Pulborough

infobox UK place
country = England
official_name= Pulborough
static_

static_image_caption= Pulborough Church
population = 4,685 (2001)
civil_parish= Pulborough
shire_district= Horsham
shire_county = West Sussex
region= South East England
constituency_westminster= Arundel and South Downs
post_town= PULBOROUGH
postcode_area= RH
postcode_district= RH20
dial_code= 01798
os_grid_reference= TQ047187
latitude= 50.96
longitude= -0.51

Pulborough is a large village and civil parish in the Horsham district of West Sussex, England, of some 5,000 inhabitants, located almost centrally within the county being convert|50|mi|km due south of London. It is at the junction of the important north-south trunk road A29 and east-west (A283 road) routes.

The village is set beside the confluence of the River Arun and River Rother. It looks out over the River Arun across the large flood plain to a backdrop of the South Downs. It should find itself located just to the northern boundary of the proposed South Downs National Park.

The parish covers an area of 2098.3 hectares (5,183 acres). In the 2001 census there were 4,685 people living in 1,976 households of whom 2,333 were economically active.

History

Historically, it was a fording place over the River Arun used by the Romans who had a station here being one day's march from Chichester on the London road, Stane Street. The Saxons bridged the River Arun here and at nearby Stopham, north of its confluence with the River Rother. It became an important watering/overnighting halt for cattle drovers providing easy access to water.

Pulborough is on the edge of commuter belt and remains a most scenic and peaceful place to live, with a variety of facilities including relatively large Sainsburys and Tesco stores, and Pulborough railway station on the Arun Valley Line from London Victoria to Arundel. It is around 75 minutes away from London Victoria by train. Politically it falls within the parliamentary constituency with the largest Conservative majority in the country.Fact|date=March 2008

Attractions

On 29th of July of every year, Pulborough hosts the famous 12 hour Lawn Mower race, which runs continuously for 12 hours.

On August Bank holiday, Pulborough duck race society hosts its annual Duck race, a charity event.

Pulborough is also home to the South Downs Light Railway with its regular steam and diesel trains throughout the summer, and a more limited service through the colder months.

Pulborough also boasts one of the fastest growing and most popular Angling Clubs in the South of England; the Society has a number of initiatives to support local youngsters, including angling training as well as offering talks to local clubs, youth and conservation groups on the merits of angling and what anglers do to support, maintain and improve habitat in conjunction with Government Depts and other like-minded groups.

Local Cricket

Earliest records suggest cricket has been played in Pulborough since 1799. Now based at the Recreation Ground, Pulborough Cricket Club boasts numerous Senior and Junior (Colts) teams. Previously a member club of the Sussex Invitation League, Pulborough's 1st and 2nd Elevens were invited to join the Sussex Cricket League ("the county league") from the 2004 season. A 3rd League XI plays in the West Sussex League, home matches being played nearby at Watersfield. Pulborough was a founder member of the North West Sussex Colts Cricket League (now known as the iDentilam League) in 1987, when it became apparent that schools were not providing adequate cricketing opportunities to local youth. Various age-groups (Under 9s, 10s, 12s, 14s and 16s) now provide ample opportunity to develop cricket skills, played in a competitive environment and ultimately secure the long term future of the club. The club also provides a mechanism for younger players to progress into senior cricket, with two non-league senior teams playing matches on Sunday afternoons. In 2006, the Sussex Cricket Board recognised the club's efforts towards youth sport, and awarded it ECB 'Focus Club' status. In 2008, the Club launches a junior girls team, thereby continuing the club's ongoing progressive and ambitious plans.

urrounding area

Nearby is the home of the RSPB Nature Reserve Pulborough Brooks, where a wide variety of birdlife can be viewed from a number of professionally constructed hides and with an informative Visitors Centre.

There are a number of small hamlets near Pulborough reminiscent of a bygone age. Hardham (to the south) has a small church dedicated to St Botolph, with some of the oldest surviving wall paintings in the country including an image of St George slaying a dragon.

Murder victim Sarah Payne's body was found in a field near Pulborough on 17 July 2000; she had gone missing from Kingston Gorse, a village some convert|15|mi|km away near Littlehampton, on 1 July. Roy Whiting was found guilty of her murder on 12 December 2001 and sentenced to life imprisonment.

External links

* [http://www.pulboroughas.com/ Pulborough Angling Society]
* [http://www.pulboroughcc.play-cricket.com/ Pulborough Cricket Club]
* [http://www.pulboroughparishcouncil.gov.uk/ Pulborough Parish Council]
* [http://www.rspb.org.uk/reserves/guide/p/pulboroughbrooks RSPB Pulborough Wildbrooks]
* [http://www.pulboroughrfc.co.uk Pulborough RFC]