Alciston is a small village which lies on the edge of the South Downs in East Sussex in Southern England . It lies just off the main A27 Eastbourne to Lewes road, and seems to be from a bygone age with its many thatched roof houses, and its ancient farm and church. Originally a Saxon farming village called Aelfsige tun (The enclosed land of Aelfsige) the Domesday book mentions Alistone as being quite a valuable estate owned by the Abbey at Battle . Later it was known as Alsistone. A chalk built church was founded before the Norman invasion, and evidence of this building was found recently during excavations under the East window. Alciston has the remains of a 14th century monastry which was owned by the Abbey at Battle . The dovecote from the monastry has been restored, and there is a 170ft long tithe barn, which has a roof containing 50,000 tiles. The area was probably a retreat for the monks from Battle Abbey similar to that in nearby Lullington . At the Dissolution of the Monastries the land was given to Sir John Gage from nearby West Firle in return for a provision of armed horsemen for the King . The area reverted to farming once the monks had left, and has remained this way throughout the centuries and is still its main business.

Services

The village has few services, but there is a public house within its street. Trains can be caught at Berwick Station about 2 miles to the East, these provide regular services along the coast. The main shopping centre of Lewes lies about 5 miles to the west, and that of Eastbourne , about 6 miles east.

Views

This small village is dominated by the South Downs , as it lies in a valley cut into the hills. It can only be driven into by a single width road, which also provides the exit. The church lying on own its small hillock surrounded by flint walls, and the ancient farm nearby provide a beautiful scene , and could easily be from a bygone era. The village seems to have more than its fair share of thatched cottages, with quite a number visible from the road.