Upper Beeding & Bramber Area Guide

Upper Beeding and Bramber are two pretty, residential villages located just within the South Downs National Park boundary. They share a Village Hall situated in the High Street of Upper Beeding. Bramber is classified collectively with Upper Beeding as a ‘small town/large village’, denoting settlements with a good range of facilities and transport links as well as acting as a hub for smaller villages.

Upper Beeding lies at the foot of the Downs on the eastern bank of the River Adur just opposite Bramber and Steyning and on the line of ancient trading and pilgrim routes, four miles north of Shoreham-by- Sea.

In Saxon times it was owned by the Kings of Wessex, but after the Norman Conquest it became part of the Rape of Bramber, held by William de Braose.

William replaced its Saxon church and built the Priory of Sele in which he installed Benedictine monks from France. In 1459 the priory and all its land and possessions in Beeding and surrounding parishes, were transferred to Magdalen College, Oxford in whose hands it remained until recent times.

Despite the building of new housing estates since the 1960’s, many ancient timber-framed, Grade II listed and thatched buildings remain, particularly in the High Street and Hyde Street conservation areas. The oldest building in the village is The Kings Head Public House. Its 19th century frontage hides ancient timber framing, the main part dating from the 15th century and the remains of medieval salterns can been seen in Saltings Field.

On the south side of the High Street stands a high flint wall around 90 feet long. This is a 250 year old, grade 2 listed coaching wall, one of only two in West Sussex.

Bramber is home to little more than 800 people, it's a sleepy place that is absolutely steeped in history, punching above its weight with its attractions and general beauty, it’s everything you'd expect from a Sussex village; peaceful and serene. Unsurprisingly, Bramber regularly wins the 'South East in Bloom' competition. However for all its quiet rural charm now, Bramber used to be one of the most important places in Sussex. The core of the village comprises The Street and the Maudlyn area.

It's one of the few villages in England that can say it has a castle, and also boast ties with an ancient organisation shrouded in myth - the Knights Templar.

Back in the 12th century, before the coastline gradually moved further south, Bramber was in a prime strategic position on the south coast. Many people used it as a crossing point to sail to and from Europe. The village also fell right on a very popular pilgrimage route from Winchester to Canterbury, the holiest site in England.

The Knights Templar decided to step in and build accommodation for the pilgrims travelling through Bramber, taking advantage of the natural spring nearby. After the Knights Templar dissolved, the building fell into disrepair until it was replaced in 1470 by a stunning Grade I listed medieval manor house that stands on the very site where the Templars housed the pilgrims: St Mary's House.

Bramber is probably best known as the home of Bramber Castle, one of the most visited castles in Sussex. Built soon after 1066, Bramber Castle was one of the most important strongholds in the south after the arrival of William the Conqueror. Nowadays there isn't much of Bramber Castle left, after the castle was almost destroyed by the revolting Roundheads during the English Civil War, however it's still an evocative place.

The ruins of the old castle can be found on a small hill in Bramber, also very visible from Upper Beeding. Nearby is the 13th century Bramber Parish Church of St Nicholas, one of Sussex’s oldest churches.

Although areas of Bramber have close geographic links to Steyning and Upper Beeding, Bramber retains a strong and separate sense of identity.

Property

In addition to the ancient timber-framed, Grade II listed and thatched buildings in the High Street and Hyde Street conservation areas of Upper Beeding, since the 1960’s the building of new housing estates has been prolific and property in comprises detached houses, semis and terraced homes as well as flats and apartments.

Property prices in Upper Beeding are similar to the average property prices across West Sussex and are much higher compared to other locations with a similar density in England.

Within Bramber the Maudlyn area has the largest number of residential properties. The majority of the properties are relatively modern and the area has the highest density of family units within the village. Bramber also boasts modern country homes and historic listed building and charming cottages.

Education

There are a number of excellent local schools and nurseries in the area of both Bramber and Upper Beeding. Upper Beeding Primary School has an outstanding Ofsted report and Bramber Primary School is a popular and successful community school with a warm, family atmosphere and outstanding elements as far as Ofsted is concerned. The Steyning C of E primary and Steyning Grammar School are nearby as are the notable independents, Lancing College and Shoreham College.

Shopping

Upper Beeding and Bramber are both a short distance from the thriving independent shops, cafes and farmers markets of Steyning while Shoreham-by-Sea offers banks and the nearby Holmbush Centre for a Tesco Superstore and Marks and Spencer.

Upper Beeding has a small shopping area with all the essential amenities present plus an historic Pub. Hyde Square has a number of useful shops including a supermarket, hair salon, pet groomers and takeaway then on the High Street there is a pharmacy, post office and newsagent amongst others.

Bramber is home to fresh and tasty dining at the Castle Inn Hotel and in addition there is a local fish and chip shop and post office on the High Street.

Entertainment

Outstanding historical sites, areas of natural beauty and some amazing walks or cycles are the order of the day for things to do in Upper Beeding and Bramber along with some great horse riding trails.

The village of Upper Beeding enjoys a beautiful location across the River Adur from its neighbours Steyning and Bramber. It’s around 5 miles inland from Shoreham-by-sea, which makes a very pleasant stroll along the riverside.

Delightful walks can be taken along the riverbank, across the water meadows to the north, or onto the Downs where in these varied habitats a variety of wildlife can be seen.

Upper Beeding is a pleasant place to spend some time, with some beautiful old buildings and a handful of decent places to eat and drink. As well as the South Downs Way, another long distance footpath The Monarch’s Way runs very close to the village, following King Charles II supposed route to Shoreham.

It is also at the western end of the Beeding Hill to Newtimber Site of Special Scientific Interest.

Bramber is well known for its ruined Norman Castle and spectacular earthworks. The castle, built soon after 1066 is a beautiful, romantic setting - ideal for a picnic.

Bramber is also home to St. Mary's House, a magnificent medieval house with the best late 15th-century timber framing in Sussex. It is on a charming, domestic scale and is still lived in as a family home. The foundations date back to the 12th century and it has a unique Elizabethan trompe l'oeil Painted Room, other fine panelled rooms, a Music Room and imaginative gardens.

The house has beautiful gardens with topiary figures, and a quite large secret garden at the back. It’s open to the public in season, and there is a tearoom in the grounds. It also has a famous music room with two ornately carved stone tombs serving as fireplaces, and is regularly used for concerts and recitals. King Charles II is even said to have stayed at St Mary's House on his route out of England during his famous escape to France.

The house has been the setting of many iconic books, including Sherlock Holmes author Sir Arthur Conan Doyle’s The Musgrave Ritual and Oscar Wilde's The Importance of Being Earnest. More recently the house has been used in a number of television productions, including an episode of Doctor Who where the TARDIS landed inside.

The Castle Inn is great for some good traditional food and again both villages enjoy the pubs cafes and restaurants a short distance away in Steyning as well as the local annual festivals.

Travel

Communication links from both Upper Beeding and Bramber are excellent. There are five bus routes serving Bramber, connecting the village to the nearby large villages and towns including Horsham, Worthing and Brighton.

Upper Beeding is on the number 106 bus route connecting it to Worthing & Henfield. The number 20 goes to Shoreham and the numbers 20X & 20A beyond to Brighton.

The A283 runs very close to Upper Beeding, connecting within a few miles to the A24 heading north towards Horsham, Dorking & the M25 and the A27 to the south.

Both villages are served by a main line railway station to London Victoria in Shoreham, just under 5 miles away, Brighton is about 11 miles away and Horsham 14, Gatwick Airport can normally be reached in about 40 minutes by car.

Nearby, Shoreham is known for its Art Deco airport. With its Grade 2 Listed art deco terminal building, Shoreham Airport is the oldest licensed airfield in the UK. It is a growing centre for private aviation but also offers scheduled flights to the Channel Islands and northern France.