout the common. The second site is Clayton to Offham Escarpment, which stretches from Hassocks in the west, passing through many parishes including Ditchling, to Lewes in the East. This site is of biological importance due to its rare chalk grassland habitat along with its woodland and scrub.

The Guild of St Joseph and St Dominic

Eric Gill, the sculptor and letter cutter, came to Ditchling in 1907 with his apprentice Joseph Cribb and was soon followed by other craftsmen. In 1921 they founded the Guild of St Joseph and St Dominic, a Roman Catholic community of artists and craftsmen, inspired by ideas of the medieval guilds and the Arts and Crafts movement. The community had its own workshops and chapel, and thrived for many years. Its affairs were finally wound up in 1989, and the workshops demolished.

Notable Residents

• David Jones
• Hilary Pepler
• Brocard Sewell
• Jamie Theakston
• Vera Lynn
• Herbie Flowers

References

External links

• Churches in Ditchling
• Community portal
• Ditchling Museum
• Acclaimed BBC documentary film series 'A Very English Village', filmed in and around the village of Ditchling by resident film maker, Luke Holland
• Information site on Ditchling and the South Downs, includes links to local accommodation, outdoor activities, museums and other places of interest in the area.