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Bishopstone in East Sussex

Google map showing area surrounding Bishopstone
(Largest Tide-Mill in Sussex)
Location: 50.790228,0.088627
General Details
Bishopstone Sussex - St Andrews ChurchBishopstone in East Sussex is a small village now lying inland from the coast between Newhaven and Seaford . The village was settled by the Saxons , and the church is part Saxon and part Norman. Originally the name comes from Biscopes tun the bishops farmstead. In 1324 King Edward II stayed with the Bishops of Chichester at Bishopstone for a couple of days.

In 1780 William Catt was born at Buxted the son of a farmer. He was married at 21 and his family bought a farm at Robertsbridge for the couple. He was interested in automation of the flour grinding process, and had some dealings with the mill at Lamberhurst . One of his cousins lived at Bishopstone and had some land, Catt went into partnership, and leased the mile or so of land between his cousins mill and the sea from Lord Sheffield . In this area he built a resevoir, which was filled by the tide, and built a mill which worked using the water from the sea for power. It grew into the largest water-mill in Sussex from five pairs of grinding stones to sixteen pairs. The area is still known as Tidemills.

During the Second World War the Tidemills area was used by the Army for artillery practice from Newhaven Fort, and the TideMill and its surrounding buildings were obliterated.
Many thanks to David Lyndhurst for the following information. [Catt was 21 when he married, not 19 as given by Lower and subsequently erroneously perpetuated by many others. See parish register entries for his baptism and marriage. I have much information on Catt/Willett family if of interest.]
Views
Bishopstone East Sussex - The VillageBishopstone in East Sussex lies in a valley in the South Downs. The village consists of a few large houses, and the church.

The area around the church is very attractive and peaceful, with walks throughout the area.
Services
Bishopstone East Sussex - A pretty locationBishopstone in East Sussex has no local services, and the nearest shopping is in Denton about 1 mile west or Seaford 2 miles east.

The main shopping centre of Newhaven lies about 3 miles to the west.

Trains can be caught from Bishopstone station about 1 1/2 miles from the village.
Map
Bishopstone is shown as the red symbol on the map.

Nearby Villages

(click on symbol to see the village page)
Village= Town= Recorded in Domesday=
Alciston (Fifty thousand tiles on the Barn)
3.45 miles
Alfriston (Smuggling and Ghosts)
3.23 miles
Arlington (Peaceful Saxon Village)
6.00 miles
Berwick (Sharpen your arrows on the Church)
3.64 miles
Denton (Earl Godwins Manor)
1.47 miles
East Blatchington (Mutiny and the Edge of Space)0.92 miles
East Dean (Fishing and Wrecking)5.67 miles
Exceat (Alfred the Great's Naval Base?)
2.96 miles
Folkington (Teasles and Badgers)
5.55 miles
Friston (Home of the Railway Children)5.38 miles
Jevington (Smugglers and Churchill Tanks)
5.56 miles
Litlington (Secret marriage of George IV)
3.01 miles
Lullington (destroyed by Cromwell ??)
3.36 miles
Seaford (The cormorants or shags)1.29 miles
Selmeston (Tomb to store the Contraband)
4.46 miles
Tarring Neville (The Chest from the Spanish Armarda)2.71 miles
Wilmington (The Long Man)
4.91 miles
Firle (Home of the Greengage)3.84 miles
Copyright Villagenet 1998-2024
 
Local Interest
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Bexhill Museum
Hastings Area Archaeological Research Group
Winchelsea Museum
Battle and District Historical Society
For all things mosaic, commissions workshops etc please contact Hannah
Hastings Rock the place to listen to
Wealden Iron Research Group
Sigi
World War 2 Vehicle database
The Bald Explorer for local documentaries
Wadhurst History Society
The Rudes as lots of people call us, are an outdoor touring theatre company specialising in taking new & original theatre to mainly small rural communities and a few towns across the South of England. We were founded in 1998 & first toured in the Summer of 1999. Currently we tour only in the summer performing 50+ times nightly during June, July & August. https://therudemechanicaltheatre.co.uk