Withyham facts for kids
Quick facts for kids Withyham |
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 Withyham |
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 Withyham
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| Area | 36.8 km2 (14.2 sq mi) |
| Population | 2,654 (2011) |
| • Density | 187/sq mi (72/km2) |
| OS grid reference | TQ495356 |
| • London | 30 miles (48 km) NNW |
| District |
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| Shire county | |
| Region | |
| Country | England |
| Sovereign state | United Kingdom |
| Post town | HARTFIELD |
| Postcode district | TN7 |
| Dialling code | 01892 |
| Police | Sussex |
| Fire | East Sussex |
| Ambulance | South East Coast |
| EU Parliament | South East England |
| UK Parliament |
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Withyham is a charming village and a large local area (called a civil parish) in East Sussex, England. It's located about 7 miles southwest of Royal Tunbridge Wells and 3.5 miles (5.6 km) from Crowborough. This parish covers a big area, roughly 7,500 acres or 30 square kilometers.
Contents
Exploring Withyham's Geography
Withyham parish sits on the edge of the Weald, a beautiful area of hills and valleys. It's in the valley of the River Medway, where several smaller rivers join it from the south. To the north, you'll find the famous Ashdown Forest.
The B2110 road goes right through the village, connecting Groombridge and Forest Row. Much of Withyham is countryside, with lots of green spaces. The small area of Buckhurst, which is part of the parish, is home to Buckhurst Park. This historic estate is where Lord De La Warr lives.
Withyham village itself is quite small. It has a few houses, the local church, a bed and breakfast, and the Dorset Arms. The Dorset Arms is a village pub that used to be a farmhouse.
A Look Back at Withyham's History
Buckhurst Estate and Its Families
Withyham isn't mentioned in the old Domesday Book, but the manor of Buckhurst is. It was called "Biochest," which probably means "beech wood" in an old language. For many centuries, two main houses stood at Buckhurst. The older Buckhurst House is gone now, but the current Buckhurst Park remains.
Both houses belonged to the Sackville family for generations. Buckhurst Park is still the main home for the De La Warr family. William Sackville, 11th Earl De La Warr lives there today. Many of the houses in Withyham village were likely built for people who worked on the Buckhurst estate. After World War II, many council houses were built at Balls Green, near a railway station that is now closed.
The Gildredge Family Connection
Withyham was also home to the Gildredge family. They later moved to Eastbourne and became very important there. They bought a lot of land and gained more through marriages. Thomas Walker Horsfield, a historian, wrote that "Gildredge House and estate was formerly the property and residence of the family of the same name." He added that they later became important landowners in Eastbourne.
Today, Gildredge Park in Eastbourne is named after this family. The Gildredge family was also connected to other important families, like the Eversfields and the Levetts. The Gildredge lands eventually passed to the Gilbert family (now called the Davies-Gilbert family), who still own much of Eastbourne.
Withyham parish is located in an Area of Outstanding Natural Beauty. This means it's a special place with beautiful landscapes that are protected.
Withyham Church: St. Michael and All Angels
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The oldest information about the Weald area, going back to 1288, often comes from the parish church in Withyham, St. Michael's. The church is dedicated to St Michael and All Angels. The current rector is Reverend Canon James Campbell.
Records show that the church was almost completely rebuilt in the 1300s. This was done to add a special chapel for the Sackville family. On June 16, 1663, lightning struck the church. It caused a lot of damage and even melted the bells! The rebuilding took a long time, finishing in 1672. The Sackville Chapel wasn't completed until eight years later. Only a few parts of the old church survived the lightning strike and were used in the new building. The rectory (the house for the church's leader) was also built around this time.
More changes were made in the 1800s. A new south aisle was added, and the low ceiling was removed. A new south porch was also built. In 1849, four paintings were given to the church. People believe these paintings were made by Niccolò di Pietro Gerini, an artist from the 1300s. These paintings were later sold at an auction in London in 2012.
The church tower has eight bells. Five bells were remade in 1674 after the lightning strike. A sixth bell was added in 1715. These bells stayed until 1908, when they were remade again, and two more bells were added.
Some famous people are buried or have their ashes at the church. These include David Maxwell Fyfe, 1st Earl of Kilmuir, Richard Sackville, 3rd Earl of Dorset, and the author and garden designer, Vita Sackville-West. The church was also used as a filming location for a scene in the 1976 concert film The Song Remains the Same. This film features the English rock band Led Zeppelin. The scene filmed there stars John Paul Jones, the band's bass and keyboard player.
How Withyham is Governed
Withyham is a large parish, so it's divided into three areas for local elections. These areas are:
- Groombridge
- Withyham (which includes Blackham)
- St Johns (Withyham)
Important Landmarks in Withyham
Penn's Rocks is a special natural area within the parish. It's called a Site of Special Scientific Interest because of its unique plants and wildlife. The sandstone rocks there provide a rare home for many ferns and mosses.
Buckhurst Park is another important landmark. It's the historic home of the Earls De La Warr, who lead the Sackville family. The park has beautiful gardens designed by famous landscape artists.
The Hundred Acre Wood, made famous by A.A. Milne in his Winnie-the-Pooh stories, is actually part of the Buckhurst Estate.
Withyham's Millennium Celebration
To celebrate the millennium (the year 2000), the 11th Earl De La Warr planted a yew tree sapling in Withyham. This sapling came from a yew tree that was said to be 2,000 years old, dating back to the time of Christ. Sadly, vandals pulled up the sapling, but Earl De La Warr replanted it. The Church also asked for a special millennium map to be made, celebrating almost 1,000 years of Withyham's history.
Getting Around: Public Transport
The village has a regular bus service. The Metrobus 291 bus route connects Withyham to larger towns like East Grinstead, Tunbridge Wells, and Crawley. It also serves nearby villages.
In nearby Ashurst, there is a railway station. Ashurst station is on the train line that goes from Uckfield to London. It passes through Oxted and East Croydon. Trains run every hour in both directions.
