Northiam has a picturesque green, surrounded by an abundance of old buildings. There is an ornate pump which supplied water to the village until 1907. In 1573 Good Queen Bess was reputed to have taken refreshment here while on a journey to Rye . The parish church dates from the 12th century, and stands on one of the highest points in the village. Only the west wall, and the lower part of the tower remain of the original building, however there are very few examples of this type of octagonal stone spire to be found in Sussex. In 1944, four Prime Ministers, including Winston Churchill, met on the playing fields opposite the Crown and Thistle public house, to inspect the troops prior to D-Day. Their names are inscribed on the gates which were erected to commemorate the event. The Northiam area has a wealth of fine old houses, but the most famous is the timber-framed Great Dixter, originally built in 1450 . It was bought by Nathaniel LLoyd in 1910, and later restored by Sir Edward Lutyens. Lutyens also laid out the garden, which has become one of the top showgardens in the South. The house and gardens are open to the public from April to October. In contrast to Great Dixter is Smuggler's cottage, reputed to be the smallest house in Sussex. It is located on the main road. The Steam railway station is about one and a half miles from the village, and is run by the Kent and East Sussex Railway, which operates from nearby Tenterden . The station was refurbished with the help of the popular BBC Television series "Challenge Anneka" in 1989. Recently a grant from the National Lottery is allowing an extension of the line to Bodiam .

Services

There is a frequent bus service through the village from Tenterden to Hastings. The trains can be caught in Battle about 8 miles south east, or Robertsbridge about 8 miles west. The nearest shopping is in Tenterden about 7 miles to the north. The nearest large town is Hastings, about 13 miles south.

Views

Northiam has a very pretty village centre with many white weather board houses. Great Dixter house and gardens is well worth a visit as it a beautiful sight. The steam trains from the Kent and East Sussex Railway at the station are very interesting and the journey from Northiam to Tenterden runs through some of the prettiest countryside.