Etchingham

Etchingham is a village and civil parish in the Rother district of East Sussex in southern England. The village is located approximately southeast of Royal Tunbridge Wells in Kent and northwest of Hastings, on the A265, half a mile west of its junction with the A21. The most notable landmarks in Etchingham include the Etchingham railway station, the Etchingham CofE primary school and its local amenities, such as a post office and butchers. Etchingham railway station is on the Hastings Line to London Charing Cross and Cannon Street.

Etchingham is a village and civil parish in the Rother district of East Sussex in southern England. The village is located approximately southeast of Royal Tunbridge Wells in Kent and northwest of Hastings, on the A265, half a mile west of its junction with the A21. The most notable landmarks in Etchingham include the Etchingham railway station, the Etchingham CofE primary school and its local amenities, such as a post office and butchers. Etchingham railway station is on the Hastings Line to London Charing Cross and Cannon Street. ===Etymology=== The name Etchingham is probably derived from Old English, and roughly translates as "The homestead or enclosure of family and followers of a man called Ecchi". In a place name, "inga" usually refers to 'people of' or 'dwellers at', and 'ham' to a homestead or settlement. A second possible derivation of the name is that it could come from the Anglo-Saxon "ecen", meaning great and "ham" (homestead), but the former explanation is the more likely. ===Village sign=== ]] The design of the village sign is based on the de Etchingham family coat of arms. A similar design is used for the parish council logo, the primary school badge and the church weathervane. ==Village hall and organisations== The village had an old village hall, that closed in 2014 and was subsequently demolished. The new Village Halls are two halls at the new community complex at Parsonage Croft. One is shared between the school and the community, and the other serving the community. The shared hall is known as the Ahrens Hall and the smaller hall is the Parker Hall which serves as the meeting place for the Toddlers' Group. Other groups in the village include The Pickleball Club, Brownies and a Darby and Joan Club. A Social Club exists that serves as the base for the village branch of the Royal British Legion and the clubhouse for the Etchingham & Fontridge Cricket Club. ==Philatelic connections== produced by Etchingham PCC, to mark the 150th anniversary of the Penny Black, signed by Sarah Godwin and Father Butler, the Rector at the time]] Henry Corbould FSA, the designer of the first postage stamp, the Penny Black, died at Hurst Green, having been taken ill there while travelling back to London from the coast, and was buried in Etchingham parish church. There is a memorial tablet on the wall of the church, which for many years was believed to be the only known likeness of Corbould. In 1990, as part of the 150th anniversary of the postage stamp, the village produced two First Day Covers to mark the Corbould connection, and held the Etchingham Stamp Festival to raise funds for church repairs. The festival was held over the weekend following the issue of the Miniature Sheet in May, in the church and village hall. The design on the cover is based on architectural detail in the church; the pictorial handstamp for the Etchingham Stamp Festival is based on the church weathervane. One cover was issued in January with the full set of the 'double headed' commemorative stamps and another for the miniature sheet issued in May, both covers bearing special handstamps featuring a detail from the church weathervane. Both covers were limited editions. Sarah Godwin, the designer of the 1987 Isaac Newton stamps, designed the cover, her family home being in Etchingham. ==Cricket== Etchingham had an active cricket team in 1939, the Etchingham & Fontridge Cricket Club, but the start of World War II brought play to an abrupt end. After the war, the cricket field was not brought back into use. In early 2006, a group of enthusiasts decided to revive the tradition. The new club has in its possession several artefacts, minutes of meetings and games dating back to the 1920s when the club was known as the "Etchingham & Fontridge Cricket Club". Keen to maintain a link with the original club, the new club uses the same name. The original club was formed by Mr W. F. Foster, who later became its president. A pavilion was erected in 1920, and as the number of playing members increased, a 2nd eleven was formed. Records show that Colonel Hornblower was elected chairman in 1934, with Mr H. H. Howard as Secretary. By 1934 Mr J. Gorwyn had become Captain of the 1st team. The newly reinstated club uses the previous club name to maintain a link with tradition. It is pleased that Lionel Dengate, who was secretary to the club in the 1930s agreed to serve as Honorary Club President. The club does not yet have a suitable cricket field in the village, so for the time being all matches have to be away fixtures. ==References== ==Sources== Etchingham, Past and Present, published by the Hurst Green Historical Society, 1994¹ ESCIS (East Sussex Community Information Service) Etchingham Parish Church Guide (1983, revised 1994), compiled by Ilse M. Baker BA Hidden Sussex & People of Hidden Sussex, Warden Swinfen & David Arscott ==External links== Parish church Online Parish Clerks page for Etchingham

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