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Broad Oak Brede in East Sussex

Google map showing area surrounding Broad Oak Brede
(On the Crossroads)
Location: 50.949404,0.597865
General Details
Broad Oak Brede Sussex - To the Cross RoadsBroad Oak Brede in East Sussex is a small village on the A28 midway between Hastings and Tenterden , whose history is very closely tied in with Brede .

In 1030 the Manor of Brede was granted to the Abbey of Fecamp in Normandy, and until 1416, Brede was controlled by the Abbey. The church was built by the Benidictine monks from the Abbey around 1180. Very little of the early church remains, and the majority stems from the 12th century.

An interesting tale from the 16th Century is of Sir Goddard Oxenbridge, a giant of a man who was said to eat a child every night for supper, and who could not be killed by metal, but only by wooden weapons. It is believed that this story was spread by the smugglers in the area, to scare away the curious from Brede Place, which was one of their bases. The story ends with a very drunken Sir Goddard being killed with a wooden saw at Groaning Bridge, between the Church and Brede Place.

Brede was famous for its iron works, and manufactured cannon and shot until the late 1770's, when gunpowder was manufactured. Three major explosions racked the mills, and finally on 7th March 1808 Brede Gunpowder Mills was completely destroyed by a large explosion, ending its production.
Views
Broad Oak Brede East Sussex - Converted Oast HousesThe views all around are very picturesque, as Broad Oak(Brede) is on top of a hill. Going north towards Northiam , the valley is steep, and very pretty.
Services
Broad Oak Brede East Sussex - The School HouseThe local services are limited to a garage, public houses, and small shops with the main shopping town at Hastings about 10 miles away to the south, or Tenterden about 6 miles to the north east.

The main bus route from Tenterden to Hastings goes through the village.

The nearest trains run from Hastings or Battle on the main London line, providing 1/2 hourly services.
Map
Broad Oak Brede is shown as the red symbol on the map.

Nearby Villages

(click on symbol to see the village page)
Village= Town= Recorded in Domesday=
Battle (William the Conqueror prevails)5.47 miles
Beckley (Alfred the Great and Guns !)
3.13 miles
Bodiam (The finest ruined castle in the Country)
4.59 miles
Brede (Edward I inspects the Channel Fleet)0.91 miles
Catsfield (Iron, Railways and Clocks)
7.35 miles
Cripps Corner (Home Guard surprises the Army)3.17 miles
Ewhurst Green (Great Fire of London contributions)3.54 miles
Guestling (Changing guards at Buckingham Palace)
3.57 miles
Icklesham (Paul McCartney's Recording Studio)3.92 miles
Iden (Sheriff of Kent and Jack Cade)
6.25 miles
Mountfield (17th Century Coal !!)
5.18 miles
Northiam (Prime Ministers D Day inspection)3.14 miles
Old Winchelsea (Abandoned after the Great Storm)5.87 miles
Peasmarsh (Black Death moves village)4.04 miles
Pett (End of the Royal Military Canal)4.72 miles
Playden (Saltcote and fish)
6.78 miles
Robertsbridge (The Home of Modern Cricket)6.02 miles
Rye (On the Island)
6.11 miles
Salehurst (Richard the Lion Heart's Gift)
5.54 miles
Sedlescombe (Best gunpowder in Europe)
3.01 miles
Staplecross (Mothers grudge hangs son)3.18 miles
Udimore (Angels move the Church)
2.33 miles
Westfield (Bonfire Boys under suspicion)
3.10 miles
Whatlington (King Harold's Manor)
4.05 miles
Winchelsea (Inland Cinque Port !!)5.17 miles
Winchelsea Beach (Holidaymakers and Henry VIIIs Fort)5.96 miles
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