Hurstpierpoint

Hurstpierpoint is a village in the Mid Sussex District of West Sussex, England. Together with Sayers Common it forms one of the Mid Sussex parishes, with an area of 2029.88ha and a population of 6,264 persons (2001 census). It is located four miles (6.4km) south-west of Burgess Hill, and 1½ miles (2.4km) west of the nearest railway station at Hassocks, from where Brighton and London are approximately 10 minutes and one hour away respectively. There is also an hourly bus service to Haywards Heath.

The village is built on a slight ridge (Sandstone), 145 ft. above sealevel, running east and west across the parish, on the road from Lewes to Albourne, and this is crossed in the centre of the village by another road which goes north to Cuckfield

The name derives from 'Hurst', the Saxon name for a wood, and 'Pierpoint' after the de Pierpoint family who arrived with William the Conquerer in 1066. The settlement was mentioned in the Domesday Book. Throughout the centuries there have been several variants on the Hurstpierpoint name e.g. Herst (xi cent.); Herstperpunt (xiv cent.); Perpondesherst (xv cent.).

The village is chiefly one long street running east and west and most of the buildings in it are of the 18th century or later.

Manors The manor of HURSTPIERPOINT was held before the Conquest by Earl Godwin, when it was an estate assessed at 41 hides, of which 3½ hides in the Rape of Pevensey and 19 hides in the Rape of Bramber were detached. After the Conquest, the remaining 18½ hides were held in 1086 by Robert de Pierpoint of William de Warenne. There was a church and 3 mills. The overlordship descended with the rape until the division after the death of Beatrice, Countess of Arundel, in 1439, when the 10 fees late of Robert de Pierpoint passed to the Duke of Norfolk. Subsequently the overlordship of Hurstpierpoint came into the hands of the Lords Bergavenny, and the manor was said in 1602 to have been held of their manor of Ditchling.

To the south of Hurstpierpoint is Danny House a magnificent Elizabethan Mansion at the foot of Wolstonbury Hill which forms part of the South Downs

The village is best known for the public school Hurstpierpoint College, situated to the north-east.

The Holy Trinity Church Hurstpierpoint is an active part of the Hurstpierpoint community.

Every July the St Lawrence Fair takes place in Hurstpierpoint. The fair was granted a royal charter in 1313 and is still an important event in the life of the village.

Hurstpierpoint is also the home of Shine, a highly respected theatre group http://www.shinetheatregroup.co.uk/

External links

• Nupur Tandoori Restaurant Hurstpierpoint 122 High Street 01273 833156 presented by Salim Choudhury
• Hurstpierpoint & Sayers Common Parish Council website
• Holy Trinity Church Hurstpierpoint
• Washbrooks children's petting ZOO with Tractor rides and Restaurant

50°55′N 0°10′W