Alciston

Alciston is a village and civil parish in the Wealden district of East Sussex, England. It is inland, just off the A27 road, about ten miles (16 km) north-west of Eastbourne and seven miles (11 km) east of Lewes. The ecclesiastical parish is linked with that of Selmeston and Berwick.

Alciston

Alciston from Bostal Hill
Alciston
Location within East Sussex
Area7.0 km2 (2.7 sq mi) [1]
Population146 (2007-Parish)[1]
• Density44/sq mi (17/km2)
OS grid referenceTQ506055
• London48 miles (77 km) NNW
District
Shire county
Region
CountryEngland
Sovereign stateUnited Kingdom
Post townPOLEGATE
Postcode districtBN26
Dialling code01323
PoliceSussex
FireEast Sussex
AmbulanceSouth East Coast
UK Parliament

Saxon in origin, its name was then Aelfsige; it is mentioned in the Domesday Book. The present 14th-century church, of unknown dedication, is built of chalk from the nearby South Downs.[2] There is a large medieval tithe barn in the village. It is 170 feet (52 m) long and is the largest in Sussex.

Every Good Friday, the road outside the Rose Cottage Inn is closed for the villagers to take part in a traditional skipping contest.[3]

The historian C.V. Wedgwood is buried in the church graveyard.

Governance
Alciston Parish Church, 2017

The lowest tier of government for Alciston (Pronounced Awl-ciston) is a Parish meeting.[4] Instead of voting for representatives, a small parish may hold a community meeting twice a year to which all the electors may attend and vote on issues.

Wealden District Council is the next tier of government, for which Alciston is part of the Alfriston ward,[5] along with Alfriston, Berwick, Chalvington & Ripe and Selmeston. The ward returns one councillor, who was David Watts in the 2019 election.[5]

Alciston is represented at the East Sussex County Council as part of the East Hoathly & Hellingly Division. The May 2017 election returned the Conservative Councillor Nick Bennett .[6]

The parliamentary district for Alciston is Lewes. The general election in May 2015 returned Maria Caulfield as MP.

Prior to Brexit in 2020, Alciston was part of the South East England constituency in the European Parliament.

References
  1. "East Sussex in Figures". East Sussex County Council. Retrieved 26 April 2008.
  2. "Alciston Parish Church". Sacred Sussex. Diocese of Chichester. Archived from the original on 8 February 2009. Retrieved 20 April 2008.
  3. Geograph
  4. "Alciston Parish Meeting". Wealden District Council. Archived from the original on 6 October 2007. Retrieved 20 April 2008.
  5. "District Council Elections" (PDF). Wealden District Council. 3 May 2007. p. 1. Archived from the original (PDF) on 31 October 2008. Retrieved 19 April 2008.
  6. "County Council Election, 5 May 2005". East Sussex County Council. Retrieved 6 January 2008.
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