Albourne: Village History and Landscape

Albourne brings together a named walking route and a local history connected with buildings, a church and the historic development of its roads. The landscape can also be considered in detail: the information about the hills in the south concerns the parish, while Shaves Wood is a woodland area in the South Downs National Park.

Albourne Walk, landscape and Shaves Wood

The Albourne Walk starts and ends at the car park of Albourne Village Hall in The Street. Having the same start and end point provides a specific reference for planning your stay. If you are considering Albourne for a hotel stay, you can include the walk as a local highlight and decide whether it suits your travel plans. As a walk, it offers a different focus from the history of the buildings and the church.

The southern half of the parish of Albourne is characterised by hilly terrain with steep-sided valleys. Near the southern boundary, the land rises to over 150 feet. Shaves Wood, a woodland area in Albourne, is in the South Downs National Park.

Conservation Area and historic buildings

Part of the village of Albourne was designated a Conservation Area in 1989. Within the Albourne Conservation Area, there are attractive views through to fields and trees between the buildings west of The Street.

Gallops is an L-shaped timber-framed building dating from 1661 or earlier. The exterior of Albourne Place was remodelled by John Juxon in the mid-17th century.

Albourne Place is also associated with the story of Archbishop Juxon, who found refuge there during part of the Commonwealth period. The building also contains a recently discovered hiding place.

The development of the roads is also part of the context of the village. The relocation of the A23 further east meant that Albourne was completely bypassed.

St Bartholomew’s Church

The historic St Bartholomew’s Church in Albourne has served the local communities that today make up the parish of ASCAT for centuries. Parts of the chancel arch dating from the 12th century survive at the church. Two aspects can be considered together at St Bartholomew’s Church: the surviving parts of the 12th-century chancel arch provide a specific architectural reference point, while the church’s centuries-long connection with the local communities points to its role in community life. Anyone interested in Albourne’s history can thus consider the building and the community tradition together.

St Bartholomew’s Church is open daily from 9:00 am to 5:00 pm. Check the opening hours before your visit if you would like to include the church in your plans.

Discover more destinations: Merston, Wiston, Billingshurst, Burgess Hill, Hunston, Lindfield, Trotton, Fernhurst.

For the broader travel overview: West Sussex.