Hellingly

Geography

The entirely rural and suburban village is centred exactly 1.5 miles (2.4 km) north of the small town of Hailsham. The dependent village of Lower Dicker is within its boundaries.

History

The village, like many others on the Weald, was involved in the Wealden iron industry. The watermill connected with the industry is no longer in operation. Horselunges Manor is a moated Tudor manor house, restored by Walter Godfrey in the 1930s.

Hospitals

Hellingly Hospital occupies land in the east of the village, and from 1903 until 1994 the hospital served East Sussex. The hospital now stands derelict, but is earmarked for redevelopment.

Sport

The main sports clubs in the village are Hellingly Rugby Club and Hellingly cricket club, which are both at Horsebridge recreation ground.

Governance

There are fourteen parish councillors on Hellingly Parish Council. The population of this ward at the 2011 census was 5,940.

Geography

Hellingly contains the confluence of the River Cuckmere and one of its tributaries close to the centre, on the lower southern slopes of the gentle uplands forming the Weald.

Religion

The 14th-century parish church is dedicated to St Peter and St Paul. The chancel dates from about 1200, and the shafts with annulets round the windows and the band of palmettes under them are substantially original. There is stained glass in the east lancet windows by William Morris & Co. Zoar Strict Baptist Chapel was founded in 1837 at Lower Dicker.

Transport

This settlement had a railway station on the Polegate to Eridge line which closed on the growth of motorised transport in the rural parts of county in 1968. The village is now served by buses run by Stagecoach.

Notable people

Peter Grant (1935–1995), actor and music executive, is buried in the civil cemetery here, following a funeral in the parish church. Grant lived in Hellingly at Horselunges Manor, which was featured in the opening scene in Led Zeppelin's film, The Song Remains the Same.