Welcome to West Blatchington
West Blatchington is often seen as subsumed in the shadow of its larger neighbour Hangleton. But while it does have a similar landscape (a Downland dip-slope parish lying north of Hove) West Blatchington has some more substantial and immediately noticeable buildings as its core. It is hard to miss a windmill! – especially when driving along the main traffic routes, Hangleton Road and Nevill Road.
The area is one of quiet suburban respectability. It grew rapidly in the inter-war period, but unlike Hangleton it had more infrastructure, with St Peters church, a working farm, a windmill and the proto-industrial area grouped around the Goldstone pumping station and its workers’ cottages.
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Apparently there is a hedge or boundary that seperates West Blachington from Hangleton. This is either on or near to West Blatchington Middle School. Una Whiteman told me and the rest of her class this in 1977 or 1978.
Part of the boundary between West Blatchington and Hangleton is still delineated by a hedge, known as the Long Hedge, at the rear of the gardens on the west side of Applesham Avenue.
Goldstone pumping station was in Preston parish, not West Blatchington.
Yes the pumping station is in Preston! I was merely indicating that its proximity to West Blatchington made it part of its economic landscape, in the same way that it is not possible to talk about the area of Hove without reference to its neighbour Brighton. I should have made that clear[I did write that entry over 7 years ago.
The Long Hedge I believe, has existed for hundreds of years, and some parts can still be traced pretty well up to the Dyke.
Ian does this bring back any memories? I remember the bull in the field next to St Peters church my 2 brothers introduced me to the field without telling me there was a bull in there!
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