New book on East Blatchington

On Blatchington Hill: History of a Downland Village

On Blatchington Hill is local author Rodney Castleden’s fortieth book. It is also the first book to tell the story of East Blatchington, and it describes 2000 years of village history.

Not long after the Romans arrived, pagan funeral pyres burned where St Peter’s Church now stands. In the middle ages, Blatchington was nearly wiped out by the Black Death. It survived only by the skin of its teeth while the plague reduced other villages (like Sutton, Chyngton and Exceat) to single farms. Some surprising things have come to light - in the eighteenth century, Blatchington was on the main road, with stage coaches running up the village street on their way from Seaford to Lewes.

Rodney brings the story up to the present day, with East Blatchington village struggling to maintain its identity while Seaford surrounds it, and the case for its status as a Conservation Area to be given a higher priority.

The book draws on many different sources: manor court books, old newspapers, maps, photographs, memories of residents. A paper trail of title deeds reveals a maze of property deals that brought the last squire, Robert Lambe, to the brink of ruin – and to the end of the village as a rural community.

• How old is the village? How old are the houses?
• Were there lepers in the village in the middle ages?
• When was the church built?
• Who lived at the manor house, Blatchington Court?
• When was Blatchington Court built? Who laid out its gardens?


On Blatchington Hill by Rodney Castleden is published by Blatchington Press at £12.95. A 306pp paperback with more than 90 black and white illustrations.

On Blatchington Hill is available from Seaford Museum. Or you can get it direct from the author, Rodney Castleden, Rookery Cottage, Blatchington Hill, Seaford BN25 2AJ. Send a cheque for £12.95 payable to ‘Rodney Castleden’, together with a note of your address and a time when it would be convenient to deliver: free delivery by hand.

Progress Report - August 2011

1. ‘Seaford Scene’ magazine. The February issue included a report from Geoff Cheetham, announcing to Seaford in general that EBCARA had been set up.

2. Website. Pauline Cheetham has kindly agreed to keep the website up to date for us. We hope that once it is updated people will visit it from time to time to pick up the latest news. This is the most economical way for us to communicate with members; paper communications and meetings carry costs. Try Googling ' EBCARA' ....

3. Informal Lorry Park in Belgrave Road. In April Rodney Castleden wrote to ESCC Highways and Transport about the persistent parking of commercial vehicles. Replying, Rupert Clubb defended his department’s inaction. One of our neighbours confronted the drivers concerned and two out of the three have agreed to park elsewhere. Rodney is keeping Neville Chalkley (St Peter’s Churchwarden) up to date with progress.

4. Tree-felling. There was extensive tree-felling and –lopping along the Belgrave Road frontage of Hog Plot in March and April. Tree-felling conflicts with Conservation Area guidelines. Rodney tried phoning and e-mailing the Tree Officer at the Planning Office, but got no response then or subsequently. It may be that we should press the Director of Planning to see whether we can get an agreement that we will be contacted in future in situations like this. Members may like to express views on this question.

5. Easemore House planning application. Several members wrote letters objecting to the high pillars and railings. In March the Planning Office decided in the owner’s favour and gave retrospective planning consent.

6. Elm Court Centre site. ESCC sent letters to residents in Glebe Drive to say that once the building had been demolished, the site was to become the temporary home of Seaford Library, while the new library is being built. One letter, responding to a specific query, indicated that the future of the site after the temporary library phase has still not been decided. This may mean the Planning Office cannot decide whether to allow 6, 9 or 12 houses to be built there, or it may mean that another kind of development altogether may be considered. Do you have a view about this?

7. Neighbourhood Watch. As requested, Rodney contacted Seaford NHW; he is now the Road Co-ordinator for the Conservation Area, responsible for delivering newsletters and acting as a two-way communication link. It is up to you, though, as individual householders, to decide whether you will opt in by paying the small subscription.

NHW are pleased that we are joining as residents in our area have so far shown little interest. They see the work of Neighbourhood Watch and EBCARA as dovetailing together in a useful and mutually beneficial way.

The Police use NHW as a line of communication to warn householders of crime threats in their area. Here is the latest information from the Police;

1) Advice: Beware of leaving windows, doors and garages open and unattended during the summer months, and leaving tools lying around outside.

2) The Central Ward panel meeting in June raised the following as priorities:

a) Explore the feasibility of a No Cold Calling Zone to cover all of Seaford.

b) Continue tackling anti-social behaviour.

c) Tackle speeding vehicles.

3) On cold calling (doorstepping) the police advise contacting Trading Standards, St Mary’s House, 52 St Leonards Road, Eastbourne BN21 3UU (Tel. 01323-463430; e-mail trading.standards@eastsussex.gov.uk) before allowing anyone using this business practice into your property or agreeing to their undertaking any work. If you answer the door to a cold caller, ask yourself if you were expecting anyone, secure the door-chain (if you have one) before opening the door, check the caller’s identification badge carefully. If in doubt, do not let them into your house.

4) Report anti-social behaviour on the Police non-emergency number, which connects you to the Police Contact Centre in Lewes (0845-60-70-999 or e-mail contact.centre@sussex.pnn.police.uk). This is a 24-hour helpline and reporting facility.

Finally, if you decide to join Neighbourhood Watch, you can get NHW stickers for your door or window at the Police Station front office.

8. Noise nuisance from the School. On 11 June very loud live music was played without any notice from 12 noon until 3pm at a fete held at the School in Wilkinson Way. Members may have a view about asking the Head for, say, Blatchington Hill residents to be notified in future well in advance.

9. Chairman. No-one has come forward to volunteer to Chair meetings.

10. Secretary. No-one has communicated with Rodney on any issue except for one complaint about noise from the school. Please remember that the future success of EBCARA depends on active participation by members.

any feedback to -

rodney@rodneycastleden.wanadoo.co.uk

& Rookery Cottage, Blatchington Hill