Slindon

infobox UK place
country = England
static_

static_image_caption= Slindon post office
latitude= 50.86739
longitude= -0.63515
official_name =Slindon
population =
shire_district= Arun
shire_county= West Sussex
region= South East England
constituency_westminster= Arundel and South Downs
post_town= ARUNDEL
postcode_district = BN18
postcode_area= BN
dial_code= 01243
os_grid_reference= SU961084

Slindon is a small village and civil parish in the Arun District of West Sussex, England, nestling in woodlands (much of it belonging to the National Trust) on the southern edge of the South Downs. Slindon lies approximately seven miles north-east of Chichester. The closest postal town is Arundel.

Village

St Mary's 12th century parish church contains a memorial to Stephen Langton (c1150–1228), the Archbishop of Canterbury who attended the signing of Magna Carta. In the Middle Ages Slindon House (now Slindon College) was the site of one of the Archbishop's residences. In 1330 Thomas de Natindon, who was a legal representative of the Pope, was sent to Slindon to serve a writ on the archbishop [ Peter Jerrome, Petworth. From the beginnings to 1660. The Window Press 2002 p31-32] . His party were not well received by the archbishop's servants who stripped and bound them, then threw cold water over them, apparently with the archbishop's consent. Natindon escaped and was pursued over the hills to Petworth where he was caught and held in prison for three days.

The writer Hilaire Belloc (1870–1953) lived in the village.

In the mid-18th century, Slindon Cricket Club achieved fame through the excellence of its team which featured Richard Newland (1718–1791), whose memorial is also in the church.

Slindon post office was closed by Royal Mail in 2008, and the nearest post office is at Walberton, Convert|1.9|mi away; the local shop and pub have also closed. [Cite web | url=http://www.news.royalmailgroup.com/news/article.asp?id=2139&brand=Post_Office_network | title=Decisions On The Future Of Post Office Branches In Sussex | publisher=Royal Mail | date=2008-01-29 | accessdate=2008-10-11 ] [Cite web | url=http://www.nickherbert.com/Nick_Herbert_post_offices_are_an_important_public_service_and_must_remain_open.aspx?ArticleID=1493&PageID=73&RefPageID=51 | title=Nick Herbert: post offices are an important public service and must remain open | first=Nick | last=Herbert | authorlink=Nick Herbert | date=2008-12-20 | accessdate=2008-10-11 ] Cite web | url=http://www.telegraph.co.uk/portal/main.jhtml?xml=/portal/2008/10/11/ftpumpkinking111.xml | title=The pumpkin king's crowning glory | first=Angela | last=Wintle | work=Telegraph.co.uk | publisher=Telegraph Media Group | date=2008-10-11 | accessdate=2008-10-11 ]

The village has been called the "pumpkin capital of Britain", and an annual display of pumpkins attracts tourists to the village.

References