Wartling - (World War II defence centre)

General Details

Wartling in East Sussex lies just on the edge of the Pevensey Levels, between Windmill Hill and Pevensey . There are two parts to the village Wartling Hill near to the church, and about two miles away to the North, lies Boreham Street which is also a very pretty village built on the main Ninfield to Hailsham road.

It was one of Haesta the Saxons boundary forts settled around 475AD and was used to control the Pevensey Bay estuary area. It was likely to have been a naval base as the Bay provided a protected harbour.

In the Domesday survey, it had a population of 280, land able to support 18 ploughs, woodland for 200 pigs three salt workings, and a chapel.

The chapel was mentioned as being given to the College of Hastings by the count of Eu. The current church dates from the 13th century, and is believed to lie on the land where the chapel used to be.

During the late 1500's there were a large number of French names recorded in the church register, it is probable that they had been employed at Ashburnham and other local Furnaces to help set up the cannon manufacturing process.

On the wall in the church are two very rare iron tombstone heads, which were created by Jonathan Harmer of Heathfield .

During the second world war many defence pill boxes were built in the area, to protect from invasion through the Pevensey Marshes. One of the first Radar stations was located at manxey level. To the east of the church, the R.A.F. had a radar control bunker during the Cold War which was used to direct fighters onto targets by radio.

Views

At the church, walk to the end of the graveyard, and look around, most of the land you see below you would have been covered with sea water at the last millennium. To the South East you can see Pevensey Castle , Eastbourne and the South Downs.

To get a feel for the remoteness of the area, turn East by the church towards Hooe , and stop by the river, even today there are not many buildings visible. This river was one of the main export routes for the iron cannons which were cast at Ashburnham furnace further upstream, until 1820.

Services

Wartling in East Sussex Hill is very small, and only has the Church and a public house for services.

Boreham Street has a number of restaurants, and a garage, and a tennis training centre.

Map

Wartling is shown as the red symbol on the map.

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