Alfriston Village

On a Sunday bike ride to the village of Alfriston we climbed the hill out of the Cuckmere Valley.


The area around Alfriston has been occupied from neolithic times as a number of barrows from this period have been found higher up the surrounding Downs . Alfriston originally known as Aelfrictun the 'town of Alfric' in Saxon times, was recorded in the Domesday Book as Alvriceston and had a range of other names including Alvericheston and Aveston. It lies in the Cuckmere valley just off the main A27 Eastbourne to Lewes road. The village was settled long before the Norman invasion of 1066, as the mound that the church lies on was an old Saxon burial ground. St Lewinna a Saxon virgin Christian was killed by the Saxons in 690AD and her body was kept at the church, her relics were attributed to a number of miracles. They were stolen by a monk from Belgium and transported to the Priory of Bergue St Winox in 1058 (even they had problems with the French). The majority of the church of St Andrews was built in the 1300's and is known as The Cathedral of the Downs. The rectory was built in the 14th century and is of wattle and daub construction. This building is now owned by the National Trust, and is open to the public.

You may have noticed a church theme through this blog, they are horticulturally some of the remaining cultivated grounds around. Planting patterns and plant choices can be seen, where native plants were introuduced and spread throughout the tombs.

The rectory building below.