Barcombe

Barcombe is an East Sussex village and civil parish in the Lewes District of East Sussex. The parish has four settlements: old Barcombe ( ), the oldest settlement in the parish with the parish church; Barcombe Cross ( ), the more populous settlement and main hub with the amenities and services; the hamlet of Spithurst ( ) in the northeast and Town Littleworth ( ) in the northwest. Barcombe was recorded in the Domesday Book of 1086 as "Berchamp". The origins of the placename 'Barcombe' may have derived from two sources: the Saxon 'Berecampe', meaning 'barley land' and the Latin loan word 'campus', a field. Barcombe is particularly noted to Sussex residents and tourists for 'Barcombe Mills', a reference to an old water-mill complex on the River Ouse at the base of the hill/plateau on which Barcombe Cross sits. The mills burnt down before the Second World War, but Barcombe Mills is still a popular Sunday outing for townsfolk from Lewes and Brighton. The parish is home to a number of tributaries of the River Ouse, which serve as a nationally significant spawning ground and nursery for the Sussex sea trout (Salmo trutta).

Barcombe is an East Sussex village and civil parish in the Lewes District of East Sussex. The parish has four settlements: old Barcombe ( ), the oldest settlement in the parish with the parish church; Barcombe Cross ( ), the more populous settlement and main hub with the amenities and services; the hamlet of Spithurst ( ) in the northeast and Town Littleworth ( ) in the northwest. Barcombe was recorded in the Domesday Book of 1086 as "Berchamp". The origins of the placename 'Barcombe' may have derived from two sources: the Saxon 'Berecampe', meaning 'barley land' and the Latin loan word 'campus', a field. Barcombe is particularly noted to Sussex residents and tourists for 'Barcombe Mills', a reference to an old water-mill complex on the River Ouse at the base of the hill/plateau on which Barcombe Cross sits. The mills burnt down before the Second World War, but Barcombe Mills is still a popular Sunday outing for townsfolk from Lewes and Brighton. The parish is home to a number of tributaries of the River Ouse, which serve as a nationally significant spawning ground and nursery for the Sussex sea trout (Salmo trutta). ==History== ===Domesday Survey=== Barcombe (Bercham) was recorded in the Domesday Book of 1086 as comprising 26 households, including two smallholdings. There were ploughlands for eleven plough teams, and included in the listing were three mills and a church. ==Bonfire== Barcombe Bonfire is held annually, two weeks after the Lewes celebration on which it is modelled. The society is largely family-orientated and everyone helps out with torch dipping and bonfire building. There is a firework display and several processions. ==Governance== Barcombe is part of the electoral ward Barcombe and Hamsey. The population of this ward at the 2011 census was 2,105, of which 741 lived in the only identified Built-up Area, Barcombe (Cross). The latter had 320 homes, none of which communal establishments. The UK Parliament constituency for Barcombe is Lewes. The Liberal Democrat Norman Baker served as the constituency MP from 1997 until 2015, when Conservative Maria Caulfield was elected. As of July 2024 Liberal Democrat James MacCleary is the MP. Prior to Brexit in 2020, Barcombe was part of the South East England constituency in the European Parliament. ==Notable residents== Bernard Holden, veteran of the Burma campaign, president of the Bluebell Railway and father of standard gauge railway preservation was born in Barcombe Station in 1908¹. Kim Sears (also Murray), wife of tennis star Andy Murray, was born in the village. Steve Coogan, known for his comedic character Alan Partridge also lives on the outskirts of the village. Natasha Kaplinsky Natasha Kaplinsky. She grew up in Barcombe Mills, returned many years later during her high profile TV years.Natasha Kaplinsky ==References== ==External links== History of Barcombe Mill (inter alia) Barcombe Parish Council

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