Eridge Park facts for kids
| Site of Special Scientific Interest | |
 |
|
| Area of Search | East Sussex |
|---|---|
| Interest | Biological |
| Area | 396.8 hectares (981 acres) |
| Notification | 1986 |
| Location map | Magic Map |
Eridge Park is a village and a historic park in East Sussex, England. It is located north of Rotherfield and north-east of Crowborough. The large house in the park is the main home of the Marquess of Abergavenny, a noble family. This special area is also known as a biological Site of Special Scientific Interest (SSSI) because of its important nature.
A Look Back: Eridge Park's History
The name Eridge comes from "Eagle ridge." This means it was likely a place where eagles used to live or visit often.
For many years, Eridge was the main home for the Earls and Marquesses of Abergavenny. These were important noble families.
In 1792, Henry Nevill, 2nd Earl of Abergavenny, changed the old Eridge House. He turned it into a Gothic-style castle. He called this new building Eridge Castle.
However, this castle was later replaced. In the 1930s, a new house was built in its place. This new building was a neo-Georgian mansion. Because it's a newer building on an old site, it is not listed as a historic building.
Nature's Treasures: The Park and Woods
Eridge Park is part of Eridge Green, which is a very important natural area. It covers about 396.8 hectares (980 acres). This area is a biological Site of Special Scientific Interest (SSSI). This means it is protected because of its special plants, animals, or geology.
The park has rolling hills and is very wooded. You can find thick forests to the north (Whitehill Wood) and south (Saxonbury Hill). The site includes beautiful gardens, open parkland, and very old woodlands.
This park is super important for its lichens. Lichens are like tiny plants that grow on trees and rocks. Eridge Park has 167 different kinds of lichens! It has one of the richest collections of lichens growing on trees in all of Britain.
The park is also home to many interesting creatures. You can spot 22 different kinds of dragonflies here. Plus, about 60 types of birds come here to breed and raise their young.
The Village and Its Surroundings
Eridge Park village is just north of Rotherfield. It mostly overlaps with the church area of Eridge Green. The old Eridge Castle even had its own church area until 1856.
On the village street, you'll find the local church. This church is a Grade II listed building, meaning it's historically important. There are six other listed buildings in the village too. One of these is the local pub, called the Nevill Crest and Gun.
The area also has some interesting "follies." Follies are buildings that look like castles or ruins but were built just for decoration. Examples include the Saxonbury Tower and other fancy buildings near the Sham Farm industrial estate.
Sham Farm is a working farm that grows crops. It got its name from a clever trick! A wall was built there to hide the large farm buildings. This made the farm look like a huge house when seen from Eridge Castle. Today, the industrial estate at Sham Farm has businesses like a trout fishery and a sausage factory.
