Ashburnham and Penhurst
Encyclopedia
Ashburnham and Penhurst are civil parishes in the Rother
district of East Sussex
, England
, situated to the west of Battle
. The two parishes share a joint parish council which also covers the settlements of Brownbread Street, Ponts Green and Ashburnham Forge. Neither of the parishes have many dwellings, Ashburnham having a population of 303, whilst Penhurst has just 52 inhabitants.
Rother District council provides the next level of government with services such as refuse collection, planning consent, leisure amenities and council tax collection. Ashburnham and Penhurst are within the Crowhurst ward, along with the parishes of Catsfield
, Crowhurst
, and part of Battle
. In the May 2007 election Crowhurst ward was won by the Conservative candidate.
East Sussex county council is the third tier of government, providing education, libraries and highway maintenance. Ashburnham and Penhurst falls within the Battle and Crowhurst ward. Kathryn Margaret Field, Liberal Democrat, was elected in the May 2005 election with 48.8% of the vote.
The UK Parliament constituency for Ashburnham and Penhurst is Bexhill and Battle. Gregory Barker
was re-elected in the May 2005 election.
At European level, Ashburnham and Penhurst are represented by the South-East region, which holds ten seats in the European Parliament
. The June 2004 election returned four Conservatives, two Liberal Democrats, two UK Independence, one Labour and one Green, none of whom live in East Sussex.
, a country house built by the Ashburnham family (now a Christian conference and prayer centre), a name which derived from the local stream
named the Ashbourne. The 14th-century parish church, dedicated to St Peter, was rebuilt in 1665. The village was in the iron making district
of the Weald, and its blast furnace
was, in 1813, the last in Sussex to be closed.
Until 2006, Ashburnham was the home of musician James "Tate" Arguile, guitarist in the alternative band Mumm-ra
.
, four miles (7 km) west of Battle
.
Penhurst Manor is now a Christian retreat centre and is used much in the support of missionaries from overseas. The views across the Weald, beautiful grounds along with the warm hospitality serve to create a haven of peace and tranquility.
The 14th-century parish church is dedicated to St Michael the Archangel. The actor Harry H. Corbett
(1925–82) lies buried in the churchyard.
falls within the area and is a Site of Special Scientific Interest
. It comprises 100.7 hectares (248.8 acre) ancient woodland and medieval deer park, containing a wide spread of flora and avian fauna. Part of the park lies in the neighbouring Catsfield
parish.
Several features of the old iron industry can be found along the track from the hamlet of Ashburnham Forge up to the furnace site near Lakehouse Road.
Rother
Rother is a local government district in East Sussex, England. The district is named after the River Rother which flows within its boundaries.-History:...
district of East Sussex
East Sussex
East Sussex is a county in South East England. It is bordered by the counties of Kent, Surrey and West Sussex, and to the south by the English Channel.-History:...
, England
England
England is a country that is part of the United Kingdom. It shares land borders with Scotland to the north and Wales to the west; the Irish Sea is to the north west, the Celtic Sea to the south west, with the North Sea to the east and the English Channel to the south separating it from continental...
, situated to the west of Battle
Battle, East Sussex
Battle is a small town and civil parish in the local government district of Rother in East Sussex, England. It lies south southeast of London, east of Brighton and east of the county town of Lewes...
. The two parishes share a joint parish council which also covers the settlements of Brownbread Street, Ponts Green and Ashburnham Forge. Neither of the parishes have many dwellings, Ashburnham having a population of 303, whilst Penhurst has just 52 inhabitants.
Governance
At a local level, Ashburnham and Penhurst are governed by a joint parish council which is responsible for street lighting, allotments and recreational areas. They provide a local voice to the district and county councils. The parish council consists of seven councillors, split into two wards: five councillors from Ashburnham ward and two from Penshurst ward. The May 2007 election had six candidates standing in the Ashburnham ward. The Penshurst ward was uncontested.Rother District council provides the next level of government with services such as refuse collection, planning consent, leisure amenities and council tax collection. Ashburnham and Penhurst are within the Crowhurst ward, along with the parishes of Catsfield
Catsfield
Catsfield is a village and civil parish in the Rother District of East Sussex, England. It is located six miles north of Bexhill, and three miles southwest of Battle. The village once consisted of two manors: Catsfield and Catsfield Levett...
, Crowhurst
Crowhurst
Crowhurst could be*Crowhurst, Donald , English businessman and amateur sailor.*Crowhurst, Norman H. , audio engineer and author*Crowhurst, East Sussex, village near Battle*Crowhurst, Surrey, village...
, and part of Battle
Battle, East Sussex
Battle is a small town and civil parish in the local government district of Rother in East Sussex, England. It lies south southeast of London, east of Brighton and east of the county town of Lewes...
. In the May 2007 election Crowhurst ward was won by the Conservative candidate.
East Sussex county council is the third tier of government, providing education, libraries and highway maintenance. Ashburnham and Penhurst falls within the Battle and Crowhurst ward. Kathryn Margaret Field, Liberal Democrat, was elected in the May 2005 election with 48.8% of the vote.
The UK Parliament constituency for Ashburnham and Penhurst is Bexhill and Battle. Gregory Barker
Gregory Barker
Gregory Leonard George "Greg" Barker is a British politician. A member of the Conservative Party, he currently serves as the Member of Parliament for Bexhill and Battle...
was re-elected in the May 2005 election.
At European level, Ashburnham and Penhurst are represented by the South-East region, which holds ten seats in the European Parliament
European Parliament
The European Parliament is the directly elected parliamentary institution of the European Union . Together with the Council of the European Union and the Commission, it exercises the legislative function of the EU and it has been described as one of the most powerful legislatures in the world...
. The June 2004 election returned four Conservatives, two Liberal Democrats, two UK Independence, one Labour and one Green, none of whom live in East Sussex.
Ashburnham
Ashburnham takes its name from Ashburnham PlaceAshburnham Place
Ashburnham Place is an English country house, now used as a Christian conference and prayer centre. It can be found five miles west of Battle in East Sussex...
, a country house built by the Ashburnham family (now a Christian conference and prayer centre), a name which derived from the local stream
Stream
A stream is a body of water with a current, confined within a bed and stream banks. Depending on its locale or certain characteristics, a stream may be referred to as a branch, brook, beck, burn, creek, "crick", gill , kill, lick, rill, river, syke, bayou, rivulet, streamage, wash, run or...
named the Ashbourne. The 14th-century parish church, dedicated to St Peter, was rebuilt in 1665. The village was in the iron making district
Wealden iron industry
The Wealden iron industry was located in the Weald of south-eastern England. It was formerly an important industry, producing a large proportion of the bar iron made in England in the 16th century and most British cannon until about 1770. Ironmaking in the Weald used ironstone from various clay...
of the Weald, and its blast furnace
Blast furnace
A blast furnace is a type of metallurgical furnace used for smelting to produce industrial metals, generally iron.In a blast furnace, fuel and ore and flux are continuously supplied through the top of the furnace, while air is blown into the bottom of the chamber, so that the chemical reactions...
was, in 1813, the last in Sussex to be closed.
Until 2006, Ashburnham was the home of musician James "Tate" Arguile, guitarist in the alternative band Mumm-ra
Mumm-Ra
Mumm-Ra were an English indie rock band originated from Bexhill on Sea. Niall Buckler was only fourteen years old when he formed the band, which took their name from Mumm-Ra the Ever-Living, the main villain of the 1980s cartoon, Thundercats...
.
Penhurst
Penhurst is a village located on the WealdWeald
The Weald is the name given to an area in South East England situated between the parallel chalk escarpments of the North and the South Downs. It should be regarded as three separate parts: the sandstone "High Weald" in the centre; the clay "Low Weald" periphery; and the Greensand Ridge which...
, four miles (7 km) west of Battle
Battle, East Sussex
Battle is a small town and civil parish in the local government district of Rother in East Sussex, England. It lies south southeast of London, east of Brighton and east of the county town of Lewes...
.
Penhurst Manor is now a Christian retreat centre and is used much in the support of missionaries from overseas. The views across the Weald, beautiful grounds along with the warm hospitality serve to create a haven of peace and tranquility.
The 14th-century parish church is dedicated to St Michael the Archangel. The actor Harry H. Corbett
Harry H. Corbett
Harry H. Corbett OBE was an English actor.Corbett was best known for his starring role in the popular and long-running BBC Television sitcom Steptoe and Son in the 1960s and 70s...
(1925–82) lies buried in the churchyard.
Landmarks
Ashburnham ParkAshburnham Park
Ashburnham Park is a biological Site of Special Scientific Interest in East Sussex, England. The site was notified in 1986 under the Wildlife and Countryside Act 1981. Ashburnham is a former medieval deer park which lies on Tunbridge Wells Sandstone and Wadhurst Clay. The site is home to woodland...
falls within the area and is a Site of Special Scientific Interest
Site of Special Scientific Interest
A Site of Special Scientific Interest is a conservation designation denoting a protected area in the United Kingdom. SSSIs are the basic building block of site-based nature conservation legislation and most other legal nature/geological conservation designations in Great Britain are based upon...
. It comprises 100.7 hectares (248.8 acre) ancient woodland and medieval deer park, containing a wide spread of flora and avian fauna. Part of the park lies in the neighbouring Catsfield
Catsfield
Catsfield is a village and civil parish in the Rother District of East Sussex, England. It is located six miles north of Bexhill, and three miles southwest of Battle. The village once consisted of two manors: Catsfield and Catsfield Levett...
parish.
Several features of the old iron industry can be found along the track from the hamlet of Ashburnham Forge up to the furnace site near Lakehouse Road.
External links
- Parish Council website
- St Peter's church
- Notes on the parish
- Ashurnham Forge and Furnace Ponds http://www.hammerpond.org.uk/Gazetteer/EastSussex/east_sussex.htm