Poynings Area Guide

Poynings is a small village and civil parish in the Mid Sussex District of West Sussex. The parish lies wholly with the South Downs National Park. To its south is Brighton and Hove, to its west Fulking, to its east is Newtimber and to its north, Albourne. The village is located on the north side of the South Downs near Devil’s Dyke, five miles northwest of Brighton.

Its church is cathedral-like and comparable to Alfriston church without the spire. There is a public house, the Royal Oak, in the village, which is a popular stop off point for walkers ascending the scarp slope. Also of note are the large ponds fed from the Downs, including the Poynings springhead, which has a little pumping station hidden in a lush gill wood and the old mill pond, both to the southeast of the village.

The area was known as ‘Puningas’ in 960AD. Some have suggested the name came from ‘sons of Puna’ or ‘people of Puna’, Puna being the nickname of a hammer-wielding Saxon leader. Others have suggested it means, ‘The people of the pond’. The downland scarp, which includes the Fulking and Perching paths is part of the Beeding Hill to Newtimber Hill designated Site of Special Scientific Interest.

Poynings civil parish contains ten listed buildings. Of these, one is Grade I, The Parish Church of the Holy Trinity; the remaining nine are Grade II. The National Heritage describes the church as 'one of the finest village medieval churches in Sussex'. The church was in the Domesday Book but it was rebuilt by the de Poynings family in 1370. The church has an echoing empty interior and scant signs of the wealth of the donor family. There are only the smallest fragments of fourteenth century glass surviving in the plain glass windows. With its big, centralised, empty interior it has been noted that it feels more like a grand old mosque than the usual homely busy-ness of many medieval parish churches.

The parish also contains four scheduled monuments. Within the parish of Poynings there are three ancient woods, which include Park, Stonestaples and Pondtail Wood. South and uphill of Poynings is Devil’s Dyke (an old legend tells that the dyke was created when the devil tried to drown the local inhabitants by digging a ditch to let the sea in) a steep coombe, surmounted by an Iron Age fort providing superb views of the South Downs westwards across to Chanctonbury ring and northwards over the Weald. A railway used to run here from Brighton until the late 1930’s packed with hysterical day-trippers.

The Old School is now the village hall, and in the village centre nestles Glebe Cottage, constructed from flint, with a slate roof and tiny windows. There is also a playing field, cricket pitch, school/village hall and lots of interesting people.

Property

Sitting quietly and comfortably in its spot at the foot of the South Downs, just a handful of miles northwest of Brighton,, Poynings enjoys tranquillity more reminiscent of an age long past, a perfect place to live, secluded yet accessible. Poynings boasts ten listed buildings of which one is Grade I and the remaining nine are Grade II.

The village has some pretty cottages filled with charm and character amongst the period brick and flint building. As well as terraced and semi-detached homes and a few apartments the village is peppered with period town houses, large detached family homes and estates surrounded by farmland and stunning views. The properties luxuriate in outstanding settings with nothing but birdsong to listen to.

As well as the charming period properties that define the architectural interest there are also some beautiful detached and semi-detached more modern houses and apartments.

Education

For nursery and Pre School aged children The Good Start is privately owned and based in the village of Poynings. They pride themselves on offering the best high quality nursery care and pre-school education for children aged from 2 to 5 years. Operating for over 30 years in Poynings Village Church Hall, the school is privileged to be able to enjoy a very large outside space where the children can flourish with their physical development especially and have the best outside experience nature can offer. OFSTED registered they follow the Early Years Foundation Stage (EYFS) ensuring that they always meet the standards and provisions of care and development.

Primary and Junior schools in Brighton, Hassocks, Burgess Hill, Henfield and Hurstpierpoint are the nearest to the village and include Albourne C of E, Southway, St Lawrence and the Windmills, all have good Ofsted reports.

For older children Downlands Community School, rated outstanding by Ofsted, is in the catchment area and is located in nearby Hassocks. There are excellent senior schools in the surrounding towns and villages with Steyning Grammar School a short drive away. Notable independents Burgess Hill School for Girls, Lancing College, Brighton College, Hurstpierpoint and Plumpton College are all very accessible.

Shopping

Poynings is a short drive from the quaint independent shops of Steyning and Henfield and also to the main shopping centre and iconic Lanes of Brighton so there is plenty of choice for purchasing both quick essentials and engaging in more serious shopping. There is a local garden centre and farm shop in addition to some great local organic food producers, farm shops and markets in the surrounding area plus a Spar convenience grocery store in nearby Pycombe, a very short drive away. Bobs café in the village is a small cafe within a scenic recreation ground (suitable for dogs)with a children's play area, basketball pitch and table tennis table. It serves delicious cream teas, cakes and coffee and home cooked foods.

Poynings boasts the Royal Oak, a smart pub with a menu of classic and modern dishes, plus a garden hosting Sunday barbecues. All ingredients are locally sourced where possible with the chef taking real pride in finding some very unusual ingredients. There are also plenty of other notable watering holes in this picturesque area of Sussex including The Shepherd and Dog in Fulking, The Plough in Pyecombe and Devils Dyke pub/restaurant on the Dyke itself.

Entertainment

The hamlet of Poynings is an area of natural beauty and boasts a Site of Specific Scientific Interest. The South Downs National Park produces many miles of beautiful country walks and bridle paths and the village is home to a Grade I listed Church and The Royal Oak Public House.

There has been a Royal Oak in Poynings since the 1880’s, a beautiful country pub set at the foot of the South Downs and Devil's Dyke. A perfect location for a country walk, family dining or a cold relaxing drink in the large picturesque garden.

Other nearby attractions include Saddlescombe Farm, Henfield Museum, Ditchling Museum of Art and Craft, Preston Manor, St Mary’s House, Bramber castle and Devils Dyke.

Theatres are available in Brighton and Chichester for cultural events and there are excellent sporting and recreational facilities in the area including golf at Singing Hills, the Dyke and Mannings Heath; show jumping at Hickstead; racing at Goodwood, Brighton, Plumpton and Fontwell and the coast and with all of its attractions is around 5 miles away.

The villages and towns surrounding Poynings offer much in the way of varied cultural entertainment, stunning notable sites, nature reserves, farms and fabulous parks and gardens, a quick drive or slower amble connects the village with a rich entertainment portfolio. The annual Beachdown Festival at Devils Dyke will definitely excite music fans.

In addition Poynings has its own wide-randging social calendar including bonfire night celebrations, an annual pantomime and a village fete, then for sporting enthusiasts there is a village Stoolball and Cricket club.

Travel

Communication links from Poynings to London, Gatwick and Brighton are excellent. Poynings has a number of nearby mainline stations. London can be accessed via trains to Victoria or London Bridge from Hassocks in under an hour. Poynings is around a 2-mile drive from the A23, offering easy access to both Brighton and the south coast and London and Gatwick airport travelling north and linking to the M23. There are regular bus services to Brighton and surrounding villages.