East Sussex - Iron Country
(1066
and the Saxon Villages)
This tour will take you around
the villages which were razed to the ground by William the Conqueror. The
majority of churches in the villages are very old, and pretty. This tour will
take a minimum of 2 hours.
Choose the village where you wish to start
from.
If you are coming
into Battle from Mountfield. Drive up to the roundabout and
turn left into the town centre. We suggest you then turn first left towards
Whatlington, then right into the car park. Walk through from the car park to
the High Street, and browse the shops. If you head south through the town, away
from the roundabout, you will come to Battle Abbey, and Senlac field, which is
open to the public. The horsemen and battleaxe wielding Saxons can still be
seen on re-enactment days.
If you are coming into Battle
from the Whatlington direction, turn left into the car park
just before you reach the High Street, the follow the instructions above.
If you are coming into Battle
town centre from the Hastings direction, drive through the town
to the roundabout, go right round the roundabout heading back towards the town
centre, and follow the instructions above.
If you are coming into Battle
from the Herstmonceux direction, go straight over the
roundabout, and follow the above instructions.
To carry on to 
drive
out of the car park and turn left towards the Abbey, about 1/2 mile down this
road turn left towards Sedlescombe. Go over the level crossing, and continue
until you reach the A21 junction. Turn right towards Hastings, and drive for
about 1/2 mile when you turn left towards Sedlescombe. Another mile and you
reach the village.
If you are
coming into Sedlescombe from Battle, stop
in the village centre, and walk around, there are some nice old buildings to
see.Imagine the area in its heyday manufacturing gunpowder for the Royal Navy,
a risky business by all accounts.
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If you are coming into
Sedlescombe from Cripps Corner we suggest you start from 
.
To move on to
drive up the hill to the North, and continue on to Cripps Corner, passing the
church and many vineyards.
If you are
coming into Cripps Corner from the Sedlescombe direction, you
may wish to turn right just before the bridge, and drive to the cross roads,
which is the centre of the village. Think of the shock the Regular Army had
during the 1940's when shot at by the Home Guard. When you are finished turn
around, and head back towards the main road, turn right, then pass under the
bridge.
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If you are coming into Cripps
Corner from Rye, stop at the cross roads, then turn left head
back towards the main road, turn right, then pass under the bridge.
If you are coming into Cripps
Corner from Staplecross, stop at the cross roads, then carry
straight on towards the main road, turn right, then pass under the bridge.
To move on to 
carry
on the main road towards Hawkhurst for about 3 miles until you come to the
cross roads at the top of the hill. Turn left, and continue on for about 1
mile, taking the second left turn. This is a minor road so be careful. Travel
along for 1/2 mile, and turn right and follow the road. This will take you to
Salehurst.
If you are
coming into Salehurst from Hawkhurst, Hurst Green or Cripps Corner,
stop by the church, and take a walk down the path to its right , and down over
the old railway track, to the bridge over the Rother, this area is peaceful,
and has wonderful views..
If you are coming into Salehurst from
Robertsbridge or the A21, we suggest you start your tour in 
.
To move on to carry
on away from the church, go over the roundabout on the A21, and into
Robertsbridge.
If you are
coming into Robertsbridge from Salehurst. drive into the centre
of the village, turn right into Station Road, then first left into the car
park. Stop here and investigate the old High Street with its ancient buildings,
and walk up Fair Lane to the bridge over the A21.If you walk up to the Station,
there are carriages, and engines from the Rother Valley Steam Railway.
If you are coming into Robertsbridge from Hurst
Green.at the roundabout on the A21 turn right, and follow the
above instructions.
If you are coming into
Robertsbridge from the South,.we suggest you start your tour at
or .
To move on to 
drive
back into Robertsbridge High Street, turn right and head up the hill on the old
main road, until you come to the main A21 junction. Turn right and drive about
2 miles to Johns Cross, slow down here as there is a speed camera. At the
junction opposite the school, turn right down the Battle road, and take the
second right into Mountfield.
If you are
coming into Mountfield from Robertsbridge, travel into the
village from the Battle road, and take the first right up the hill. Carry on to
the top of the hill, turn left and drive for another mile past the village duck
pond on your right, until you reach the church. Stop here and look at the old
building.
If you are coming into Mountfield from Battle,
we suggest you start your tour from
To move on to 
,
turn around and drive away from the church, pass the duck pond again, and
continue until you come to the junction on the Battle road, turn left up the
hill back towards Johns Cross. At Johns Cross take the road to the right
towards Hastings. Continue down the A21 for about 1 1/2 miles, into
Whatlington.
If you are
coming into Whatlington from Johns Cross, travel into the
village until you see a white painted chapel on your left. Turn right just
round the corner, and stop by the Royal Oak Inn, and look to your right towards
Mountfield. When you have finished, drive down the hill over the bridge, and
stop in the small layby about 200 yards from the bridge. Walk back and
investigate the old church.
If you are coming into Whatlington from Battle,
we suggest you start your tour from .
If you are coming into
Whatlington from Hastings, we suggest you start your tour from .
To move on to simply
continue on this road.
Map showing the route of the 1066 and the Saxon Villages Tour
© VillageNet 1998
