Pulborough facts for kids
Quick facts for kids Pulborough |
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 Pulborough
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| Area | 20.98 km2 (8.10 sq mi) |
| Population | 4,685 2001 Census 5,206 (Census 2011) |
| • Density | 223/km2 (580/sq mi) |
| OS grid reference | TQ047187 |
| • London | 41 miles (66 km) NNE |
| Civil parish |
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| Region | |
| Country | England |
| Sovereign state | United Kingdom |
| Post town | PULBOROUGH |
| Postcode district | RH20 |
| Dialling code | 01798 |
| Police | Sussex |
| Fire | West Sussex |
| Ambulance | South East Coast |
| EU Parliament | South East England |
| UK Parliament |
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| Website | Parish Council |
Pulborough is a charming town in West Sussex, England. It's located almost in the center of West Sussex, about 42 miles (68 km) southwest of London. Around 5,000 people call Pulborough home. The town sits where two main roads, the A29 and A283, meet.
Pulborough is also found near where the River Arun and the River Rother join together. It's on an old Roman road called Stane Street, which once connected London to Chichester. From Pulborough, you can look south across the wide, flat area of the River Arun, with the beautiful South Downs hills in the background. The town is right on the edge of the new South Downs National Park.
The local area, known as the parish, covers about 5,183 acres (2,098 hectares). The town's main church, dedicated to St Mary, was built in the 12th century.
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Discovering Pulborough's Past
Pulborough has a long and interesting history. Long ago, it was a special place where people could cross the River Arun. The Romans used this crossing point. They even had a resting stop, called a mansio, across the river at Hardham. This was a day's journey from Chichester on their famous road, Stane Street.
Later, the Saxons built bridges over the River Arun here and at nearby Stopham. Pulborough became an important stop for people moving cattle. It was a great place for animals to drink and rest overnight.
About a mile west of the town, hidden in the woods, you can still see the remains of an old castle. This castle, called Park Mound, was a motte and bailey style castle built in the 11th century. It was made of earth and wood.
In more recent times, Pulborough grew thanks to its transport links. The River Arun was used for boats, and later, the Arun Valley Line railway arrived. These connections helped the town become part of the industrial age. In the 20th century, good roads led to the growth of factories, especially for heavy machinery. However, these factories have now closed. The land they once stood on is now home to a supermarket and a health center.
Fun Things to Do in Pulborough
Pulborough offers some great attractions for visitors and locals alike.
- Wild Art Trail: There's a fun wild art trail that starts from the railway station. It leads you across an area called The Pulborough Brooks all the way to the RSPB nature reserve at Wiggonholt. It's a great way to explore nature and see some interesting art!
- Harvest Fair: Every year, on the fourth Saturday of September, Pulborough hosts a traditional Harvest Fair. It's a lively event with old-fashioned fairground games, a "welly wanging" competition (throwing rubber boots!), and a scarecrow contest.
- Duck Race: In June, the Pulborough duck race society holds its yearly duck race. This is a charity event where rubber ducks float down the river, all to raise money for good causes.
- South Downs Light Railway: Pulborough is also home to the South Downs Light Railway. Here, you can ride on miniature steam and diesel trains. They run regularly throughout the summer and have a more limited service during the colder months.
Pulborough Cricket Club
Cricket has been played in Pulborough for a very long time, with records going back to 1799! Today, the Pulborough Cricket Club plays at the Recreation Ground. They have many teams for both older players (Seniors) and younger players (Colts).
The club's top teams joined the Sussex Cricket League in 2004, which is the main county league. A third team plays in the West Sussex League, with their home games nearby at Watersfield.
Pulborough was one of the first clubs to start the North West Sussex Colts Cricket League in 1987. This was because schools weren't offering enough cricket opportunities for young people. Now, the club has teams for different age groups, from Under 9s to Under 16s. This gives young players lots of chances to learn and improve their cricket skills in a fun, competitive way. It also helps make sure the club has a strong future. The club also helps younger players move up to play in the senior teams.
In 2006, the Sussex Cricket Board recognized the club's hard work with youth sports and gave them "ECB 'Focus Club'" status. In 2008, the club even started a junior girls' team, showing their ongoing plans to grow and improve.
Other Interesting Facts
In 2022, a house built by its owners on the edge of Pulborough was featured on the popular television show Grand Designs.
Notable People from Pulborough
Some famous artists and researchers have lived in or near Pulborough:
- Clara Christian (1868–1906) and Ethel Walker (1861–1951) were artists who lived in a cottage near Pulborough in the mid-1890s.
- Harry Price (1881–1948) was a psychic researcher who lived in Pulborough from before his marriage in 1908 until he passed away.
