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Hellingly
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Home to actor and music executive Peter Grant for many years, Hellingly is now also his burial site following a funeral in the parish church in 1995. Grant lived at Horselunge’s Manor which was used for the opening scene of Led Zeppelin’s The Song Remains The Same. The church in which Peter Grant now rests originates from around 1190, however the chancel is the only remaining piece of architecture from this period. The rest of the building was rebuilt in the 14th century.
The church was built on the only remaining ciric in Sussex that is still in one piece. A ciric is a Celtic burial ground which is built above ground level to protect the dead from getting wet. It is built in a circle which is the Celtic symbol for immortality. However, the ciric at Hellingly is in an oval shape. It was built during the 13th century.
In 1541 a monumental event occurred in Hellingly. An illegal deerhunt which was taking place on Sir Nicholas Pelham’s land was discovered and a brutal fight ensued in which the Lord’s gamekeeper, John Busbrig, was killed. The hunting party was found guilty of murder and Lord Thomas and his three companions were hung for their crimes. This was the first time in the history of England that a nobleman was executed for killing a commoner.
Hellingly was witness to even further bloodshed in 1557 when Queen Mary had the Reverend John Mills, a resident of the village, burned at the stake for his Protestant beliefs. Hellingly possesses a beautiful grade II listed building, the Sussex Barn, which is an Oak framed barn on a working farm. The village is also home to Horselunge’s Manor which is a moated Tudor Manor House and Blackstock Country Estate and is fairly close to Wellshurst Golf Club.
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Recent News
New sports facility in Hellingly gets go ahead
Full planning permission for the development of a new sports hub facility in Hellingly has been given the green light. The new sports hub includes two full size floodlit artificial pitches, two multi-use games areas (containing four dual floodlit tennis/netball courts), two padel tennis courts, skate park, play facilities and a sports building providing changing... Read more
5th February
High drama for Off the Line as they get the 2023 harvest in
Although every year brings different challenges in the world of wine production. 2023 certainly dealt Off the Line Vineyard, in Hellingly, East Sussex some surprises. Adouble decker bus catching fire close to the vineyard entrance in the middle of harvest could certainly not have been predicted! This led to the vineyard being inaccessible by road... Read more
20th October
Chance to have your say on 370 new homes in Hellingly
Taylor Wimpey is inviting local residents to have their say on proposals for a new residential development on land to the west of Park Farm, New Road, Hellingly during a public exhibition today (5th July) 2022. Outline planning permission was granted by Wealden District Council on April 2021, for up to 370 new homes on... Read more
5th July
August Bank Holiday events welcome record crowds
East Sussex residents were spoilt for choice over the end of August Bank Holiday weekend with three amazing events to choose from – Le Marche in Heathfield, The Festival of Transport in Hellingly and the Medieval Festival at Herstmonceux. Organisers were relieved that the events could go ahead this year after all of them had... Read more
9th September
Plans for 370 houses on Hellingly farmland
One of the last green fields in Hellingly is set to disappear after outline planning permission was granted recently for 370 dwellings. The huge development is proposed for farmland off New Road in Hellingly by Taylor Wimpey. According to a post on the Save Wealden From Over Development Facebook page an ’administration error’ meant that... Read more
20th May
Off the Line Vineyard fly the flag for wine exports
First time exporting to Norway Off The Line Vineyard based at North Street, Hellingly BN27 4EA is celebrating as it continues to grow its business with a milestone in wine exporting. The Hip Rosé still wine was selected in a blind tasting by the Norwegian state run wine and spirit monopoly business Vinmonopolet. It is... Read more
13th April
The bizarre connection between Hellingly and Alan Bennett’s ‘The Lady in the Van’
Margaret was born at The Dicker in 1911 to Hailsham Rural District Council Highways Surveyor George Bryant Fairchild and his wife Harriet (Burgess). George was employed by the Hailsham Council for 28 years and was a member of the local Labour Party. Harriet was very involved with the Hellingly and Hailsham communities, organising and winning... Read more
12th January
Sewing skills used to raise vital funds for hospice
A Hellingly woman has used her sewing skills to raise around £2,000 for the hospice that cared for her father Ron. Debbie Scott, who started off making scrub bags for nurses before trying to make masks, didn’t dream that she would end up raising so much money and making some 600 of them. She explains:... Read more
29th July
Las Bodegas rebrands as Wellbrook Wines, with all the same great wines and service.
Specialist wine importer Las Bodegas, lept into action as soon as the lockdown started. Being a specialist wholesale importer they found that their on trade restaurant and wine business clients had almost completely dried up. Not to be daunted by this they leafleted the local area and started a wine delivery service – bringing their... Read more
30th June
Sarah is named best photographer in the region
Sarah Tate AMPA, from Hellingly, has just been awarded the prestigious title of Master Photography Association Regional Photographer of the Year 2019 with her fine art portraits of two local people. Sarah, who won the title against a huge number of entries from hundreds of professional photographers from the South of England, including Essex and... Read more
3rd June
Wine Festival launches, Saturday 1st June 2019 at Hidden Spring, Horam
It’s all go at Hidden Spring Vineyard, Horam, East Sussex. Not only have they just been awardeda silver medal at the 2019 International Wine Challenge for their Bacchus (2017); but they are hosting thefirst Sussex Weald Festival of Wine on Saturday, June 1st.Five outstanding Sussex vineyards have united to create a FESTIVAL OF WINE a... Read more
29th May
On your bike! Rental scheme comes to the Cuckoo Trail
Countrybike comes to the Cuckoo Trail this week following the success of the Ashdown Forest cycle hire scheme. The app-based cycle rental company, set up by husband and wife team, Tim and Suzy Seddon in 2017, aims to make the Wealden countryside more accessible to its residents and visitors. The Cuckoo Trail hire scheme is... Read more
1st May
You don’t have to spend a fortune on Mother’s Day to show your mum you care
Mother’s Day is fast approaching but it’s not too late to arrange something to show how much you appreciate your mum – and there are lots of things you can do even if you are on a tight budget. The obvious choice is taking your mother to lunch but many restaurants like The Heathfield Tavern... Read more
22nd March
Win a Wine Tour & Tasting for your Valentine
Just in time for February 14th we have got together with Off The Line Vineyard, to offer this great prize, which will make the perfect gift for any wine lover this Valentine’s Day. Worth £30, the voucher is for a tour and tasting for two people, at the Off the Line winery in Hellingly, with... Read more
31st January
Countdown to primary school application deadline
If you haven’t yet applied for a place for your child to attend a state primary school this September – don’t worry, it’s not too late. An East Sussex County Council spokesman said: “Parents have until 11.59pm on Tuesday, January 15 to apply for a school place for their child starting in September 2019. While... Read more
13th January
Harriers Hellingly 10k road race success
Hailsham Harriers held the 34th John Faulds Hellingly 10k Road race this month which formed part of the Sussex Grand Prix series and included runners from many of the clubs and unattached runners throughout Sussex . The full house entry of 300 runners including 35 Harriers was reached before the day and earlier grey cloudy... Read more
27th September
Tucked away in Hellingly – The Sussex Cutting Garden
In the first of our series of ‘Hidden Gems’ we have visited the Sussex Cutting Garden. They can be found at the Granary Rural Business Centre, at Broad Farm, Hellingly,East Sussex, BN27 4DU just off the A267 on the right before the Lower Dicker turn off, if you are coming from Horam. As a trained... Read more
21st August
Hellingly rosé is best of the bunch
The owners of a vineyard in Hellingly, East Sussex, are celebrating after winning more awards for their wine. Kristina Studzinski and Ann-Marie Tynan, who started Off the Line Vineyard from scratch in 2014, won a silver medal in the prestigious WineGB awards for their Hip rosé last year. This year they have won three more... Read more
20th August
Discover the hidden stars of English Wine in Sussex
Living in the Heathfield area, we are surprisingly close to many excellent vineyards, like Hidden Spring, Horam and Off the Line Vineyard in Hellingly, Davenport in Rotherfield, the Bluebell Vineyard Estate in Uckfield, Fox & Fox in Mayfield and Ridgeview in Ditchling to name but a few. They are all part of the wine making... Read more
22nd February
Wins all round for Cross in Hand Tennis Club
Cross in Hand players had a triumphant weekend of tennis with men’s and women’s teams winning their matches and a junior player winning a tournament. On Sunday the ladies’ second team took on Billingshurst at Cross in Hand on the clay. The four ladies from Cross in Hand pulled off a terrific 3-1 victory against... Read more
5th February
Housing still in short supply says Heathfield estate agent
The multiple new developments underway and about to start will not solve Heathfield’s housing problems particularly for first-time buyers and downsizers, according to Paul Wilson of Rowland Gorringe. “Too many people want houses at the lower end of the market and there is a real demand for apartments and two to three bed properties. We... Read more
8th December
