Our Parishes

The civil parish of Ticehurst includes the villages of Stonegate and Flimwell and until Victorian times this also applied to the ecclesiastical parish. In the late 1830’s Stonegate and then Flimwell became Chapelry districts and were later granted full status as ecclesiastical parishes.

Ticehurst and Flimwell have shared an incumbent since 1978. The relationship works well with shared activities and services combined particularly around key church festivals. Stonegate is now part of the Wadhurst incumbency.

The population of the ecclesiastical parishes are approximately 800 (Flimwell) and 3000 (Ticehurst).

About the Area

Situated on the border between East Sussex and Kent in the High Weald – an area of outstanding natural beauty, both Bewl Water and the Bedgebury National Pinetum and Forest being within walking distance.

The parishes are rural communities within commuting distance of London. Whilst this means that statistically we enjoy a higher income level than the national average this masks pockets of rural deprivation.

Specific challenges we face include the lack of affordable housing to enable young people to stay in the community which means that we have to work hard to attract young people to participate in the life of the Church.

Local Employment

Most local employment is either agricultural, smaller light industries or self-employment, however there are also a number of car dealerships and a long-established private psychiatric hospital, now part of the Priory Group.

The parishes benefit from a number of sheltered accommodation facilities and care homes for older residents including Cross Lane House which has close links with the St Mary’s. There are a lower than average number of ethnic minority families and no places of worship for other faiths or denominations meaning that we provide a welcome for all.

Ticehurst is a compact village but includes clusters of smaller communities on the periphery including Wallcrouch and Three Leg Cross. It provides a good range of local shops and pubs which meet most of the daily needs of residents and attract visitors from further afield. The area provides a local surgery and St Mary’s benefits from a picturesque position at the heart of the village.

Flimwell village is more challenged, being developed either side of the A21, the main London to Hastings road. The community enjoys a fine food store and farm shops with an ecological development a popular recent addition which includes a restaurant, pottery studio, bike hire, photography and forest school amongst other facilities. St Augustines is located on the eastern edge of the village.

In terms of communication links the nearest main towns are Hastings and Tunbridge Wells and both villages are served by a local busses connecting these towns. Etchingham, Stonegate and Wadhurst which are adjacent villages provide stations on the main London to Hastings train line with journey time to London being approximately 75 minutes.

Education

The Ticehurst and Flimwell C of E primary school (VC) has just over 100 pupils and serves both villages. The school was redeveloped in 2004 and provides excellent facilities within walking distance of the main housing areas in Ticehurst. The Church works closely with the school including providing “Open the Book” dynamic religious education regularly in term time and welcoming pupils into the church for seasonal services.

The local secondary school – Uplands Academy is located a short bus ride away. Alongside secondary education the College provides evening classes and a sports centre open to the community for gym facilities. There are also a large number of independent schools in adjacent villages.

Leisure & Amenities

Alongside the walking and cycling opportunities at Bewl Water and Bedgebury National Pinetum, residents can participate in angling, sailing and water sports at these very popular regional attractions. Dale Hill Golf Club occupies a position between the two communities. Flimwell Cricket Club and Ticehurst Football Club are active in local leagues.

The two villages provide a wide range of facilities catering for most ages although transport can be an issue for younger people in terms of access to facilities. The Ticehurst Village Institute provides a large recreation ground, play equipment, all weather court, hall with a stage and with a kitchen and smaller rooms providing facilities for Mother and Toddlers, Gardeners, WI and other local clubs and societies.

Flimwell has a recreation ground with pavilion and a new Village Hall provides many activities including a monthly market and an award winning ice cream parlour. Flimwell has its own successful microbrewery. There are four public houses and a four star hotel within the parish boundaries.