Brightling

Infobox UK place
official_name=Brightling
country=England
region=South East 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 =19.8
population=366 (Parish-2007)
population_density= Pop density mi2 to km2|48|precision=0|abbr=yes
os_grid_reference=TQ684210
latitude=50.96
longitude=0.40
post_town=ROBERTSBRIDGE
postcode_area=TN
postcode_district=TN32
dial_code=01424
constituency_westminster=Bexhill and Battle
london_distance=convert|43|mi NNW
shire_district=Rother
shire_county=East Sussex

Brightling is a village and civil parish in the Rother District of East Sussex, England. It is located on the Weald eight miles (13 km) north-west of Battle and four miles (6 km) west of Robertsbridge.

The village lies in the [http://www.highweald.org High Weald Area of Outstanding Natural Beauty] (AONB) and due to its vantage point commands views in all directions.

The village's most famous inhabitant was probably John 'Mad Jack' Fuller, (1757–1834) MP for Sussex and eccentric. He was a prolific [http://www.odd-stuff.info/follies/brightling.htm folly] builder; his mausoleum, 'The Pyramid', stands in the churchyard next door to his house of Rose Hill. The grounds of Rose Hill were laid out by Capability Brown (1716–83). In the area are also 'The Observatory', 'The Needle', 'The Sugarloaf, 'The Temple' and 'The Tower'. There is also 'The Wall' which was built around Brightling Park, Jack's estate. It has been said that this was built as a means of employing soldiers returning from the Napoleonic wars. The local church contains a monument and a bust of Fuller. [ [http://books.google.com/books?id=R7IHAAAAQAAJ&pg=PA132&lpg=PA132&dq=ashburnham+levetts&source=web&ots=GJ5kXQ5oXS&sig=_m1kDVC6D2JNGDTQpT20BQx8Txk&hl=en&sa=X&oi=book_result&resnum=3&ct=result#PPA132,M1 Handbook to the county of Sussex, George Frederick Chambers, 1877] ]

The village pub used to be "The Green Man" on the corner opposite the church, dedicated to St. Thomas A'Becket, but it is said that as part of the arrangements to build 'The Pyramid' Jack Fuller caused the pub to be relocated about three miles towards Robertsbridge at Oxley's Green.

The parish includes outlying hamlets Cackle Street, Hollingrove, Oxley's Green and Twelve Oaks. Brightling, Hollingrove and Cackle Street all had their own shop with a post office in Brightling itself. These have all closed with the passing of time.

Also in the parish is Brightling Down (197 m), the local vantage point topped by 'The Needle' and used as a beacon point hence Brightling Beacon.

The most obvious 'industry' in the area is agriculture yet well hidden is the Gypsum mine with conveyor to the Mountfield plaster board processing plant.

There is an annual horse trials run at Brightling Park (formerly Rose Hill).

Landmarks

Willingford Meadows is a Site of Special Scientific Interest within the parish. These meadows are of biological importance due to the limestone outcrops providing calcareous soil conditions supporting a range of lime-loving flora. [cite web|url=http://www.english-nature.org.uk/special/sssi/sssi_details.cfm?sssi_id=1006042 |title=Natural England - SSSI|accessdate=2008-10-03|publisher=English Nature]

References

External links

* [http://homepages.goldsmiths.ac.uk/genuki/SSX/Brightling/ Brightling, Sussex] – GENUKI