Bishopstone, Sussex

Bishopstone
Sussex
St Andrew, Bishopstone
Location
Grid reference:	TQ473009
Location:	50°47’20"N, 0°5’18"E
Data
Post town:	Seaford
Postcode:	BN25
Dialling code:	01323
Local Government
Council:	Lewes
Parliamentary constituency:	Lewes

Bishopstone Village is a rural hamlet located in Sussex, within the South Downs National Park. Bishopstone Village has a population of about 200 people, including the nearby hamlet of Norton. It is located on a no-through country lane west of the town of Seaford.

History

The mediæval tide dial at St Andrew's

Bishopstone sundial and church porch in 1912

Bishopstone was an episcopal manor, hence its name meaning "dwelling place of the bishop". The parish church, St Andrew's, is thought to date from the 8th century, and may well be the oldest in the county. Bishopstone church has an ancient canonical sundial above its porch. The sundial is inscribed with the name Eadric, probably Eadric of Kent, the King of Kent in 685/6. The church was rebuilt in 1200.

Society

Bishopstone village hall is part of the village life and has local events, it is also the venue for the local table tennis club and is located behind the church. There are no shops or pubs in the village.

Railway

Bishopstone is served by Bishopstone railway station, which replaced the original station, Bishopstone Beach Halt in 1942. Bishopstone station was built in 1938 in a distinctive red-brick Charles Holden based Art Deco style, a house style common to the Southern Railway at the time. An integrated pill box was added later above the roof early in the Second World War because of the defensive coverage it gave over the nearby bay and beaches. From Bishopstone railway station there is a regular train service eastwards to Seaford, and north-westwards to Lewes, Brighton, Gatwick, and London.

Outside links

("Wikimedia Commons" has material about Bishopstone, Sussex)

• St Andrews church