Bishopstone is a small village now lying inland from the coast between Newhaven and Seaford . The village was settled by the Saxons , and the church is part Saxon and part Norman. The name is derived from the fact that the Bishops of Chichester came to stay here until the 1600's. The stone probably relates to the home location or a foundation stone of the church. They were in 1199 recorded as building one of the first windmills in Sussex. In 1324 King Edward II stayed with the Bishops of Chichester at Bishopstone for a couple of days. In 1780 William Catt was born at Buxted the son of a farmer. He was married at 21 and his family bought a farm at Robertsbridge for the couple. He was interested in automation of the flour grinding process, and had some dealings with the mill at Lamberhurst . One of his cousins lived at Bishopstone and had some land, Catt went into partnership, and leased the mile or so of land between his cousins mill and the sea from Lord Sheffield . In this area he built a resevoir, which was filled by the tide, and built a mill which worked using the water from the sea for power. It grew into the largest water-mill in Sussex from five pairs of grinding stones to sixteen pairs. The area is still known as Tidemills. During the Second World War the Tidemills area was used by the Army for artillery practice from Newhaven Fort, and the TideMill and its surrounding buildings were obliterated. Many thanks to David Lyndhurst for the following information. [Catt was 21 when he married, not 19 as given by Lower and subsequently erroneously perpetuated by many others. See parish register entries for his baptism and marriage. I have much information on Catt/Willett family if of interest.]

Services

Bishopstone has no local services, and the nearest shopping is in Denton about 1 mile west or Seaford 2 miles east. The main shopping centre of Newhaven lies about 3 miles to the west. Trains can be caught from Bishopstone station about 1 1/2 miles from the village.

Views

Bishopstone lies in a valley in the South Downs. The village consists of a few large houses, and the church. The area around the church is very attractive and peaceful, with walks throughout the area.