Ripe is one of those villages that seems to be from a fargone era, it lies between the A27 Eastbourne to Brighton road and the Hailsham to Lewes roads. It has had quite a number of names Alchitone , Achiltone , Achintone , Echentone finally Ripe . Before 1066 it was owned by Earl Harold, later to become King Harold who was killed at the Battle of Hastings in 1066. The Domesday book mentions the manors or Rype and Echentone which were owned by Richard de Aquila . The church was taxed by Pope Nicholas IV in 1291. Down the ages the village seems to have been and has remained a farming community.

Services

Ripe has a few local services, but there is no public transport. The nearest shops are at Lewes about 7 miles to the west, or Eastbourne about 7 miles east. Trains can be caught from Berwick station a few miles south east.

Views

Ripe lies on the flat lands north of the Downs, and these high hills can be seen from all around. The village is quite pretty with many old buildings, and all around are rambles and walks.