Barcombe
Encyclopedia
Barcombe is an East Sussex
village lying some 4–5 miles (6.4 km) north of Lewes
. It is also the name of one of the civil parishes in the Lewes District
of East Sussex. Within the parish are Barcombe itself (the older of the settlements); Barcombe Cross the larger of the two villages and now the main centre of the parish with the amenities and services, where the villagers of the original Barcombe evacuated during the Medieval plague
; and the area around Barcombe Mills
on the River Ouse
. The parish also includes the settlements of Spithurst to the north east and Town Littleworth to the north west.
Curiously the village of Barcombe Cross is known as Barcombe in the local area and also to the Royal Mail and is signed as such. Only on maps is it shown in its full name.
Barcombe is probably best known to Sussex residents and tourists for its 'Mills
', a reference to an old water-mill complex on the River Ouse at the base of the hill upon which Barcombe Cross is situated. The Mills were a favourite Sunday outing for townsfolk from Lewes and Brighton
before World War II
, when the mills were burnt down.
Barcombe was recorded in the Domesday Book
as "Berchamp", a reference to fields of barley. Remains have been also found of a Roman
villa and an earlier Iron Age
roundhouse on the same site, just to the south of the village.
Barcombe parish church is dedicated to St Mary, and is in the older village.
The A26
between Lewes
and Uckfield
runs south-east of the villages. It can be accessed 2 miles (3.2 km) from the centre of the village via Barcombe Mills Road.
The A275 runs north of the villages. This links Lewes
and Haywards Heath
Rail
Two railway lines ran through the villages: the line between Lewes
and Uckfield
opened in October 1868; and the line from East Grinstead, part of which is now the Bluebell Railway
.
There were stations on each of the two lines: Barcombe
on the East Grinstead line, and Barcombe Mills
on the Uckfield line, with a junction south of the latter before the line continued to Lewes. Barcombe closed on 17 March 1958, whilst Barcombe Mills closed on 4 May 1969. Part of the line is now a cycle track.
The nearest railway station is now Cooksbridge
, about 2½ miles away.
Public Rights of Way
There are many bridleways and footpaths in and around the villages, linking to Lewes
, Isfield
, Newick
and many other places. The Sussex Ouse Valley Way
runs through Barcombe Mills
to the south.
Bus
A bus service is provided to the bus stop at the north of Barcombe Cross
and outside the junction with the old road at Barcombe Mills
. Services are provided by Countryliner: the number is 122. The 121 will diverge from its main route and operate via Barcombe Cross
on request; resulting in it visiting Chailey
15 minutes later than usual. The buses connect with the trains at Cooksbridge
. There are no buses on Sundays to Barcombe Cross and no buses at all on weekends to Barcombe Mills
.
Air
The nearest big airport is London Gatwick, 45 minutes' drive to the north; this offers domestic, European and international flights.
Shoreham Airport
is about half an hour's drive to the west. This small Art Deco
airport offers flights to France
and the Channel Islands
. It is mainly used for private planes though.
The main Barcombe Reservoir has been closed to anglers for some years.
East Sussex
East Sussex is a county in South East England. It is bordered by the counties of Kent, Surrey and West Sussex, and to the south by the English Channel.-History:...
village lying some 4–5 miles (6.4 km) north of Lewes
Lewes
Lewes is the county town of East Sussex, England and historically of all of Sussex. It is a civil parish and is the centre of the Lewes local government district. The settlement has a history as a bridging point and as a market town, and today as a communications hub and tourist-oriented town...
. It is also the name of one of the civil parishes in the Lewes District
Lewes (district)
Lewes is a local government district in East Sussex in southern England covering an area of , with of coastline. It is named after its administrative centre, Lewes. Other towns in the district include Newhaven, Peacehaven, and Seaford. Plumpton racecourse is within the district...
of East Sussex. Within the parish are Barcombe itself (the older of the settlements); Barcombe Cross the larger of the two villages and now the main centre of the parish with the amenities and services, where the villagers of the original Barcombe evacuated during the Medieval plague
Black Death
The Black Death was one of the most devastating pandemics in human history, peaking in Europe between 1348 and 1350. Of several competing theories, the dominant explanation for the Black Death is the plague theory, which attributes the outbreak to the bacterium Yersinia pestis. Thought to have...
; and the area around Barcombe Mills
Barcombe Mills
Barcombe Mills is a small settlement and an area of countryside including a local nature reserve near the village of Barcombe Cross in East Sussex, England. It is located in the civil parish of Barcombe in the Lewes District. It is an important area for its wildlife, natural beauty and water storage...
on the River Ouse
River Ouse, Sussex
The River Ouse is a river in the counties of West and East Sussex in England.-Course:The river rises near Lower Beeding and runs eastwards into East Sussex, meandering narrowly and turning slowly southward...
. The parish also includes the settlements of Spithurst to the north east and Town Littleworth to the north west.
Curiously the village of Barcombe Cross is known as Barcombe in the local area and also to the Royal Mail and is signed as such. Only on maps is it shown in its full name.
Barcombe is probably best known to Sussex residents and tourists for its 'Mills
Barcombe Mills
Barcombe Mills is a small settlement and an area of countryside including a local nature reserve near the village of Barcombe Cross in East Sussex, England. It is located in the civil parish of Barcombe in the Lewes District. It is an important area for its wildlife, natural beauty and water storage...
', a reference to an old water-mill complex on the River Ouse at the base of the hill upon which Barcombe Cross is situated. The Mills were a favourite Sunday outing for townsfolk from Lewes and 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...
before World War II
World War II
World War II, or the Second World War , was a global conflict lasting from 1939 to 1945, involving most of the world's nations—including all of the great powers—eventually forming two opposing military alliances: the Allies and the Axis...
, when the mills were burnt down.
Barcombe was recorded in the Domesday Book
Domesday Book
Domesday Book , now held at The National Archives, Kew, Richmond upon Thames in South West London, is the record of the great survey of much of England and parts of Wales completed in 1086...
as "Berchamp", a reference to fields of barley. Remains have been also found of a Roman
Ancient Rome
Ancient Rome was a thriving civilization that grew on the Italian Peninsula as early as the 8th century BC. Located along the Mediterranean Sea and centered on the city of Rome, it expanded to one of the largest empires in the ancient world....
villa and an earlier Iron Age
Iron Age
The Iron Age is the archaeological period generally occurring after the Bronze Age, marked by the prevalent use of iron. The early period of the age is characterized by the widespread use of iron or steel. The adoption of such material coincided with other changes in society, including differing...
roundhouse on the same site, just to the south of the village.
Barcombe parish church is dedicated to St Mary, and is in the older village.
Bonfire
Barcombe Bonfire is held annually, two weeks after the Lewes celebration. Barcombe’s celebrations are hailed as close to Lewes as it gets and have been said to be the best village celebrations. The society is largely family-orientated and everyone helps out with torch dipping, bonfire building etc. The Grand Firework Display is ‘grand’ as well as the four processions (including the dedicated Children's Procession.) They always have many societies visiting and have a fancy dress competition: always well attended.Transport
RoadThe A26
A26 road
For the road in Northern Ireland see A26 road The A26 road is one of the three cross-country two-digit numbered roads in the southeast of England, the others being the A25 road and A27 road. It carries traffic from Maidstone in Kent in a generally south-westerly direction to Tunbridge Wells and...
between Lewes
Lewes
Lewes is the county town of East Sussex, England and historically of all of Sussex. It is a civil parish and is the centre of the Lewes local government district. The settlement has a history as a bridging point and as a market town, and today as a communications hub and tourist-oriented town...
and Uckfield
Uckfield
-Development:The local Tesco has proposed the redevelopment of the central town area as has the town council. The Hub has recently been completed, having been acquired for an unknown figure, presumed to be about half a million pounds...
runs south-east of the villages. It can be accessed 2 miles (3.2 km) from the centre of the village via Barcombe Mills Road.
The A275 runs north of the villages. This links Lewes
Lewes
Lewes is the county town of East Sussex, England and historically of all of Sussex. It is a civil parish and is the centre of the Lewes local government district. The settlement has a history as a bridging point and as a market town, and today as a communications hub and tourist-oriented town...
and 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...
Rail
Two railway lines ran through the villages: the line between Lewes
Lewes railway station
Lewes railway station serves the town of Lewes in East Sussex, England. It has five platforms and is on the East Coastway Line. Train services are provided by Southern.The station has a café and a newsagent, and there is a taxi office on the main forecourt...
and Uckfield
Uckfield railway station
Uckfield railway station serves Uckfield in East Sussex, England. Train services from the station are provided by Southern, and the station is the terminus for the Uckfield branch of the Oxted Line.- History :...
opened in October 1868; and the line from East Grinstead, part of which is now the 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...
.
There were stations on each of the two lines: Barcombe
Barcombe railway station
Barcombe was a railway station serving the village of Barcombe in East Sussex. It was part of the East Grinstead to Lewes line, more popularly known as the Bluebell Railway.The station was originally opened as "New Barcombe" to distinguish it from the nearby station of Barcombe Mills , and was...
on the East Grinstead line, and Barcombe Mills
Barcombe Mills railway station
Barcombe Mills is a disused railway station in the hamlet of Barcombe Mills, on the closed section of the Wealden Line. The station was opened in 1858 and closed in 1969.- History :...
on the Uckfield line, with a junction south of the latter before the line continued to Lewes. Barcombe closed on 17 March 1958, whilst Barcombe Mills closed on 4 May 1969. Part of the line is now a cycle track.
The nearest railway station is now Cooksbridge
Cooksbridge railway station
Cooksbridge railway station serves the village of Cooksbridge in East Sussex. It is on the East Coastway Line; train services are provided by Southern.The station is unstaffed...
, about 2½ miles away.
Public Rights of Way
There are many bridleways and footpaths in and around the villages, linking to Lewes
Lewes
Lewes is the county town of East Sussex, England and historically of all of Sussex. It is a civil parish and is the centre of the Lewes local government district. The settlement has a history as a bridging point and as a market town, and today as a communications hub and tourist-oriented town...
, Isfield
Isfield
Isfield is a small village and civil parish in the Wealden District of East Sussex in England, located north-north-west of Lewes.-History:The village of Isfield originally grew adjacent to the ford where the London to Lewes Way Roman road crossed the river River Ouse...
, Newick
Newick
Newick is a village and civil parish in the Lewes District of East Sussex, England. It is located on the A272 road six miles east of Haywards Heath....
and many other places. The Sussex Ouse Valley Way
Sussex Ouse Valley Way
The Sussex Ouse Valley Way is a 42–mile long-distance footpath which closely follows the route of the Sussex Ouse. It starts at the Ouse's source in Lower Beeding, West Sussex, when it's still a little stream. It then passes through many villages and towns including Slaugham, Handcross,...
runs through Barcombe Mills
Barcombe Mills
Barcombe Mills is a small settlement and an area of countryside including a local nature reserve near the village of Barcombe Cross in East Sussex, England. It is located in the civil parish of Barcombe in the Lewes District. It is an important area for its wildlife, natural beauty and water storage...
to the south.
Bus
A bus service is provided to the bus stop at the north of Barcombe Cross
Barcombe Cross
Barcombe Cross is a village in East Sussex, England. It is within the civil parish of the nearby village of Barcombe, from which people were evacuated to Barcombe Cross during the Middle Ages, to escape the plague. The village has a small post office, a shop, a pub, an electrician's shop, a fancy...
and outside the junction with the old road at Barcombe Mills
Barcombe Mills
Barcombe Mills is a small settlement and an area of countryside including a local nature reserve near the village of Barcombe Cross in East Sussex, England. It is located in the civil parish of Barcombe in the Lewes District. It is an important area for its wildlife, natural beauty and water storage...
. Services are provided by Countryliner: the number is 122. The 121 will diverge from its main route and operate via Barcombe Cross
Barcombe Cross
Barcombe Cross is a village in East Sussex, England. It is within the civil parish of the nearby village of Barcombe, from which people were evacuated to Barcombe Cross during the Middle Ages, to escape the plague. The village has a small post office, a shop, a pub, an electrician's shop, a fancy...
on request; resulting in it visiting Chailey
Chailey
Chailey is a village and civil parish in the Lewes District of East Sussex, England. It is located ten miles north of Lewes, on the A272 road from Winchester to Canterbury...
15 minutes later than usual. The buses connect with the trains at Cooksbridge
Cooksbridge railway station
Cooksbridge railway station serves the village of Cooksbridge in East Sussex. It is on the East Coastway Line; train services are provided by Southern.The station is unstaffed...
. There are no buses on Sundays to Barcombe Cross and no buses at all on weekends to Barcombe Mills
Barcombe Mills
Barcombe Mills is a small settlement and an area of countryside including a local nature reserve near the village of Barcombe Cross in East Sussex, England. It is located in the civil parish of Barcombe in the Lewes District. It is an important area for its wildlife, natural beauty and water storage...
.
Air
The nearest big airport is London Gatwick, 45 minutes' drive to the north; this offers domestic, European and international flights.
Shoreham Airport
Shoreham Airport
- Sussex Police Air Operations Unit :The Sussex Police Air Operations Unit is headquartered at Shoreham Airport. The unit has been equipped since February 2000 with a MD Explorer, registered as "G-SUSX". The unit is headed by a Police Inspector, assisted by a Police Sergeant and two Police...
is about half an hour's drive to the west. This small Art Deco
Art Deco
Art deco , or deco, is an eclectic artistic and design style that began in Paris in the 1920s and flourished internationally throughout the 1930s, into the World War II era. The style influenced all areas of design, including architecture and interior design, industrial design, fashion and...
airport offers flights to France
France
The French Republic , The French Republic , The French Republic , (commonly known as France , is a unitary semi-presidential republic in Western Europe with several overseas territories and islands located on other continents and in the Indian, Pacific, and Atlantic oceans. Metropolitan France...
and the Channel Islands
Channel Islands
The Channel Islands are an archipelago of British Crown Dependencies in the English Channel, off the French coast of Normandy. They include two separate bailiwicks: the Bailiwick of Guernsey and the Bailiwick of Jersey...
. It is mainly used for private planes though.
Fishing lakes
There is now only one fishable lake in the parish, Cornwell's Reservoir which is controlled by Lewes Angling Club.The main Barcombe Reservoir has been closed to anglers for some years.
External links
- History of Barcombe Mill (inter alia)
- Barcombe Parish Council
- There is also a village called BalcombeBalcombe, West SussexBalcombe is a village and civil parish in the Mid Sussex district of West Sussex, England. It lies south of London, north of Brighton, and east northeast of the county town of Chichester. Nearby towns include Crawley to the northwest and Haywards Heath to the south southeast...
, north of Haywards HeathHaywards 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...
. - There is a small settlement named Barcombe on ExmoorExmoorExmoor is an area of hilly open moorland in west Somerset and north Devon in South West England, named after the main river that flows out of the district, the River Exe. The moor has given its name to a National Park, which includes the Brendon Hills, the East Lyn Valley, the Vale of Porlock and ...
in SomersetSomersetThe ceremonial and non-metropolitan county of Somerset in South West England borders Bristol and Gloucestershire to the north, Wiltshire to the east, Dorset to the south-east, and Devon to the south-west. It is partly bounded to the north and west by the Bristol Channel and the estuary of the...
.