Herstmonceux facts for kids
Quick facts for kids Herstmonceux |
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| Village | |
 Windmill Hill Mill, Herstmonceux |
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 Herstmonceux
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| Area | 24.7 km2 (9.5 sq mi) |
| Population | 2,613 (2011) |
| • Density | 273/sq mi (105/km2) |
| OS grid reference | TQ635125 |
| • London | 45 miles (72 km) N |
| District |
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| Shire county | |
| Region | |
| Country | England |
| Sovereign state | United Kingdom |
| Post town | HAILSHAM |
| Postcode district | BN27 |
| Dialling code | 01323 |
| Police | Sussex |
| Fire | East Sussex |
| Ambulance | South East Coast |
| EU Parliament | South East England |
| UK Parliament |
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| Website | Herstmonceux Parish |
Herstmonceux (pronounced HURSS-mən-ZOO) is a lovely village in East Sussex, England. It's part of the Wealden area and is famous for Herstmonceux Castle.
Contents
History of Herstmonceux
What's in a Name?
The name Herstmonceux comes from old words. Hyrst is an old Anglo-Saxon word meaning "wooded hill." The "Monceux" part comes from the Monceux family. They were important landowners in the area way back in the 1100s. In 1086, the village was simply called Herste.
Early Cricket
Did you know that Herstmonceux has a link to the early days of cricket? In 1677, a man named Thomas Lennard was paid money. This was for going to a cricket match. The game was played at "ye Dicker," a common area near Herstmonceux. This is one of the very first times cricket was mentioned in writing!
Making Trugs
The Herstmonceux area is also known for making special baskets called trugs. These baskets are made from thin pieces of willow wood. They are shaped using a strong frame made of ash or chestnut wood. Many people in the village still make these traditional baskets today.
How Herstmonceux is Run
The village has a local council called the parish council. It has eleven members who are chosen by the people living in the village. This council helps make decisions for the local area.
Schools in Herstmonceux
Children in the village go to Herstmonceux Church of England Primary School.
Geography of Herstmonceux
The main part of Herstmonceux village used to be called Gardner Street. The wider area, known as the civil parish, includes other small places. These include Cowbeech and tiny hamlets like Foul Mile and Windmill Hill. The Windmill Hill Windmill is located there. The big town of Eastbourne is about 7 kilometres (4.3 miles) southwest. Brighton and Hove is about 21 miles (34 km) southwest.
Herstmonceux Castle
Herstmonceux Castle is about 2 kilometres (1.2 miles) southeast of the village. This historic castle was once home to the Royal Observatory, Greenwich. This was a very important place for studying stars and space!
Today, the castle is part of Queen's University, Kingston, Canada. It's called the Bader International Study Centre. Students from Canada and other countries come here to study each year. The castle grounds also have the Observatory Science Centre. This is a fun place where you can learn about science and space.
Special Natural Areas
Herstmonceux parish has two special natural areas. These are called Sites of Special Scientific Interest. They are protected because they have unique plants and animals.
- Herstmonceux Park is important for its wetlands. Wetlands are areas of land covered by shallow water. This park is the only place in southeast England where you can find a plant called Milk Parsley.
- Pevensey Levels is another special area. It has low-lying grassy fields that are often wet. Many different kinds of wetland plants and animals live here.
Churches in Herstmonceux
The All Saints' (Church of England) parish church is very old. Its tall tower was built in the 1100s. The main part of the church was built in the 1200s and 1300s. It stands overlooking the castle.
There is also the Herstmonceux Congregational Church. It was built in 1811 and is now a protected historic building.
Village Twinning
Herstmonceux is "twinned" with a village in France. This means they have a special friendship connection. The French village is called Varengeville-sur-Mer. It is located in Normandy, France.
