Ardingly
Encyclopedia
Ardingly is a village and civil parish in the High Weald
Area of Outstanding Natural Beauty
about 3.5 miles (5.6 km) north of Haywards Heath
in the Mid Sussex
district of West Sussex
, England
. The village is about 33 miles (53 km) south of London
, 6 miles (9.7 km) south-south-west of East Grinstead
, 6.5 miles (10.5 km) southeast of Crawley
, 14 miles (23 km) north of Brighton
and 33 miles (53 km) east northeast of the county town of Chichester
.
The village is on the B2028 road. The parish covers an area of 3974 acres (1,608.2 ha). The 2001 Census
recorded 1,833 people in 627 households of whom 830 were economically active.
, towards the western end of the village, dates from the 14th century.
Wakehurst Place and its grounds, "Kew
in the Country", are about 1.5 miles (2.4 km) north of the village. Ardingly Reservoir
is about 1 miles (1.6 km) west of the village. The Big-Upon-Little rock formation is close to a footpath between Ardingly and Horsted Keynes
.
early in the month and the London to Brighton
cycle event (usually held on Father's Day) attract visitors from across the country. The South of England Showground hosts regular antiques fairs, which are often featured on the BBC Television
game show Bargain Hunt
. Every four years an international scout
camp is held on the showground, attended by about 3,000 scouts from West Sussex and around the world. The most recent event called WS2008 (West Sussex 2008) was held in August 2008.
, an independent school
. The village also has a Church of England
primary school, St. Peters CE Primary, which has about 120 pupils; most of the children of secondary school age attend Oathall Community College
in Haywards Heath.
Ardingly has a low-frequency bus service to the nearby towns of Haywards Heath and Crawley.
Ardingly railway station
was opened 1 October 1864 by the London, Brighton and South Coast Railway
. The Southern Railway
electrified
the line in the 1930s but British Rail
ways closed the line and station to passenger trains in 1963. The goods yard and connection to the main line
remain open as an ARC Aggregates
terminal. The nearby Bluebell Railway
owns the former trackbed between Ardingly and and has a long-term aspiration to re-open the line.
Weald
The Weald is the name given to an area in South East England situated between the parallel chalk escarpments of the North and the South Downs. It should be regarded as three separate parts: the sandstone "High Weald" in the centre; the clay "Low Weald" periphery; and the Greensand Ridge which...
Area of Outstanding Natural Beauty
Area of Outstanding Natural Beauty
An Area of Outstanding Natural Beauty is an area of countryside considered to have significant landscape value in England, Wales or Northern Ireland, that has been specially designated by the Countryside Agency on behalf of the United Kingdom government; the Countryside Council for Wales on...
about 3.5 miles (5.6 km) north of Haywards Heath
Haywards Heath
-Climate:Haywards Heath experiences an oceanic climate similar to almost all of the United Kingdom.-Rail:Haywards Heath railway station is a major station on the Brighton Main Line...
in the Mid Sussex
Mid Sussex
Mid Sussex is a local government district in the English county of West Sussex. It contains the towns of East Grinstead, Haywards Heath and Burgess Hill....
district of West Sussex
West Sussex
West Sussex is a county in the south of England, bordering onto East Sussex , Hampshire and Surrey. The county of Sussex has been divided into East and West since the 12th century, and obtained separate county councils in 1888, but it remained a single ceremonial county until 1974 and the coming...
, England
England
England is a country that is part of the United Kingdom. It shares land borders with Scotland to the north and Wales to the west; the Irish Sea is to the north west, the Celtic Sea to the south west, with the North Sea to the east and the English Channel to the south separating it from continental...
. The village is about 33 miles (53 km) south of London
London
London is the capital city of :England and the :United Kingdom, the largest metropolitan area in the United Kingdom, and the largest urban zone in the European Union by most measures. Located on the River Thames, London has been a major settlement for two millennia, its history going back to its...
, 6 miles (9.7 km) south-south-west of East Grinstead
East Grinstead
East Grinstead is a town and civil parish in the northeastern corner of Mid Sussex, West Sussex in England near the East Sussex, Surrey, and Kent borders. It lies south of London, north northeast of Brighton, and east northeast of the county town of Chichester...
, 6.5 miles (10.5 km) southeast of Crawley
Crawley
Crawley is a town and local government district with Borough status in West Sussex, England. It is south of Charing Cross, north of Brighton and Hove, and northeast of the county town of Chichester, covers an area of and had a population of 99,744 at the time of the 2001 Census.The area has...
, 14 miles (23 km) north of Brighton
Brighton
Brighton is the major part of the city of Brighton and Hove in East Sussex, England on the south coast of Great Britain...
and 33 miles (53 km) east northeast of the county town of Chichester
Chichester
Chichester is a cathedral city in West Sussex, within the historic County of Sussex, South-East England. It has a long history as a settlement; its Roman past and its subsequent importance in Anglo-Saxon times are only its beginnings...
.
The village is on the B2028 road. The parish covers an area of 3974 acres (1,608.2 ha). The 2001 Census
United Kingdom Census 2001
A nationwide census, known as Census 2001, was conducted in the United Kingdom on Sunday, 29 April 2001. This was the 20th UK Census and recorded a resident population of 58,789,194....
recorded 1,833 people in 627 households of whom 830 were economically active.
Places of interest
St Peter's parish churchSt Peter's Church, Ardingly
St Peter's Church is the Church of England parish church of the parish of Ardingly in Mid Sussex, one of seven local government districts in the English county of West Sussex. The present building dates from the 14th century and was restored during the Victorian era, but Christian worship on the...
, towards the western end of the village, dates from the 14th century.
Wakehurst Place and its grounds, "Kew
Royal Botanic Gardens, Kew
The Royal Botanic Gardens, Kew, usually referred to as Kew Gardens, is 121 hectares of gardens and botanical glasshouses between Richmond and Kew in southwest London, England. "The Royal Botanic Gardens, Kew" and the brand name "Kew" are also used as umbrella terms for the institution that runs...
in the Country", are about 1.5 miles (2.4 km) north of the village. Ardingly Reservoir
Ardingly Reservoir
Ardingly Reservoir is a reservoir that feeds the River Ouse located in West Sussex, England 5 miles north of Haywards Heath. The villages of Ardingly and Balcombe are immediately to the east and north of the reservoir respectively....
is about 1 miles (1.6 km) west of the village. The Big-Upon-Little rock formation is close to a footpath between Ardingly and Horsted Keynes
Horsted Keynes
Horsted Keynes is a village and civil parish in the Mid Sussex District of West Sussex, England. The village is located about eight kilometres north east of Haywards Heath, in the Weald...
.
Events
In June the South of England Agricultural ShowAgricultural show
An agricultural show is a public event showcasing the equipment, animals, sports and recreation associated with agriculture and animal husbandry. The largest comprise a livestock show , a trade fair, competitions, and entertainment...
early in the month and the London to Brighton
London to Brighton events
The route along the A23 from London to Brighton in south-east England is popular for races, tours, charity rides and rallies...
cycle event (usually held on Father's Day) attract visitors from across the country. The South of England Showground hosts regular antiques fairs, which are often featured on the BBC Television
BBC Television
BBC Television is a service of the British Broadcasting Corporation. The corporation, which has operated in the United Kingdom under the terms of a Royal Charter since 1927, has produced television programmes from its own studios since 1932, although the start of its regular service of television...
game show Bargain Hunt
Bargain Hunt
Bargain Hunt is a British television programme in which two pairs of contestants are challenged to buy antiques at a fair and then sell them in an auction for a profit. It has aired on BBC One since 13 March 2000 in a daytime version and from 22 August 2002 to 13 November 2004 in a primetime version...
. Every four years an international scout
Scouting
Scouting, also known as the Scout Movement, is a worldwide youth movement with the stated aim of supporting young people in their physical, mental and spiritual development, that they may play constructive roles in society....
camp is held on the showground, attended by about 3,000 scouts from West Sussex and around the world. The most recent event called WS2008 (West Sussex 2008) was held in August 2008.
Schools
At the southern edge of the village is Ardingly CollegeArdingly College
Ardingly College is a selective independent co-educational boarding and day school, founded in 1858 by Canon Nathaniel Woodard, included in the Tatler list of top public schools. The college is located in the village of Ardingly near Haywards Heath, West Sussex, England, having moved to its present...
, an independent school
Independent school
An independent school is a school that is independent in its finances and governance; it is not dependent upon national or local government for financing its operations, nor reliant on taxpayer contributions, and is instead funded by a combination of tuition charges, gifts, and in some cases the...
. The village also has a Church of England
Voluntary controlled school
A voluntary controlled school is a state-funded school in England, Wales and Northern Ireland in which a foundation or trust has some formal influence in the running of the school...
primary school, St. Peters CE Primary, which has about 120 pupils; most of the children of secondary school age attend Oathall Community College
Oathall Community College
Oathall Community College is a secondary school located between Lindfield and Haywards Heath in West Sussex, England. There are currently around 1400 students at Oathall, between the ages of 11 and 16. The college has a full spectrum of specialist accommodation, including a farm, a music centre,...
in Haywards Heath.
Public transport
Ardingly railway station
Ardingly Railway Station
Ardingly was a railway station which served the West Sussex village of Ardingly in England. It was opened on 3 September 1883 by the London, Brighton and South Coast Railway , and closed eighty years later. Currently used as an aggregates depot, the Bluebell Railway has long-term plans to extend...
was opened 1 October 1864 by the London, Brighton and South Coast Railway
London, Brighton and South Coast Railway
The London, Brighton and South Coast Railway was a railway company in the United Kingdom from 1846 to 1922. Its territory formed a rough triangle, with London at its apex, practically the whole coastline of Sussex as its base, and a large part of Surrey...
. The Southern Railway
Southern Railway (Great Britain)
The Southern Railway was a British railway company established in the 1923 Grouping. It linked London with the Channel ports, South West England, South coast resorts and Kent...
electrified
Railway electrification in Great Britain
Railway electrification in Great Britain started towards of the 19th century. A great range of voltages have been used in the intervening period using both overhead lines and third rails, however the most common standard for mainline services is now 25 kV AC using overhead lines and the...
the line in the 1930s but British Rail
British Rail
British Railways , which from 1965 traded as British Rail, was the operator of most of the rail transport in Great Britain between 1948 and 1997. It was formed from the nationalisation of the "Big Four" British railway companies and lasted until the gradual privatisation of British Rail, in stages...
ways closed the line and station to passenger trains in 1963. The goods yard and connection to the main line
Brighton Main Line
The Brighton Main Line is a British railway line from London Victoria and London Bridge to Brighton. It is about 50 miles long, and is electrified throughout. Trains are operated by Southern, First Capital Connect, and Gatwick Express, now part of Southern.-Original proposals:There were no fewer...
remain open as an ARC Aggregates
Amey plc
Amey plc, previously known as Amey Ltd and Amey Roadstone Construction, is a United Kingdom based infrastructure support service provider. It was once listed on the London Stock Exchange but since 2003 it has been a subsidiary of Spanish company Grupo Ferrovial, S.A....
terminal. The nearby Bluebell Railway
Bluebell Railway
The Bluebell Railway is a heritage line running for nine miles along the border between East and West Sussex, England. Steam trains are operated between and , with an intermediate station at .The railway is managed and run largely by volunteers...
owns the former trackbed between Ardingly and and has a long-term aspiration to re-open the line.