Hurstpierpoint

The Mid Sussex village of Hurstpierpoint was mentioned in the Domesday Book but dates back much further, being the site of a Roman villa.

Its name combines the Saxon word for a wood (hurst) with Pierpoint, after the Pierpoint family, who arrived with William the Conqueror in 1066.

The population is a good mix of ages with schools for the young and and retirement homes for the more mature. Villagers often shorten the name to Hurst.

Unspoilt countryside surrounds Hurstpierpoint. Over the past 20 years its popularity has grown due to improved road links to the north and south of the county. The extension of the A/M23 to Brighton made a big difference and many properties are now sold to London buyers.

The village has a mixture of shops, restaurants and pubs. One of the oldest pubs is the New Inn, which dates from 1450 and was originally a yeoman farmer's house.

The traditional three-bar hostelry has legends of hauntings and hidden tunnels that allegedly lead to the church, the Manor House and the historic Danny House.

The large church of Holy Trinity was built in 1843-5 and one mile away is Hurstpierpoint College.

Standing in 70 acres of grounds, the college was founded in 1849 by Nathaniel Woodard, who also founded Lancing and Ardingly colleges.

Another resident was diarist Thomas Marchant who lived at Little Park and kept a journal on village life in the 18th century.

Hassocks

Hassocks is another friendly village situated just north of the South Downs, some seven miles from Brighton. It is ideally located with road and rail links to London and the coast.

The ancient parishes of Clayton and Keymer, recorded in the Domesday Book, contain the village of Keymer and the hamlet of Clayton, forming the boundary of Hassocks.

The modern village of Hassocks (the name means rough tussocks of grass) grew around the railway station built in 1841.

Legend has it the Southern Railway Company asked Clayton and Keymer Councils to name the new station. But as they could not agree, the railway company called it Hassocks Gate after a farm by the toll gate on the road to Hurstpierpoint. Over the years Hassocks expanded whilst Clayton with its Saxon church changed little.

Hassocks has good community facilities including four churches, three schools, pubs, post offices and a library.

The village boasts a wide range of shops, including a delicatessen, restaurants, off-licences, newsagents, a craft shop and a supermarket.

Adastra Park was given to the parish by the late ED Stafford in memory of his son, who was killed while serving in the 1914-1918 war. Its name was taken from the Royal Flying Corp and now the RAF motto, per ardua ad astra.

The park contains two large recreational fields used for sports, with children's play areas and a garden of remembrance.

Adastra Hall is the scene of many activities including bowls and various evening clubs and entertainments.

The area has become popular with young families and commuters who want to move away from the bustle of Brighton and Hove, but it is still within a 20-minute drive.