Etchingham

infobox UK place
country = England
static_

static_image_caption=
area_footnotes=cite web |url=http://www.eastsussexinfigures.org.uk/webview/ |title=East Sussex in Figures |accessdate=2008-04-26 |publisher=East Sussex County Council]
area_total_km2 =13.4
latitude= 51.00
longitude= 0.43
official_name= Etchingham
population = 747 (Parish-2007)
766 (2001 census)
738 (1991 census)
668 (1981 census)
shire_district= Rother
shire_county = East Sussex
region= South East England
constituency_westminster= Bexhill and Battle
post_town= ETCHINGHAM
postcode_district = TN19
postcode_area= TN
dial_code= 01580
os_grid_reference= TQ709260
population_density= Pop density mi2 to km2|145|precision=0|abbr=yes
london_distance=convert|42|mi NW
website= [http://beehive.courier.co.uk/default.asp?WCI=SiteHome&ID=2849 Etchingham Parish Council]

Etchingham is a village and civil parish in the Rother District located in East Sussex, southern England. The village is located approximately twelve miles (20 km) north-west of Hastings, on the A265, half a mile west of its junction with the A21.

Etchingham railway station is on the Hastings Line.

History

Etchingham was a manor a long time before the Norman conquest of 1066; after this time the manor was taken over by the Normans. In 1166 it was left to the de Achyngham (Etchingham) family, who were well-known landowners of the time. The Etchingham family papers record that William was so pleased with his right-hand man that he gave him the land now known as Etchingham.

The moated manor house, long since demolished, stood at the point now occupied by the London to Hastings railway line. Some of the stone from the manor was probably used in the construction of the station buildings. There is one legend that a great bell lay at the bottom of the moat surrounding the church and manor, and that it would never be seen until six yoke of white oxen were brought to drag it up. Centuries have passed by, the moat is long gone and no bell has surfaced.The 14th-century church was originally built within the grounds of the manor; evidence of the moat can still be seen. Misericords are small 'comfort' ledges fitted under tip-up stalls, designed to give a resting point for monks and others who had to stand for long periods during long medieval services. These were often ornately carved with leaves or decoration; those in Etchingham Church include one that depicts a fox preaching to geese.

Village name

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 Ecci". 'inga' in a place name usually refers to 'people of' or 'dwellers at', and 'ham' refers to a homestead or settlement, so this explanation seems the most probable. ["The Popular Dictionary of English Place Names" ISBN 0-75251-851-8]

There is a second, less likely derivation of the name: it could come from the Anglo-Saxon 'ECEN', meaning great + 'HAM' (homestead), but the former explanation is the most likely. ["The Origin of English Place Names", P.H. Reaney ISBN 0710020104] [ [http://www.cboylett.freeserve.co.uk/Etchind.htm Etchingham website] ]

The church

The 14th-century parish church is dedicated to The Assumption of Blessed Mary and St Nicholas, and holds the distinction of having what is probably England's oldest brass weather vane, which can be seen on the village church spire. It also has the second largest series of misericords in the county. [Etchingham Parish Church Guide, 1983 (revised 1994), compiled by Ilse M. Baker BA]

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.

Famous former residents

Among the famous former residents of Etchingham is the regicide James Temple, who lived at Haremere Hall in the 1620s. [Anthony Fletcher, "A County Community in Peace and War: Sussex, 1600-1660"] He was a judge at the trial of Charles I and signed the execution warrant.

Another famous resident is the novelist and critic Anthony Burgess, who resided at the semi-detached house called "Applegarth" on the south side of the A256 road (west of the High Street). Burgess's house can be distinguished by the presence of a small statue of a Siamese cat next to the building (he and his first wife Lynne were notable cat-lovers).

The folk musicians Ashley Hutchings and Shirley Collins lived there in the 1970s and formed the Etchingham Steam Band in 1974.

Village organisations

The village has an old village hall, which serves as the meeting place for the Under 5's Playgroup and a Toddlers Group. Other groups in the village include Brownies, The Etchingham Military & Aviation Preservation Group, The Women's Institute and a Darby & 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

One notable feature of the village history is of interest to philatelists (stamp collectors) around the world.

Stamp collecting has been a popular hobby with many for well over a hundred years; the hobby was given a boost in 1990 with the celebrations of the 150th anniversary of the world's first postage stamp, the Penny Black.

Henry Corbould FSA, whose design was used for the Penny Black, was travelling back to London from the coast, along what is now the A21. He was taken ill near Hurst Green and was given rest and shelter at a local hostelry; sadly he never recovered from his illness and died in his room at the public house. Henry Corbould was therefore buried in Etchingham parish church, The Assumption of Blessed Mary and St Nicholas. There is a memorial tablet on the wall of the church, and this is believed to be the only known likeness of Corbould.

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.

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 help 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. Various activities connected with philately took place, many stamp dealers had stands in the village hall, and children from the village primary school produced artwork representing their ideas for stamp designs.

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 First day of issue special handstamps featuring 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.

Village shop saved

A shop had been trading at the Etchingham Stores site for over 150 years; it has been a general grocery shop for many years, but in the past also served as the post office, and in the early days of the telephone arriving in the village it housed the first telephone exchange in the village. Along with several other properties in the village, the premises suffered flooding in October 2000; the then owners decided not to re-open the shop.

Many village residents were unhappy about the loss of the village shop so a public meeting was arranged to discuss the possibilities of getting the shop back in business. After further meetings, many hours of negotiations, fundraising and a great deal of frustration, sufficient funds were raised to enable the purchase of the premises. Village residents purchased shares in the newly-formed Etchingham Community Shop Association Ltd. After many weeks of hard work, the shop was finally ready for opening on 14 June 2003, when a large crowd gathered outside the shop, bringing traffic to a standstill. [ [http://www.zyworld.com/ColinBoylett/commshopind.htm Etchingham Stores website (A 'Not For Profit' Community owned enterprise)] ]

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 and the village lost a great sporting tradition. In early 2006, a group of cricket enthusiasts decided to revive the tradition of a [http://www.cboylett.freeserve.co.uk/cricket.htm Cricket Club] .The new club now has in its possession several artifacts, minutes of meetings and games dating back to the 1920s, when the club was known as the " [http://www.cboylett.freeserve.co.uk/cricket.htm Etchingham & Fontridge Cricket Club"] . Keen to maintain a link with the original club, the new club has been given the same name as the original club.The original club was formed by Mr. W. F. Foster, who later became President of the club. 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 past tradition, and ensure a vibrant village game with access for everyone who wants to be involved, either as a participant or spectator. The club is pleased that Lionel Dengate agreed to serve as Honorary Club President; Lionel was secretary to the club in the 1930s.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

ources

* "Etchingham, Past and Present", published by the Hurst Green Historical Society, 1994
* ESCIS (East Sussex Community Information Service)
* Etchingham Parish Appraisal, [http://beehive.courier.co.uk/default.asp?WCI=SiteHome&ID=2849&PageID=13657 Etchingham Parish Council] 1990
* "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

* [http://beehive.courier.co.uk/default.asp?WCI=SiteHome&ID=2849&PageID=13657 Parish website]
* [http://www.roughwood.net/ChurchAlbum/EastSussex/Etchingham/Etchingham2004.htm Parish church]