Balcombe, West Sussex

infobox UK place
country = England
official_name= Balcombe
static_

static_image_caption= Balcombe village centre
population = 1,765 (2001 Census)
civil_parish= Balcombe
shire_district= Mid Sussex
shire_county = West Sussex
region= South East England

constituency_westminster= Mid Sussex
post_town= REDHILLpostcode_district= RH17
postcode_area=RH
dial_code= 01444
os_grid_reference= TQ306302
latitude= 51.0567

longitude= -0.1371

Balcombe is a village and civil parish in the Mid Sussex district of West Sussex, England, approximately half way between London and the coastal city of Brighton.

It is possible that the name Balcombe means "Mining Place Camp". Bal is a Cornish word meaning a mining place as in Bal Maidens, so it is possible that the same word existed in Ancient British Celtic. Although Coombe or Combe can mean a valley it can also come from the Roman "camp" [Bruce Mitchel - An Invitation to Old English and Angelo-Saxon.pg 186] So possibly from its name Balcombe could have once been a Romano-British mining settlement.

South of Balcombe on the London to Brighton railway line is the Ouse Valley Viaduct. Built 1839-41 it is 100 feet high and 500 yards long.

The village is famous for a series of murals about World War One in its Victory Hall. These murals were featured on a television programme about WW1 in 2005.

Rail Transport

The village has a railway station which lies just north of Haywards Heath on the Brighton Main Line. Balcombe railway station helped grow a predominantly farming community into one of the popular London commuter villages. Balcombe railway station offers direct services to London.

References

External links

* [http://www.balcombevillage.co.uk www.balcombevillage.co.uk] Balcombe Village Community Website
* [http://www.victoryplayers.co.uk www.victoryplayers.co.uk] The Victory Players Balcombe - Drama Group