Hurstpierpoint Area Guide

Hurstpierpoint is a village in Mid Sussex located close to the A23, 1.5 miles west of Hassocks station. Mid Sussex has so much to offer as a place to live.

The village was once chiefly one long street running east and west and most of the buildings in it are of the 18th century or later. The late 20th Century and early 21st Century saw Hurstpierpoint expanding greatly with new homes built north, east and west of the village. The name of the village derives from the Old English name for a wood, called a “hurst”, and then from the name of the Pierpont family who were given the land after arriving in England with William the Conqueror in 1066. By the time the Domesday Book was created in 1086, the settlement was already known by a variation of this name, which evolved over the years to the familiar Hurstpierpoint as it is known today.

Despite being sandwiched between Hassocks and the ever-growing Burgess Hill to the east and the London to Brighton A23 road to the west, Hurstpierpoint is in an attractive setting. To the south are the South Downs and the impressive Wolstonbury Hill. Between the village and the Hill are Danny Park and the Danny Woods. To the north of Hurstpierpoint is a waterland geography, which is centred around the Herrings Stream.

There are five churches in the village not all in use - St George's, Hurstpierpoint Methodist Church, Hurstpierpoint Good News Church, St Luke's Roman Catholic Church and the Holy Trinity parish church. The parish church was a Norman church but was largely rebuilt from the designs of Sir Charles Barry in 1843–5, who was famous for designing the Houses of Parliament. Over the years further chapels have been constructed and some of the original monuments and fittings preserved then reworked and repainted. There are a lot of pieces from the 12^th, 13^th, 16^th and 17^th centuries in situ.

The mansion of Danny (Danny House) is a huge splash of late Elizabethan extravagance in a wooded countryside. Danny Lake and Pondtail Wood that embraces it have been heroically restored in recent times.

The Herrings Stream is a tributary of the eastern River Adur and runs to the north of Hurstpierpoint. On the north-eastern edge of Hurstpierpoint there are still two ancient woods, Tilley's Copse and Wilderness Wood. Old Wood sits next to Danny house and there is a further cluster of ancient woods south of Hurstpierpoint and Hassocks

Life in Hurstpierpoint offers a wonderfully varied countryside of gently rolling hills with a backdrop dominated by the South Downs National Park. The sea is never far away, be it in bustling Brighton or the calmer estuary at Cuckmere. This is a beautiful village with good local pubs and a strong sense of community. It also ranks among the best places to live for a long and healthy life.

Property

Demand for village and country property in Mid Sussex villages such as Hurstpierpoint has traditionally been driven by the excellent commuting and in recent years the area’s superb schooling has become an equally important factor for buyers. Family houses are therefore the core market here, although the excellent choice of property ranges from bijou cottages to substantial estates. Period properties including Victorian and Georgian houses and listed buildings are among the area’s gems as well as bungalows, modern architecturally interesting homes, apartments and retirement properties.

Education

Hurstpierpoint boasts an abundance of excellent schools from village primary, St Lawrence C of E, located close to the centre of the village and educating children from 4 to 11 years of age, to the popular Hurstpierpoint pre-prep and college and nearby Ardingly Colleges, both part of the Woodard Group of schools. Hassocks is 1.5 miles away and has some excellent primary and secondary schools and sixth form colleges.

Shopping

In Hurstpierpoint the High Street shops offer good old-fashioned friendliness, there is no pushing and shoving here, every shop has a friendly welcome atmosphere and customers are more than just a face in a queue. There are a good variety of businesses; the butcher, the baker, the greengrocer and the fashion shops are all there alongside banks, health specialists, plumbers, builders, an independent bookshop and shoe shop. It is this atmosphere that has helped Hurstpierpoint grow in popularity. There are some lovely cafes, restaurants and pubs as befits village life. Brighton is a short drive away with its excellent shopping facilities.

Local pubs include the New Inn, a Grade II listed gourmet pub with its vast selection of cask ales, beers and wines and its open fire cooking, The Horse Inn, a 16^th Century pub offering a wide variety of food including specialist menus and The White Horse. Among the first class eateries the Fig Tree is a great example of one of the village’s gourmet delights. Found in the heart of Hurstpierpoint, The Fig Tree is an elegant dining venue offering fresh and seasonal dishes.

Entertainment

Hurstpierpoint offers rural living at its most civilised, with the coast at Brighton just a short distance away and the glorious South Downs on the doorstep. Outdoor pursuits range from a highly active equestrian scene – riding in the Ashdown Forest, show jumping at Hickstead and racing at Plumpton – to strolls through the famous gardens of Nymans, Wakehurst Place and Sheffield Park. The agricultural showground at Ardingly hosts the famous South of England Show and country fairs throughout the year and there is an annual the Hurst Festival every summer.

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. The fair takes place on the first Saturday in July and begins with a procession of floats through the high street with a different theme each year. Other popular events of the day are the family fun run and the tug-o-war where the local pubs battle it out for a barrel of beer.

The village boasts an active Scouts and Guides Groups and is known for its sporting facilities. Hurstpierpoint is the home of Hurstpierpoint F.C., who currently play in the Mid Sussex Football League. Hurstpierpoint is also home to a cricket club with the same name, which has several youth sides and two men's sides.

The local area has many family oriented activities and venues including Washbrooks Family Farm, Paintballing facilities, Go Karting, Swimming Pools, Nature reserves and so much more to explore.

Travel

For many people moving to the area it is the proximity of the London to Brighton railway line that is a draw. Fast and frequent services to London from stations such as Haywards Heath, Burgess Hill and Hassocks ensure easy access to the City. Gatwick Airport is also close, together with easy access to the motorway network, making the area one of the most accessible in the country. Bus links to the surrounding towns and villages are excellent and the road links to Brighton rapid.

These excellent rail links to the coast and London means that the village has the best of everything on its doorstep.