Alfriston

Signpost in Alfriston

Alfriston
Alfriston lockup
Area	9.36 km2 (3.61 sq mi)
Population
OS grid reference	TQ519030
• London	49 miles (79 km) NNW
District	Wealden
Shire county	East Sussex
Region	South East
Country	England
Sovereign state	United Kingdom
Post town	POLEGATE
Postcode district	BN26
Dialling code	01323
Police	Sussex
Fire	East Sussex
Ambulance	South East Coast
UK Parliament	Lewes
Website	http://www.alfriston-village.co.uk/

Alfriston (pronounced All-friston) is a village and civil parish in the East Sussex district of Wealden, England. The village lies in the valley of the River Cuckmere, about four miles north-east of Seaford and south of the main A27 trunk road. The parish has a population of 769 (2001 census).

History

Most of these notes have been adapted from the Village Reference website

There is strong evidence of ancient occupation of the area, since several Neolithic long barrows have been discovered on the surrounding Downs; among them, to the west is the fairly well-preserved Long Burgh. In Saxon times the village was recorded as Aelfrictun (the town of Alfric), from which the Domesday Book records the town as 'Elfricesh-tun'.

One building of historical importance is the Star Inn. Originally a religious hostel built in 1345 and used to accommodate monks and pilgrims en route from Battle Abbey to the shrine of St Richard, patron saint of Sussex, at Chichester Cathedral, it became an inn in the 16th century. Wooden figures grace the upper part of the building, whilst in the front is a one-time ship's figurehead representing a red lion. The latter is connected with the Alfriston smuggling gang who used the inn as a base; their leader was transported to Australia in 1830.

Churches

The Alfriston parish church, dedicated to St Andrew, has Saxon origins, although most of the building dates from the 14th century: it is known, because of its size, as The Cathedral of the South Downs. Today it is part of the united benefice which includes Litlington St Michael; West Dean AllSaints; the United Reformed Church at Alfriston is included in that grouping.. The Alfriston Clergy House, once the vicarage, is now maintained by the National Trust.

The village of Alfriston

Roofs of Alfriston, from the churchyard

The village today attracts many tourists, because it represents a perfect example of its kind, although the shops also tend to cater for the tourist: gift shops proliferate. The centre of the village is the Market Square which boasts a rather weatherbeaten market cross. This is often mistakenly referred to as "Waterloo Sqaure", although Waterloo Square is actually a small enclosed residential area nearby. There are also a number of inns and other places for accommodation and food.. The inns in the village are the Star Inn; the Smugglers' Inn (once the Market Cross House); the George Inn; and the Wingrove Inn.

The South Downs Way crosses the river here, between Eastbourne and Brighton. There is a youth hostel in the village. A windmill near the village has been converted into a house.

In 1931 Eleanor Farjeon wrote the popular hymn Morning Has Broken in Alfriston, supposedly about the beauty she saw around her in this village. The song was later recorded by Cat Stevens in the 1970s, reaching a wider audience.

Every year, on the first sunday of June there is the village fete.