Ashburnham | |
---|---|
St Peter's Church, Ashburnham | |
Location within East Sussex | |
Population | 303 (2001 Census) |
• Density | 43/sq mi (17/km2) |
OS grid reference | TQ666179 |
• London | 44 miles (71 km) NNW |
Civil parish |
|
District | |
Shire county | |
Region | |
Country | England |
Sovereign state | United Kingdom |
Post town | BATTLE |
Postcode district | TN33 |
Dialling code | 01424 |
Police | Sussex |
Fire | East Sussex |
Ambulance | South East Coast |
UK Parliament | |
Ashburnham is a civil parish in the Rother district of East Sussex, England, situated to the west of Battle. It includes the settlements of Brownbread Street and Ponts Green; Ashburnham Forge is also within the parish. [1] Ashburnham shares a parish council with the neighbouring small parish of Penhurst.
Ashburnham takes its name from Ashburnham Place, now a Christian conference and prayer centre, which in turn comes from the fact that the local stream is the Ashbourne. The 14th century parish church, dedicated to St Peter, was rebuilt in 1665. The village was in the iron making district of the Weald, and its blast furnace was the last in Sussex to be closed in 1813.
Ashburnham and neighbouring Penhurst, neither of which have many dwellings, were united in 1810.
The parish has a population of 303 (2001 census).
Ashburnham is located in the heart of the Sussex Weald within the designated High Weald Area of Outstanding Natural Beauty.
Ashburnham Park falls within the area and is a Site of Special Scientific Interest. It comprises 100.7 hectares (249 acres) ancient woodland and medieval deer park, containing a wide spread of flora and avian fauna. [2] In 1767 the 2nd Earl of Ashburnham commissioned Lancelot ("Capability") Brown to remodel the park which he did by including three large lakes. Part of the park lies in the neighbouring Catsfield parish.
Several features of the old iron industry can be found along the track from the hamlet of Ashburnham Forge up to the furnace site near Lakehurst Lane. [3]
At a local level, Ashburnham and neighbouring Penhurst have been governed by a joint parish council, The Parish Council of Ashburnham with Penhurst, since a Grouping Order was made in 1954. [4] The parish council is made up of seven councillors, split into two wards: five councillors from Ashburnham ward and two from Penhurst ward. [5] The May 2019 election had four candidates standing in the Ashburnham ward who were returned unopposed. [6] The Penhurst ward was uncontested. Since then one councillor was co-opted to fill the remaining vacancy in the Ashburnham ward.
Rother District Council provides the next level of government. Ashburnham and Penhurst are within the Catsfield & Crowhurst ward. [7] In the May 2023 election the ward was won by the Liberal Democrat candidate, who defeated the incumbent Conservative councillor. [8]
East Sussex County Council is the top tier of local government. Ashburnham with Penhurst falls within the Battle and Crowhurst ward. The Liberal Democrat candidate was elected at the May 2021 election. [9]
The UK Parliament constituency for Ashburnham and Penhurst is Bexhill and Battle.
Prior to Brexit in 2020, the villages were part of the South East England constituency in the European Parliament.
Mid Sussex is a local government district in West Sussex, England. The largest town is Haywards Heath, where the council is based. The district also contains the towns of Burgess Hill and East Grinstead plus surrounding rural areas, including many villages. The district includes part of the South Downs National Park and part of the designated Area of Outstanding Natural Beauty of High Weald, including sections of Ashdown Forest. The district contains most headwaters of the River Ouse. Its largest body of water is Ardingly reservoir which is used by watersports clubs. At the 2021 census the district had a population of 152,949.
Wealden is a local government district in East Sussex, England. Its council is based in Hailsham, the district's second largest town. The district also includes the towns of Crowborough, Polegate and Uckfield, along with numerous villages and surrounding rural areas. The district's name comes from the Weald, the landscape and ancient woodland which occupies much of the centre and north of the area.
Rother is a local government district in East Sussex, England. Its council is based in Bexhill-on-Sea. The district is named after the River Rother which flows within its boundaries.
Chichester is a local government district in West Sussex, England. It is named after the city of Chichester, which is its largest settlement and where the council is based. The district includes the towns of Midhurst, Petworth and Selsey and surrounding rural areas, including many villages. The district includes part of the South Downs National Park, and Chichester Harbour is a designated Area of Outstanding Natural Beauty. At the 2021 census the district had a population of 124,531.
Battle is a town and civil parish in the district of Rother in East Sussex, England. It lies 50 miles (80 km) south-east of London, 27 miles (43 km) east of Brighton and 20 miles (32 km) east of Lewes. Hastings is to the south-east and Bexhill-on-Sea to the south. Battle is in the designated High Weald Area of Outstanding Natural Beauty. The parish population was 6,673 according to the 2011 Census and 6,800 in the 2021 census. Battle contains the site of, and is named after, the Battle of Hastings, where William, Duke of Normandy, defeated King Harold II to become William I of England in 1066. For some 250 years after 1066, official documents referred to the town as (Latin) Bellum or (French) Bataille.
Burwash, archaically known as Burghersh, is a rural village and civil parish in the Rother district of East Sussex, England. Situated in the High Weald of Sussex some 15 miles (24 km) inland from the port of Hastings, it is located five miles (8 km) south-west of Hurst Green, on the A265 road, and on the River Dudwell, a tributary of the River Rother. In an area steeped in history, some nine miles (14 km) to the south-east lies Battle Abbey and eight miles (13 km) to the east is Bodiam Castle.
Bexhill and Battle is a constituency in East Sussex represented in the House of Commons of the UK Parliament since 2024 by Kieran Mullan of the Conservative Party.
Buxted is a village and civil parish in the Wealden district of East Sussex in England. The parish is situated on the Weald, north of Uckfield; the settlements of Five Ash Down, Heron's Ghyll and High Hurstwood are included within its boundaries. At one time its importance lay in the Wealden iron industry, and later it became commercially important in the poultry and egg industry.
Crowhurst is an isolated village situated five miles (8 km) north-west of Hastings in East Sussex. It has a parish council and is located within the Rother District Council.
Beckley is a village and civil parish in the Rother district of East Sussex, England. It is located on the B2088 minor road above the Rother Levels five miles (8 km) northwest of Rye and ten miles (16 km) from Hastings. The northern border follows the river Rother.
Mountfield is a village and civil parish in the Rother district of East Sussex, England, and three miles (5 km) north-west of Battle. It is mentioned in the Domesday Book.
Brightling is a village and civil parish in the Rother district of East Sussex, England. It is located on the Weald eight miles (13 km) north-west of Battle and four miles (6 km) west of Robertsbridge.
Catsfield is a village and civil parish in the Rother district of East Sussex, England. It is located six miles (9.7 km) north of Bexhill, and three miles (5 km) southwest of Battle.
Dallington is a village and civil parish in the Rother district of East Sussex, England. It is located eight miles (13 km) west of Battle and five miles (8 km) east of Heathfield.
Penhurst is a village and civil parish in the Rother district of East Sussex, England. It is located on the Weald, 4 miles (7km) west of Battle. The parish borders Ashburnham, Battle, Brightling and Catsfield, and shares a parish council with Ashburnham.
Whatlington is a village and civil parish in the Rother district of East Sussex, England. The village is seven miles (11 km) north of Hastings, just off the A21 road.
The 1999 Rother District Council election took place on 6 May 1999 to elect members of Rother District Council in East Sussex, England. The whole council was up for election and the Conservative Party gained overall control of the council from no overall control.
The 2007 Rother District Council election took place on 3 May 2007 to elect members of Rother District Council in East Sussex, England. The whole council was up for election and the Conservative Party stayed in overall control of the council.