Wivelsfield
Encyclopedia
Wivelsfield village, and larger adjacent village of Wivelsfield Green, are part of the civil parish
of Wivelsfield in the Lewes District
of East Sussex
, England
. The villages are located three miles (5 km) south east of Haywards Heath
. It is one of the larger parishes in the county, although the growth of Burgess Hill
to the west has reduced what was originally the ecclesiastical parish. The parish church is dedicated to St Peter and St John the Baptist. Celt
and Saxon
remains have been found here.
Wivelsfield railway station
(called Keymer Junction until 1896) is located on the Brighton Main Line
, in the north of Burgess Hill, some two miles (3 km) from Wivelsfield.
In 1994 Wivelsfield played host to the Tour de France
, on its way to Brighton.
The new school has been opened since September 2007. The logo, which stands at the front of the school, was designed by the school's pupils. The old school is now used for residential purposes; a nursery rents the Old Church Hall.
The village pub
, which for years had been called the Cock Inn, was recently refurbished and re-named The Pear Tree. In December 2008 it was announced that the pub would be taken over by the owners of The Fountain in nearby Plumpton Green, who will attempt to revive the pub (now renamed The Cock Inn) and the once lively, centre of the village.
The village has its own theatre, named The Wivelsfield Little Theatre, holding productions in the Village Hall and the Church.
General Baptist community and formed a new meeting under Henry Booker. The surviving records and memorandum books, as well as Henry Booker's memoirs, allow a fascinating insight into a small rural religious community of the period.
The next level of government is Lewes District Council
. The District council supplies services such as refuse collection, planning consent, leisure amenities and council tax collection. Wivelsfield is covered by the Chailey and Wivelsfield ward which returns two seats. In the May 2007 election, two councillors from the local Conservative party were elected.
Wivelsfield lies within the Chailey ward for the next tier of government, East Sussex County Council. The ward includes the parishes of Chailey
, Ditchling
, East Chiltington
, Newick
, Plumpton
, St John Without
, Streat
and Westmeston
. The County Council provides services such as roads and transport, social services, libraries and trading standards. The June 2009 election resulted in a win for the Conservative Meg Stroude.
The UK Parliament constituency for Chailey is Lewes
. The Liberal Democrat
Norman Baker
has been serving as the constituency MP since 1997.
At European level, Chailey is represented by the South-East region, which holds ten seats in the European Parliament
. The June 2004 election returned four Conservatives, two Liberal Democrats, two UK Independence, one Labour and one Green, none of whom live in East Sussex.
Civil parish
In England, a civil parish is a territorial designation and, where they are found, the lowest tier of local government below districts and counties...
of Wivelsfield 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
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:...
, 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 villages are located three miles (5 km) south east 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...
. It is one of the larger parishes in the county, although the growth of Burgess Hill
Burgess Hill
Burgess Hill is a civil parish and a town primarily located in the Mid Sussex district of West Sussex, England, close to the border with East Sussex, on the edge of the South Downs National Park...
to the west has reduced what was originally the ecclesiastical parish. The parish church is dedicated to St Peter and St John the Baptist. Celt
Celt
The Celts were a diverse group of tribal societies in Iron Age and Roman-era Europe who spoke Celtic languages.The earliest archaeological culture commonly accepted as Celtic, or rather Proto-Celtic, was the central European Hallstatt culture , named for the rich grave finds in Hallstatt, Austria....
and Saxon
Anglo-Saxons
Anglo-Saxon is a term used by historians to designate the Germanic tribes who invaded and settled the south and east of Great Britain beginning in the early 5th century AD, and the period from their creation of the English nation to the Norman conquest. The Anglo-Saxon Era denotes the period of...
remains have been found here.
Wivelsfield railway station
Wivelsfield railway station
Wivelsfield railway station serves World's End and other northern parts of Burgess Hill in West Sussex. It is approximately 2 miles from the village of Wivelsfield, which lies northeast of the town of Burgess Hill. The station is also north of...
(called Keymer Junction until 1896) is located on the Brighton 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...
, in the north of Burgess Hill, some two miles (3 km) from Wivelsfield.
In 1994 Wivelsfield played host to the Tour de France
Tour de France
The Tour de France is an annual bicycle race held in France and nearby countries. First staged in 1903, the race covers more than and lasts three weeks. As the best known and most prestigious of cycling's three "Grand Tours", the Tour de France attracts riders and teams from around the world. The...
, on its way to Brighton.
The new school has been opened since September 2007. The logo, which stands at the front of the school, was designed by the school's pupils. The old school is now used for residential purposes; a nursery rents the Old Church Hall.
The village pub
Public house
A public house, informally known as a pub, is a drinking establishment fundamental to the culture of Britain, Ireland, Australia and New Zealand. There are approximately 53,500 public houses in the United Kingdom. This number has been declining every year, so that nearly half of the smaller...
, which for years had been called the Cock Inn, was recently refurbished and re-named The Pear Tree. In December 2008 it was announced that the pub would be taken over by the owners of The Fountain in nearby Plumpton Green, who will attempt to revive the pub (now renamed The Cock Inn) and the once lively, centre of the village.
History
In the 18th and early 19th centuries Wivelsfield was the focus of a small group of local dissenters (Particular Baptists) who in 1763 broke from the larger DitchlingDitchling
Ditchling is a village and civil parish in the Lewes District of East Sussex, England. The village is contained within the boundaries of the South Downs National Park; the order confirming the establishment of the park was signed in Ditchling....
General Baptist community and formed a new meeting under Henry Booker. The surviving records and memorandum books, as well as Henry Booker's memoirs, allow a fascinating insight into a small rural religious community of the period.
Governance
Wivelsfield is governed at the local level by Wivelsfield Parish Council which consists of nine councillors meeting twice monthly. The parish council is responsible for local amenities such as the provision of litter bins, bus shelters and allotments. They also provide a voice into the district council meetings. The May 2007 election was uncontested.The next level of government is Lewes District Council
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...
. The District council supplies services such as refuse collection, planning consent, leisure amenities and council tax collection. Wivelsfield is covered by the Chailey and Wivelsfield ward which returns two seats. In the May 2007 election, two councillors from the local Conservative party were elected.
Wivelsfield lies within the Chailey ward for the next tier of government, East Sussex County Council. The ward includes the parishes of 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...
, Ditchling
Ditchling
Ditchling is a village and civil parish in the Lewes District of East Sussex, England. The village is contained within the boundaries of the South Downs National Park; the order confirming the establishment of the park was signed in Ditchling....
, East Chiltington
East Chiltington
East Chiltington is a village and civil parish in the Lewes District of East Sussex, England. It is located four miles south-east of Burgess Hill and five miles north-west of Lewes. It is a narrow-shaped parish of some on the northern slope of the South Downs. The village church is 13th century...
, 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....
, Plumpton
Plumpton, East Sussex
Plumpton is a village and civil parish in the Lewes District of East Sussex, England. The village is located five miles north-west of Lewes. The parish includes the small village of Plumpton and the larger village of Plumpton Green to the north where most of the community and services are based...
, St John Without
St John Without
St John Without is a small civil parish in the Lewes District of East Sussex, England, covering an area to the north-west of the town of Lewes....
, Streat
Streat
Streat is a village and civil parish in the Lewes District of East Sussex, England. The village is located five miles south east of Burgess Hill and eight miles west of Lewes, on the northern slopes of the South Downs....
and Westmeston
Westmeston
Westmeston is a hamlet and civil parish in the Lewes District of East Sussex, England. It is located four miles south southeast of Burgess Hill and west of Lewes, on the northern slopes of the South Downs....
. The County Council provides services such as roads and transport, social services, libraries and trading standards. The June 2009 election resulted in a win for the Conservative Meg Stroude.
The UK Parliament constituency for Chailey is Lewes
Lewes (UK Parliament constituency)
Lewes is a constituency located in East Sussex and centred on the town of Lewes. It is represented in the House of Commons of the Parliament of the United Kingdom. It was a safe Conservative seat until 1997, but the Liberal Democrats have gained a strong foothold.-Boundaries:The constituency is...
. The Liberal Democrat
Liberal Democrats
The Liberal Democrats are a social liberal political party in the United Kingdom which supports constitutional and electoral reform, progressive taxation, wealth taxation, human rights laws, cultural liberalism, banking reform and civil liberties .The party was formed in 1988 by a merger of the...
Norman Baker
Norman Baker
Norman John Baker is a British Liberal Democrat politician who has been the Member of Parliament for Lewes in East Sussex since 1997. Since May 2010 he has been Parliamentary Under Secretary for the Department for Transport....
has been serving as the constituency MP since 1997.
At European level, Chailey is represented by the South-East region, which holds ten seats in the European Parliament
European Parliament
The European Parliament is the directly elected parliamentary institution of the European Union . Together with the Council of the European Union and the Commission, it exercises the legislative function of the EU and it has been described as one of the most powerful legislatures in the world...
. The June 2004 election returned four Conservatives, two Liberal Democrats, two UK Independence, one Labour and one Green, none of whom live in East Sussex.