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Penhurst

Coordinates: 50°55′29″N 0°24′35″E / 50.9247°N 0.4096°E / 50.9247; 0.4096
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Penhurst
Penhurst is located in East Sussex
Penhurst
Penhurst
Location within East Sussex
Area5.89 km2 (2.27 sq mi)
Population52 (2001 Census)
• Density9/km2 (23/sq mi)
OS grid referenceTQ867120
Civil parish
  • Penhurst
District
Shire county
Region
CountryEngland
Sovereign stateUnited Kingdom
Post townBATTLE
Postcode districtTN33
Dialling code01424
PoliceSussex
FireEast Sussex
AmbulanceSouth East Coast
Websiteashburnham-penhurst.net/parish-council/
List of places
UK
England
East Sussex
50°55′29″N 0°24′35″E / 50.9247°N 0.4096°E / 50.9247; 0.4096

Penhurst is a village and civil parish in the Rother district of East Sussex, England. It is located on the Weald, 4 miles (7km) west of Battle. The parish borders Ashburnham, Battle, Brightling and Catsfield,[1] and shares a parish council with Ashburnham.

The parish has few residents, according to the 2001 census Penhurst has just 52 inhabitants,[2] but contains many listed buildings.

History

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The name "Penhurst" means 'Pena's wooded hill'.[3] Penhurst was recorded in the Domesday Book as Penehest.[4] In 1086, Penhurst was in the hundred of Hailesaltede; the Abbey of Battle was its tenant-in-chief.[5] The two parishes, neither of which has many dwellings, were originally united in 1810.

Geography

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Penhurst is in the High Weald National Landscape (formerly High Weald Area of Outstanding Natural Beauty)[6] and more specifically within the South Slopes of the High Weald Landscape Character Area.[7] The parish is undulating and a significant area is woodland including Creep Wood[8] by the Ash Bourne stream, Peens Wood, Allfrees Wood, Foxearth Wood and Link Wood.[9][10]

An Ordnance Survey benchmark in the village gives a height above ordnance datum of 63.386 metres (208 feet).[11]

Landmarks

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There are 14 listed buildings in Penhurst,[12] including a large 18th century barn,[13] a granary constructed in 1776[14] and Penhurst Manor, (listed as Church Farmhouse)[15] and now a Christian retreat centre used much in the support of missionaries from overseas.[16]

The 14th century parish church, dedicated to St Michael the Archangel is Grade I listed.[17][18]

The actor Harry H Corbett (1925-1982) famous for his role in the 1960s and 70s comedy, Steptoe and Son lies buried in St Michael's churchyard.[19]

St Michael the Archangel Church
Penhurst Manor

Governance

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At a local level, Penhurst and neighbouring Ashburnham have been governed by a joint parish council, The Parish Council of Ashburnham with Penhurst, since a Grouping Order was made in 1954.[20] The parish council is made up of seven councillors, split into two wards: five councillors from Ashburnham ward and two from Penhurst ward.[21] At the May 2019 election the Penhurst ward was uncontested. Since then two councillors have been co-opted to the Penhurst ward's two vacancies.

Rother District Council provides the next level of government. Ashburnham and Penhurst are within the Catsfield & Crowhurst ward.[22] In the May 2023 election the ward was won by the Liberal Democrat candidate, who defeated the incumbent Conservative councillor.[23]

East Sussex County Council is the top tier of local government. Ashburnham with Penhurst falls within the Battle and Crowhurst ward. The Liberal Democrat candidate was elected at the May 2021 election.[24]

The UK Parliament constituency for Ashburnham and Penhurst is Bexhill and Battle.

Prior to Brexit in 2020, the villages were part of the South East England constituency in the European Parliament.

References

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  1. ^ "Penhurst". Ordnance Survey. Archived from the original on 6 October 2022. Retrieved 23 February 2021.
  2. ^ Census 2001
  3. ^ "Penhurst Key to English Place-names". The University of Nottingham. Retrieved 23 February 2021.
  4. ^ "Sussex F-P". The Domesday Book Online. Retrieved 23 February 2021.
  5. ^ Open Domesday: Penhurst. Retrieved 11 June 2022.
  6. ^ "High Weald Boundary Map". High Weald National Landscape. Retrieved 18 December 2024.
  7. ^ "South Slopes of the High Weald" (PDF). East Sussex County Council. 2015. Archived (PDF) from the original on 18 December 2024. Retrieved 18 December 2024.
  8. ^ "Creep Wood". Survey of English Place-Names. Retrieved 20 December 2024.
  9. ^ "Ordnance Survey, TQ61 - D (includes: Ashburnham; Dallington; Herstmonceux; Warbleton; Wartling) - Ordnance Survey 1:2... - Ordnance Survey 1:25,000 maps of Great Britain, 1945-1969". maps.nls.uk. Retrieved 20 December 2024.
  10. ^ "Election Maps". www.ordnancesurvey.co.uk. Retrieved 20 December 2024.
  11. ^ "OS Benchmark Archive". interactivemaps.uk. Retrieved 18 December 2024.
  12. ^ "Listed buildings in Penhurst, Rother, East Sussex". British Listed Buildings. Retrieved 23 February 2021.
  13. ^ Historic England. "Barn at Church Farm to the north of the church (Grade II) (1217575)". National Heritage List for England. Retrieved 18 December 2024.
  14. ^ Historic England. "Granary at Church Farm to the west of the church (Grade II) (1217348)". National Heritage List for England. Retrieved 18 December 2024.
  15. ^ Historic England. "Church Farmhouse (Grade II*) (1217564)". National Heritage List for England. Retrieved 18 December 2024.
  16. ^ "Past, Present & Future @ Penhurst Retreat Centre". www.penhurst.org.uk. Retrieved 18 December 2024.
  17. ^ Historic England. "The parish church of St Michael (Grade I) (1217346)". National Heritage List for England. Retrieved 18 December 2024.
  18. ^ "St. Michael's Penhurst". Ashburnham with Penhurst. 2 October 2015. Retrieved 18 December 2024.
  19. ^ "Penhurst". Sussex Online Parish Clerks. Retrieved 24 February 2021.
  20. ^ "Your Parish Council". Parish Council of Ashburnham with Penhurst. Retrieved 11 June 2022.
  21. ^ "Notice of Election" (PDF). Rother District Council. 5 May 2005. Archived from the original (PDF) on 25 February 2009. Retrieved 27 November 2008.
  22. ^ "Catsfield & Crowhurst". planning.data.gov.uk. Retrieved 18 December 2024.
  23. ^ "Election results for Catsfield & Crowhurst, 4 May 2023". rother.moderngov.co.uk. 4 May 2023. Retrieved 18 December 2024.
  24. ^ "Rother divisions". East Sussex County Council. Archived from the original on 15 April 2024. Retrieved 18 December 2024.
  • "Penhurst". City Population. Retrieved 23 February 2021.
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