Population 1,063. 2011 Census Civil parish Kirdford Country England Area 20.09 km² District Chichester District UK parliament constituency Horsham | OS grid reference TQ017266 Region South East Sovereign state United Kingdom Shire county West Sussex Dialling code 01403 | |
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Kirdford is a village and civil parish in the District of Chichester in West Sussex, England located 6.5 kilometres (4.0 mi) north east of Petworth. The parish has a land area of 2,008 hectares (4,960 acres). In the 2001 census 912 people lived in 373 households, of whom 448 were economically active. At the 2011 Census the population was 1,063
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Map of Kirdford, Billingshurst, UK
The village has an Anglican church dedicated to St John the Baptist plus an Evangelical non-denominational chapel and two pubs, The Foresters Arms and the Half Moon. Other amenities include a shop and the village hall which was enlarged in 1977.
In the Middle Ages iron production using ironstone and charcoal, and forest glass making were important industries. In the twentieth century apple growing was established through a cooperative venture, Kirdford Growers, based at the western end of the village. This has now ended and the warehouse site is being used for house building.
In 2011, Kirdford Village Stores won 'Best Corner Shop' in the Telegraph's Best Small Shops in Britain Awards.
The parish church
There is no reference to a church in the Domesday Book of 1086. The Grade I listed church of St. John the Baptist is built of local sandstone and roofed with Horsham stone slabs. Herringbone masonry and the style of column capitals indicate that the nave is early twelfth century. The north aisle is thirteenth century and the tower fifteenth. The tower carries a peel of six bells and a clock. There are four stained glass windows by Charles Eamer Kempe.
Near the road junction to the west of the church an inscribed stone set into the old rectory wall warns against drunkenness in no uncertain terms.