Chiddingfold: Glassmaking History and Woodland Landscape

Chiddingfold combines village history with glassmaking and an extensive woodland landscape. Medieval architectural features meet evidence of the glassmaking trade in the village, while Chiddingfold Forest stretches to the northeast. The Church of St. Mary, the Village Green and the blacksmith’s workshop represent different facets of the village’s history. If you are looking for a hotel in Chiddingfold, these themes can help structure your trip planning: architecture and craftsmanship on the one hand, woodland and nature on the other. The destination can be explored through specific buildings and landscape features.

Glassmaking History and Architecture

The Church of St. Mary is a Grade I listed building. Its features include a tall, four-bay nave arcade dating from the 13th century; the chancel arcades also date from this period. Four-bay describes an arcade divided into four sections. The nave and chancel thus offer two architectural points of reference within the church, both associated with medieval arcades.

A unique lancet window connects the church with Chiddingfold’s glassmaking history. It is made from 427 unworked pieces of Chiddingfold glass; the material comes from eleven glasshouse sites in the parish. A lancet window is tall and narrow, with a pointed top. The glass’s origins and the number of pieces give the local craft tradition a tangible architectural connection: glassmaking and church building come together in this window.

During the reign of Elizabeth I, there were at least eleven glasshouses on the Village Green. There is also a working blacksmith’s workshop there; its timber framing dates from the 17th century. The Crown Inn, a 14th-century timber-framed building in the Wealden style, also stands on The Green. These examples date from the 13th-century church to the 17th-century blacksmith’s workshop. The village’s history thus encompasses ecclesiastical architecture, blacksmithing and Wealden timber framing.

Woodland and Nature

Chiddingfold Forest covers 840 hectares and lies northeast of the village. Around 502 hectares of it are designated as a Site of Special Scientific Interest (SSSI). The SSSI designation therefore applies to part of the woodland, not its entire area. Oaks, birches and ash trees are abundant there. The forest’s total area and the designated section thus describe two different spatial scales.

Activities and a Local Event Tradition

Public access to Sidney Wood is regulated by a permit system. The activities mentioned include walking, dog walking, cycling and horse riding. If you plan to visit Sidney Wood for any of these activities, take the permit requirement into account when preparing for your visit.

Historically, from 1961 onwards, the rule for the Chiddingfold Bonfire was that the event was held on the Saturday closest to 5 November. If you would like to plan your trip around the Bonfire, check the latest event dates in advance.

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