Litlington, East Sussex

Toponymy

The name is Saxon and literally means Litl's (followers or possibly family's) homestead. It is also potentially a corruption of Littleton, but there is no evidence for it missing its -ing component.

Parish description

The village is small and like the rest of the parish, which extends to take in much of the Seven Sisters Country Park, is on the left bank of a narrow valley in the signature narrow band of the South Downs National Park. It is downriver followed only by marshes mainly to its side of its road leading to hamlets of Exceat and Westdean but across the narrow road a narrow strip of fertile farmland that ascends rapidly into chalkland grazing.

Beyond the Exceat tiny cluster of homes is footpath access to Cuckmere Haven, which has road access from the west, Seaford only, a natural shoreline of pebbles and the soon towering Seven Sisters cliffs to the east. Among features of the landscape here are sheep fields and pillboxes from World War II.

Civic, community buildings and river sports

Near the narrow, hedge-lined village street, on its offshoot Clapham Lane, is a community hall, built in 1953.

The church is in the opposite direction, medieval and dedicated to St Michael the Archangel. The Church of England's ecclesiastical parish remains Lilington which has this church and no chapels. The church is a flint with stone dressings downland church, with a white painted weather boarded wooden belfry tower supporting a wood-shingle covered spire. Possibly 12th century with earlier windows.

Exceat has a canoe club and a separate paddleboarding experience/outings business.

Notable residents

Maria Fitzherbert, mistress of George IV, lived at Clapham House.

Economy

The village is on popular downland walking trails. The main businesses are:

• a brewery (The Long Man Brewery), that sources its barley from 500 acres surrounding the brewery.
• a crystal and gemstone store,
• and The Plough & Harrow, a large gastropub-type restaurant and free house. It also offers the local ale.

Litlington White Horse

During the 19th century, The Litlington White Horse, being a large chalk figure of a horse, was cut into the face of the downs situated to the west of the village. The figure, the Litlington White Horse, replaced an earlier period of one present many years before. It is one of the nine white horse figures outside Wiltshire, and was the solution to a treasure hunt in the video game Pimania. North of the parish is the Long Man of Wilmington, famous in part because of its unknown origin.

References

References

1. "Population statistics Litlington AP/CP through time". [[A Vision of Britain through Time]].
2. "The Wealden (Parishes) Order 1990". [[Local Government Boundary Commission for England]].
3. "About the Hall | Litlington".
4. "A Church Near You".
5. [[Automata UK]]. "PIMANIA - The Answer".