Selmeston - (Tomb to store the Contraband)

General Details

Selmeston in East Sussex is a long straggling village running from the main A27 down to the railway crossing about 1 mile to the north.

This is one of the few villages that has a priest mentioned against it in the Domesday book of 1086 , and was owned by William de Cahanges.

In the 1100's the church was transferred to the Bishop of Chichester, similar to many other villages in the area.

During the days of smuggling the churchyard was used as a temporary store for smuggled goods from Europe . The goods were brought up the Cuckmere into Alfriston where they were distributed throughout the area.

A tomb in Selmeston churchyard was used as a temporary store for the contraband by the Alfriston Gang of smugglers, to secrete it from the Excise men .

Views

Selmeston in East Sussex has a fine old church which is worth looking around.

To the south lies the wide vistas of the South Downs with their walks and beautiful scenery.

Services

Selmeston in East Sussex has a few services mostly near the main A27.

Busses regularly pass along the A27 and the trains can be caught at nearby Glynde or Berwick .

Major town shopping services can be found at nearby Lewes about 6 miles to the west.

Map

Selmeston is shown as the red symbol on the map.

Nearby Villages
(click on symbol to see the village page)

Alciston

(Fifty thousand tiles on the Barn)

1.04 miles

Alfriston

(Smuggling and Ghosts)

2.54 miles

Arlington

(Peaceful Saxon Village)

2.11 miles

Beddingham

(At the base of Mount Caburn)

4.14 miles

Berwick

(Sharpen your arrows on the Church)

1.41 miles

Bishopstone

(Largest Tide-Mill in Sussex)

4.46 miles

Chalvington

(The miniature church)

1.61 miles

Denton

(Earl Godwins Manor)

4.72 miles

Folkington

(Teasles and Badgers)

3.51 miles

Glynde

(Home of English Opera)

3.56 miles

Hailsham

(Ropes and Napoleon)

5.07 miles

Hellingly

(Only remaining Ciric in Sussex)

5.46 miles

Jevington

(Smugglers and Churchill Tanks)

4.77 miles

Laughton

(Knight captures King of France)

3.82 miles

Litlington

(Secret marriage of George IV)

3.71 miles

Lullington

(destroyed by Cromwell ??)

2.93 miles

Offham

( Chalk Pit and the Battle of Lewes )

7.56 miles

Polegate

(Fine old Tower Mill)

4.58 miles

Ringmer

(Poor Roads and riots)

5.19 miles

Ripe

(Earl Harolds estate)

1.86 miles

Tarring Neville

(The Chest from the Spanish Armarda)

4.78 miles

Wilmington

(The Long Man)

2.74 miles

Firle

(Home of the Greengage)

2.53 miles

Local Businesses

For all things mosaic, commissions workshops etc please contact Hannah

Battle Brewery our local excellent micro brewery

It's the year 1906. Rumours abound that a deadly plot is hatching - not in the fog-ridden back-alleys of London's Limehouse district or the sinister Devon moors of the Hound of the Baskervilles but in faraway Peking...

Roman, Saxon and Norman History of the South East

The Bald Explorer for local documentaries

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