Wiston

Settlement in Sussex Horsham

England

Wiston

Chanctonbury Ring Fort: Off the South Downs Way This ring at the top of the hill, is situated in the far south eastern corner of the grid square. — Chanctonbury Ring Fort: Off the South Downs Way Credit: Pam Brophy

Wiston is a small village located in the county of West Sussex, England. Situated approximately 4 miles northwest of the town of Steyning, Wiston is set amidst the picturesque South Downs National Park. The village is known for its idyllic rural setting and historic charm.

Wiston boasts a population of around 250 residents, who enjoy a peaceful and close-knit community. The village is predominantly residential, with a scattering of traditional cottages and houses that reflect its rich historical heritage. One of the prominent landmarks in Wiston is the St. Mary's Church, a Grade I listed building dating back to the 12th century. This beautiful church is renowned for its Norman architecture and hosts regular services and events for the local community.

The surrounding countryside offers stunning vistas and ample opportunities for outdoor activities. The South Downs Way, a popular long-distance footpath, passes close to Wiston, attracting hikers and nature enthusiasts. The village is also home to Wiston House, an elegant Elizabethan manor that now serves as a conference and wedding venue. The estate's expansive grounds feature immaculate gardens, woodlands, and a lake, making it a delightful spot for leisurely walks and picnics.

While Wiston may be a small village, it benefits from its close proximity to larger towns such as Steyning and Worthing, which provide amenities such as shops, schools, and healthcare facilities. Overall, Wiston offers a charming and tranquil countryside retreat for those seeking a peaceful escape in the heart of West Sussex.

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Wiston Images

Images are sourced within 2km of 50.916043/-0.3739881 or Grid Reference TQ1414. Thanks to Geograph Open Source API. All images are credited.

Chanctonbury Ring Fort: Off the South Downs Way

This ring at the top of the hill, is situated in the far south eastern corner of the grid square.

Pam Brophy

Fascinating Tree en route to Chanctonbury Ring Fort

This tree is in the section of woods near the reservoir near the car park in the extreme south and centre of the grid square.

Pam Brophy

All Saints Church, Buncton

12th Century Church in the tiny Parish of Wiston with Buncton.

Janine Forbes

The Old Mill

Once a family owned water mill this is now a hotel.

Janine Forbes

London Road, Ashington

Looking north from the southern end of the village. Once, as its name suggests, this was the main A24 London to Worthing road. Now the traffic has been diverted away onto a bypass and the main street has been traffic-calmed. In recent years the village has developed from being a straggle along the main road into a substantial dormitory village. Surprisingly, the church is on the outskirts of the village. This may be because a Roman building, possibly a villa, existed at Church Farm and maybe the original church was associated with it.

Ron Strutt

Ashington

The A24 underpass at the south end of London Road looking south. The bypass skirts the eastern side of the village and joins up with the original main road just south of this point. The road under the underpass is the road to Hole Street and Wiston and also links up with the southbound carriageway.

Ron Strutt

Bushovel Farm, Wiston

Formerly called Bush Hovel Farm, it is seen slightly left of centre in this picture taken from Chanctonbury Ring. What is interesting is the circular shape of the field to the right of the farmhouse and buildings (with an extension on the right). This betrays it as having been an early clearing in the vast, heavily wooded Sussex Weald from which the farm was created. There are several farms along the foot of the downs here. At first sight it appears not to be the best situation for a farm, the southern sun being blocked by the bulk of the downs for much of the year (although not at Bushovel), but it is along this line that the chalk of the downs gives way to the gault clay of the Weald and it is here that numerous springs rise, providing a plentiful supply of water.

Ron Strutt

Great Barn Farm, Wiston

The farm, which lies at the northern foot of the South Downs, close to Chanctonbury Ring, is named after the substantial barn which is seen through the trees, under repair, in this picture. The farm sits alongside an old east-west track which was, throughout the Middle Ages and until 1778, the main road between Steyning and Washington. It was superseded when a road roughly along the line of the modern Steyning-Washington road further north was improved and partly realigned, and the southern road was closed to traffic. This coincided with the period when Wiston Park was enlarged and the village moved from its old location close to Wiston House to its present location further north. Taken from Chanctonbury Ring Road at TQ145124 looking east.

Ron Strutt

The fields of Great Barn Farm, Wiston

The ornamental trees in the fields of Great Barn Farm alongside Chanctonbury Ring Road show that they were once part of Wiston Park. The ancient manor of Wiston passed, by marriage, into the Goring family in 1740 and by the mid 19th century they owned most of the parish, as well as large estates in other parishes. In 1760 Charles Goring planted the famous beech trees on Chanctonbury Ring - they were blown down in the severe storm of October 1987. After the second world war most of the park was converted to agriculture. The house itself is now a conference centre run by the Foreign Office.

Ron Strutt

Fastings Cottage, Chanctonbury Ring Road

Ron Strutt

Wiston Tearooms

Wiston tearooms is at the southern end of the village. In the garden is a substantial collection of animals including various species of chickens, duck and geese, as well as two pigs, Henry - the infamous "Ashington pig" who was found wandering in the nearby village of Ashington - and George, goats, and a pony.

Ron Strutt

Fields of Hole Street Farm

A view across this entirely agricultural square: the fields of Hole Street Farm, looking towards Upper Chancton, with the trees of Birth Copse in the middle distance. The hedge line in the foreground is probably ancient; it marks the parish boundary.

Ron Strutt

Holloway, Chanctonbury Ring Road

An old droving lane that linked Downland farms with their Wealden pastures.

Simon Carey

Footpath to Kensett's Corner

Taken from North Lane bridleway.

Simon Carey

The route to Hawking Sopers

Common Copse is to the right and those rainclouds were heading my way.

Simon Carey

Colour amid the gloom, Spithandle Copse

Amongst the churned up mudbath that was Spithandle Lane was the odd bloom of spring flowers and shoots which make a lovely contrast to the murky browns elsewhere

Simon Carey

Spithandle Lane

Spithandle Copse to the right, Spithandle Rough to the left. The road at the bottom left heads to College Wood Farm. The lane itself links Wiston to Horsebridge Common.

Simon Carey