Alciston

Infobox UK place
official_name=Alciston
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 =7.0
population=146 (2007-Parish)
population_density=Pop density mi2 to km2|44|precision=0|abbr=yes
os_grid_reference=TQ506055
latitude=50.83
longitude=00.14
post_town=POLEGATE
postcode_area=BN
postcode_district=BN26
dial_code=01323
constituency_westminster=Lewes
london_distance=convert|48|mi NNW
shire_district=Wealden
shire_county=East Sussex
website=

Alciston is a village and civil parish in the Wealden district of East Sussex, England. It is inland, just off the A27 road, about ten miles (16 km) north-west of Eastbourne and seven miles (11 km) east of Lewes. The ecclesiastical parish is linked with that of Selmeston and Berwick.

Saxon in origin, its name was then "Aelfsige"; it is mentioned in the Domesday Book. The present 14th century church, of unknown dedication, is built of chalk from the nearby South Downs. [cite web |url=http://www.sacredsussex.org/East%20Sussex/Alciston_Parish_Church.htm |title=Alciston Parish Church|accessdate=2008-04-20|work=Sacred Sussex|publisher=Diocese of Chichester] There is a large medieval tithe barn in the village. It is convert|170|ft long and is the largest in Sussex.

Every Good Friday, the road outside the Rose Cottage Inn is closed for the villagers to take part in a traditional skipping contest. [cite web |url=http://www.therosecottageinn.co.uk/morris/morris.htm |title=Morris Dancers at Rose Cottage Inn South Downs Alciston |accessdate=2008-04-24|publisher=Rose Cottage Inn ]

Governance

The lowest tier of government for Alciston is a Parish meeting. [cite web |url=http://www.wealden.gov.uk/moderngov/mgParishCouncilDetails.asp?ID=315&J=1 |title=Alciston Parish Meeting |accessdate= 2008-04-20|publisher=Wealden District Council] Instead of voting for representatives, a small parish may hold a community meeting twice a year to which all the electors may attend and vote on issues.

Wealden District Council is the next tier of government, for which Alciston is part of the Alfriston ward, cite web |url=http://www.wealden.gov.uk/council/electoral_services/Results/documents/DistrictResults2007.PDF |title=District Council Elections |accessdate=2008-04-19|date=2007-05-03 |format=PDF |publisher=Wealden District Council|pages=pp.1] along with Alfriston, Berwick, Chalvington & Ripe, Deanland and Selmeston. The ward returns one councillor, who was a Conservative in the May 2007 election.

Alciston is represented at the East Sussex County Council as part of the Alfriston, East Hoathly & Hellingly Ward. The May 2005 election returned the Conservative Councillor John Garvican.cite web | title = County Council Election, 5 May 2005 | publisher = East Sussex County Council | url = http://www.eastsussex.gov.uk/yourcouncil/localelections/electionmap/default.aspx | accessdate = 2008-01-06

The parliamentary district for Alciston is Lewes. The general election in May 2005 elected the Liberal Democrats MP Norman Baker.

At European level, Alciston is represented by the South-East region, which holds ten seats in the European Parliament. The June 2004 election returned 4 Conservatives, 2 Liberal Democrats, 2 UK Independence, 1 Labour and 1 Green, none of whom live in East Sussex.cite web | title = UK MEP's | publisher = UK Office of the European Parliament | url = http://www.europarl.org.uk/uk_meps/MembersMain.htm | accessdate = 2007-01-25

References