ABOUT THE TRAIL This is a self-guided Rusper A24 A29 walking trail. Rudgwick Faygate A264 Warnham A281 A264 Please read the A281 Slinfold Horsham Horsham information below. A29 Heritage Trails A281 Lower Barns Green Beeding A24 Billingshurst Southwater Nuthurst Coneyhurst A281 Upper Beeding A272 Coolham A272 West Cowfold Grinstead A29 Knepp
Dial Post Partridge West Green Pulborough Chiltington Thakeham A281 A24 Coldwaltham A283 Ashington Henfield
Storrington Wiston A281
Amberley Washington Rusper Small Dole
A24 A283 A29 Upper Rudgwick Faygate A264 Steyning Beeding Warnham A281 A264 Bramber A281 Slinfold Horsham A29 Areas of Natural Beauty/South Downs National Park
A281 Lower Barns Green Beeding A24 Billingshurst Southwater X Nuthurst Coneyhurst HOWA281 TO FIND US A272 Coolham A272 West Cowfold Grinstead A29 Knepp Start point: the car park by the recreation Dial Post Partridge West Green Pulborough Chiltington Thakeham A281ground opposite Beeding and Bramber Village A24 Coldwaltham A283 Ashington HenfieldHall, High Street, Upper Beeding BN44 3WN.
Storrington Wiston A281
Amberley Washington Small Dole Designed and Printed by Treetop Design Print. Tel: 01293 863131 A283 UpperACCESS & FACILITIES Steyning Beeding Bramber Walking grade: Easy Distance: 2 ¾ miles - allow around 2 hours. Info: The section of the trail near the brooks can be wet and/or overgrown depending on recent weather. Deacons Way may be used as an alternative route from Pound Lane to St Peter’s Church. Refreshments: The Hub Café in Church Lane (weekday and Saturday mornings). Toilets: The car park opposite The Castle Inn, Bramber, BN44 3WE. Dogs: Please keep dogs on leads and clean mess up.
Please respect the privacy of local residents.
FIND OUT MORE: www.beedingtrail.org.uk To learn more about the heritage of the wider district and discover additional trails, please visit www.horshammuseum.org Supported by Horsham District Community Partnerships Forum and The National Lottery Heritage Fund.
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m u r m o Exploring Horsham District’s Heritage u F n s i p ty hi Partners Information is correct at time of going to press. Finally, further east is Hyde Street where several Upper Beeding of the local farms had their farmhouses, and associated businesses such as blacksmiths and Not far from Bramber Castle, Upper Beeding is wheelwrights were established. a charming village that has much heritage of its own – from medieval salt making to providing The many farms showed the economy originated refuge for fleeing nuns – making it an intriguing in agriculture, while various goods would have place to visit. been transported on the river. The village remains well served with shops and two schools. Upper Beeding itself occupies a gap in the South Downs in the Adur valley. Beeding – as the village is known locally – is mentioned in the Domesday Book (1086) and formed part of the lands gifted by William the Conqueror to William de Braose, after the Norman Conquest in 1066.
About three miles to the west, on the ridge of the South Downs, can be seen the Iron Age hill fort at Chanctonbury. To the east, lying much closer Upper Beeding - timeline of a village within Upper Beeding parish, is Windmill Hill. There was a windmill here at one time, of course, Saxon St Peter’s Church established though this was destroyed in a storm in 1888. 1080 De Braose moved monks Beyond Windmill Hill can be seen Truleigh Hill from Bramber to Beeding with its transmitter masts, and the site of an RAF 1000-1100 Beeding Bramber causeway built radar station during World War II. early Tudor The Old House (Mains Farm House) C1500 Pound House Cottage Historically the village itself was unusual in having C1540 The King’s Head Pub three main focal points. A little to the north lay Sele late 16thC North and South Cottages Priory, close to where the parish church of St Peter now stands. The Benedictine priory was founded 1600 - 1699 Oak Cottage around 1080, on land gifted by William de Braose 17thC Valerie Manor to an abbey at Saumur in France. Sele Priory had late17thC/Early 18thC Pond Farm House a troubled history, although at its peak it owned 1785 Beeding Bridge rebuilt lands across Sussex and in France. It finally closed (existed in 1086) in 1480, when its remaining lands came into the 1794 Coach road through High Street ownership of Magdalen College, Oxford. During the turnpiked Middle Ages, the name Sele was frequently used 1862-1891 Dr J R Bloxam, vicar for the village of Beeding as a whole. 1872 Upper Beeding School opened 1873 Towers Convent building Exploring The second main village centre was the area (original part completed) along the High Street, immediately to the east of 1888 Windmill Hill mill destroyed in storm Horsham the river bridge. Lying along a causeway built in 1903 Towers Convent established District’s the late 11th century, it formed part of a turnpiked 1905 Cross family occupies Beeding Heritage road that connected London to Steyning and then Court Farm on to Brighton for the booming coach trade that 1930 Village Hall opened developed from the 1750s onwards. 1965 Hyde Square shops built
Pond Farm House Farm Pond Pub Head Kings The
old buildings. buildings. old not see into the farmhouse garden. farmhouse the into see not
Returning now to your start point you will pass many many pass will you point start your to now Returning passengers on stage coaches could could coaches stage on passengers
three feet were added in 1850 so that that so 1850 in added were feet three
Originally eight feet tall, another another tall, feet eight Originally popular with tourists enjoying pleasure boats. pleasure enjoying tourists with popular
Why is the flint wall here so high? high? so here wall flint the is Why and other goods. In Victorian times the river was was river the times Victorian In goods. other and 20
Wharves here were used for the transport of coal coal of transport the for used were here Wharves 16
coins were found dated from 1743. from dated found were coins
. . towards right Turn from late 17C - during renovations renovations during - 17C late from Beeding Bridge Beeding 15
19 18
High Street and Finish and Street High imposing Pond Farm house dates dates house Farm Pond imposing 19
the while construction, century
The King’s Head pub is a 15th 15th a is pub Head King’s The Country in the early 20th century. 20th early the in Country 18
family, part of a migration of farmers from the West West the from farmers of migration a of part family, Riverside Bridge Beeding
the top floor served as the village hall. village the as served floor top the centre and Baptist church founded by the Cross Cross the by founded church Baptist and centre
flint building occupied this site where where site this occupied building flint Dr Bloxam and then The Hub - a community community a - Hub The then and Bloxam Dr 14
current takeaway shop. Until 1965, a a 1965, Until shop. takeaway current by founded school village the pass now will You 13
we can see the gable ends of the the of ends gable the see can we
make your way into Church Lane. Lane. Church into way your make At the entrance to Saltings Way Way Saltings to entrance the At 17
Entering the main part of Saltings Way turn left, and and left, turn Way Saltings of part main the Entering
making.
next to a Millennium Plaque about medieval salt salt medieval about Plaque Millennium a to next
flood plain. Go through the gate into Saltings Way Way Saltings into gate the through Go plain. flood
left before the steps which follows the edge of the the of edge the follows which steps the before left
16 15 Walk back towards the river taking the path on the the on path the taking river the towards back Walk
Millennium Plaque and Church Lane Church and Plaque Millennium 12
it is open. is it
Upper Beeding Primary School Primary Beeding Upper Peter St of Church Priory Sele St Hyde Cottage, Oak
long gone? Take time to explore inside the church if if church the inside explore to time Take gone? long
- can you see stones from the priory which itself is is itself which priory the from stones see you can -
here from 1080. Look closely at the churchyard wall wall churchyard the at closely Look 1080. from here
name from a priory of Benedictine monks who lived lived who monks Benedictine of priory a from name
The church dates from Saxon times and takes its its takes and times Saxon from dates church The
Sele Priory Church of St Peter St of Church Priory Sele 11
toward the steps to the parish church. parish the to steps the toward
but follow the river to your left and take the path path the take and left your to river the follow but
footbridge, known as the White Bridge. Don’t cross, cross, Don’t Bridge. White the as known footbridge,
Continue until you reach the river crossing at a a at crossing river the reach you until Continue 10
species of owl. of species 13 11 6
haven for all kinds of creatures, including several several including creatures, of kinds all for haven
wildlife can you spot here? Take your time - it’s a a it’s - time your Take here? spot you can wildlife
To your right now is an area of wild brooks. What What brooks. wild of area an is now right your To 9 Mains Farm House, Hyde St Hyde House, Farm Mains Manor Valerie Convent Towers The
left at a kissing gate. gate. kissing a at left
Continue as Pound Lane becomes a track and turn turn and track a becomes Lane Pound as Continue
The Brooks and River Adur Adur River and Brooks The
households until fairly recently. fairly until households
- built around 1500 and divided between two two between divided and 1500 around built -
Look for Pound House Cottage on the right right the on Cottage House Pound for Look 8
held. were animals stray where brooks, the
This was the historic way to the village pound, near near pound, village the to way historic the was This
Continue straight on Pound Lane. Pound on straight Continue
3 5 4
Farm and its pond. its and Farm
shopping centre opened in 1965 on the site of Hyde Hyde of site the on 1965 in opened centre shopping
On the right, Hyde Square is the modern modern the is Square Hyde right, the On 7 Village Hall Village The Rising Sun Pub Sun Rising The
Lane.
At the end of Hyde Street turn right into Pound Pound into right turn Street Hyde of end the At
sentenced to six months in prison. in months six to sentenced
spinster, concealed and buried her child and was was and child her buried and concealed spinster,
Cottage. Here in 1872 Susan Budd, a 30 year old old year 30 a Budd, Susan 1872 in Here Cottage.
little further on the left is the timber framed South South framed timber the is left the on further little
their parents as Mormon pioneers around 1859. A A 1859. around pioneers Mormon as parents their
the children reportedly emigrated to Utah with with Utah to emigrated reportedly children the
his wife Louisa and 14 children from 1820. Two of of Two 1820. from children 14 and Louisa wife his
thatched Oak Cottage - the home of Charles Budd, Budd, Charles of home the - Cottage Oak thatched
1 2
Also look out for the delightful 17th century century 17th delightful the for out look Also 6
restored. beautifully now and daub and wattle
Photography © Frank Bull Frank © Photography
Mains Farm House, built in early Tudor times of of times Tudor early in built House, Farm Mains
The first building on your right was originally originally was right your on building first The 5
centres. historical Beeding’s of one was This
New House Farm House New
Turn left into Manor Road and then Hyde Street. Street. Hyde then and Road Manor into left Turn
Beeding Court Farm Court Beeding Hyde Street and Pound Lane Pound and Street Hyde
Car Park Car
4
the wife of a former owner, the jeweller H Samuel. H jeweller the owner, former a of wife the
5
Trail Upper Beeding Upper
3 farmhouse and now a care home but named after after named but home care a now and farmhouse
Opposite is Valerie Manor, originally a 17thC 17thC a originally Manor, Valerie is Opposite 4 2
6
1 Points of interest of Points
school, which closed in 2020. in closed which school,
later became the Towers Convent, an independent independent an Convent, Towers the became later 1
who were escaping anti clerical laws in France. It It France. in laws clerical anti escaping were who
House
20 Bridge
St Mary’s Mary’s St
Completed in 1883, it became home in 1903 to nuns nuns to 1903 in home became it 1883, in Completed Beeding Beeding
19
FINISH
18
eccentric “monument to Victorian extravagance”. Victorian to “monument eccentric
15
START 17
Turning left into Henfield Road, on the left is an an is left the on Road, Henfield into left Turning 3
16
“Towers Convent” building and Valerie Manor Valerie and building Convent” “Towers
14
7
the right to The Rising Sun pub. pub. Sun Rising The to right the
Bramber Castle Bramber
At the first roundabout follow the main road to to road main the follow roundabout first the At 2 2
13
Living Museum at Singleton. at Museum Living 12
Beeding tollhouse today at the Weald & Downland Downland & Weald the at today tollhouse Beeding
south east to Beeding Hill. You may still see the the see still may You Hill. Beeding to east south
not follow the valley but instead climbed steeply steeply climbed instead but valley the follow not
8
to Brighton coach road. The original route south did did south route original The road. coach Brighton to Farm
House
Heritage century London London century century, and was part of the late 18 late the of part was and century,
th Pound
This street lies along a causeway built in the late 11th 11th late the in built causeway a along lies street This
11
District’s
The Priory The
opposite, turn left turn opposite, . . Hall
Horsham
Walking back to the High Street with the the with Street High the to back Walking Village Village 1
Exploring Exploring
beyond it - Truleigh Hill marked by its transmitters? its by marked Hill Truleigh - it beyond
10
Ring to the west, and Windmill Hill in the east with - - with east the in Hill Windmill and west, the to Ring
9 recreation ground - can you see Chanctonbury Chanctonbury see you can - ground recreation
Take a moment to walk from the car park into the the into park car the from walk to moment a Take Upper Beeding