Discover Chiddingly

Chiddingly brings together architectural history, walks and other historical traces. If you are looking for a hotel in Chiddingly, it helps to decide what you want to focus on during your trip: the listed church, a short walking route, the Wealdway and historic buildings offer different options. This can help you decide whether to shape your stay around cultural history, a walk or a longer hike.

Chiddingly Church

Chiddingly Church dates from the late 11th or early 12th century and is a Grade I listed building. Its sandstone spire is 40 metres (130 feet) high. Inside is a stone and marble monument to Sir John Jeffray, who died in 1578. This brings together early architectural history and a specific memorial to a historical figure. The material, height and monument offer different points of interest: the spire defines the architecture, while the Jeffray monument adds a personal historical note. For geographical orientation, the church is two miles north of Golden Cross on the A22.

Walks and long-distance route

The Chiddingly Walk is two miles long and is considered easy and mostly flat. The route also includes some cattle grids or stiles, which should be taken into account when planning. The much longer Wealdway long-distance route passes through Chiddingly on its 128-kilometre (79.5-mile) journey from Gravesend to Eastbourne. This difference in scale can help you decide whether to focus your trip on a local walk or a long-distance hike.

Historic buildings and bridge

Historic buildings beyond the church also offer specific points of interest. The Six Bells pub in Chiddingly is a Grade II listed building. The date 1752 is carved into a central stone on Stream Mill Bridge; the bridge was listed as a Grade II building in autumn 2005. A secure wooden bridge carries the public bridleway and footpath over the old Stream Mill Bridge. Conditions can change, so check the local situation before your visit. The 1752 inscription and the 2005 listing refer to different things: one date is carved in the stone, while the other marks the building’s protected status.

Other historical traces

Iron was worked at Stream Farm in the 16th century, primarily to make cannons and guns. This trace of economic history adds another aspect of the place to its sacred architecture and memorials. Chiddingly is known as a place of seven hills: Stone Hill, Gun Hill, Thunders Hill, Burgh Hill, Holmes Hill, Scrapers Hill and Pick Hill. A festival was also held annually in Chiddingly for more than 40 years. If you want to include a festival in your travel plans, check in advance whether any events are scheduled during your trip.

Discover more destinations: East Hoathly, Beckley, Uckfield, Brightling, Forest Row, Ewhurst Green, Nutley, Pevensey

For the broader travel overview: East Sussex.