blank

Sedlescombe in East Sussex

Google map showing area surrounding Sedlescombe
(Best gunpowder in Europe)
Location: 50.933579,0.533984
General Details
Sedlescombe in East Sussex is a very pretty village, just off the A21 between Hastings and Hawkhurst . It contains many picturesque 15th,16th and 17th century half-timbered houses, surrounding the village green.

The Battle of Hastings was fought 3 miles from Sedlescombe , and the village suffered badly at the hands of the Norman maurauders. After the battle many landowners were forced to pay rents to Battle Abbey. An iron pot was found in Sedlescombe in 1876, it contained some 3,000 coins from the reign of King Edward the Confessor( 1042 - 1066 ). They were thought to have been the treasure of King Harold , hidden during the Battle of Hastings . Some of these coins can be seen in the Hastings Museum.

During the 17th century, Sedlescombe was one part of a great industrial area, it was an important location for the Sussex iron industry. Iron has been made in Sedlescombe since Roman times. The road that runs through the village follows the route of the original Roman road. It was built to link various Sussex iron-workings to London.

At the rear of the Bridge Garage there used to be a water mill, which ground corn until 1750. It was then used to make gunpowder, Sedlescombe powder was reputedly the best in Europe. It was a risky industry, and in December 1764, four men died following an explosion in the sifting house.

The river Brede runs through Sedlescombe , and the bridge crossing it was built in the 18th century, by local builder John Catt.

Sedlescombe is the home of the famous Pestalozzi Childrens Village. It was founded in 1959, on the site of 'Oaklands', the former home of Hercules Brabazon, who was a popular village squire and painter, his initials can be seen on some of the buildings in the village.

The Pestalozzi Village houses over 100 children from poor areas of Nepal, Thailand, Zambia, Jordan, India and Tibet. They come to England to learn practical and academic skills, and then return to share their acquired knowledge. The village is named after Swiss educationalist Johann Heinrich Pestalozzi, who in his lifetime set up several rural orphanages for children of different nationalities.
Views
The village green at Sedlescombe in East Sussex is surrounded by a fine selection of old houses.

Travel out of the village towards the Pestalozzi village, then up the hill towards Westfield . Looking back you get a good view of the village.
Services
Sedlescombe in East Sussex has limited services.

An infrequent bus service from Hastings to Hawkhurst passes through the village.

The trains can be caught in Battle about 4 miles west providing a half hourly service to London.

The nearest shopping is in Battle about 4 miles to the west.

The nearest large town is Hastings , about 6 miles south.
Map
Sedlescombe is shown as the red symbol on the map.

Nearby Villages

(click on symbol to see the village page)
Village= Town= Recorded in Domesday=
Ashburnham (Last Iron Furnace in Sussex)
6.44 miles
Battle (William the Conqueror prevails)2.48 miles
Beckley (Alfred the Great and Guns !)
5.88 miles
Brede (Edward I inspects the Channel Fleet)2.78 miles
Brightling (famous for Mad Jack Fuller)
6.27 miles
Broad Oak Brede (On the Crossroads)3.01 miles
Catsfield (Iron, Railways and Clocks)
4.39 miles
Cripps Corner (Home Guard surprises the Army)2.01 miles
Crowhurst (Village devastated by the Normans)
3.87 miles
Fairlight (Firehills and Views)
6.69 miles
Guestling (Changing guards at Buckingham Palace)
4.77 miles
Icklesham (Paul McCartney's Recording Studio)6.13 miles
Mountfield (17th Century Coal !!)
2.84 miles
Netherfield (Village at the top of the Hill)
4.48 miles
Ninfield (Last of the Iron Stocks)
5.79 miles
Peasmarsh (Black Death moves village)7.03 miles
Penhurst (Beautiful yet Remote)
5.51 miles
Pett (End of the Royal Military Canal)6.26 miles
Robertsbridge (The Home of Modern Cricket)4.49 miles
Staplecross (Mothers grudge hangs son)2.78 miles
Udimore (Angels move the Church)
5.11 miles
Westfield (Bonfire Boys under suspicion)
2.48 miles
Whatlington (King Harold's Manor)
1.25 miles
Copyright Villagenet 1998-2024
 
Local Interest
Just click an image
Roman, Saxon and Norman History of the South East
Wealden Iron Research Group
Hastings Rock the place to listen to
Sigi
Winchelsea Museum
Talk in Code fabulous new Album
For all things mosaic, commissions workshops etc please contact Hannah
Hastings Area Archaeological Research Group
Wadhurst History Society
Bexhill Museum
Battle and District Historical Society
Ninfield History Group