Burwash, East Sussex

Infobox UK place
official_name=Burwash
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 =30.1
population=2,511 (2007)
2,525 (2001 census)
population_density= Pop density mi2 to km2|217|precision=0|abbr=yes
os_grid_reference=TQ675247
latitude=51.00
longitude=0.39
post_town=ETCHINGHAM
postcode_area=TN
postcode_district=TN19
dial_code=01435
constituency_westminster=Bexhill and Battle
london_distance=convert|41|mi NNW
shire_district=Rother
shire_county=East Sussex

Burwash is a village and civil parish in the Rother District of East Sussex, England. It is located five miles (8 km) south-west of Hurst Green, on the A265 road, and on the River Dudwell, a tributary of the River Rother.

Its main claim to fame is that for half of his life Rudyard Kipling (1865–1936) lived in the village at Bateman's. Kipling used the house's setting and the wider local area as the setting for many of his stories in "Puck of Pook's Hill" (1907).

History

Smuggling took place here in the 18th century (several smugglers' graves can still be seen in the churchyard of St Bartholomew's).Fact|date=May 2008 It was one of the villages involved in the Wealden iron industry.

Landmarks

The High Street of Burwash has been designated a Conservation area by Rother district council. [cite web |url=http://www.rother.gov.uk/index.cfm?articleid=1404 |title=Conservation Areas|accessdate=2008-05-29|publisher=Rother district council] The intention is to preserve the character of the village by strictly controlling building within the area. Additionally, the buildings along the High Street have been given listed building status by English Heritage, including a garden wall. [IoE|292519]

There is a Site of Special Scientific Interest within the parish—Dallington Forest, an area of ancient woodland. Its interest lies in a nationally rare habitat as a result of a steep-sided stream flowing through the site. [cite web|url=http://www.english-nature.org.uk/special/sssi/sssi_details.cfm?sssi_id=1002152 |title=Natural England - SSSI|accessdate=2008-10-03|publisher=English Nature]

Governance

The lowest level of government is the Burwash parish council, which meets once a month. The parish council is responsible for local amenities such as the provision of litter bins, bus shelters and allotments. They also provide a voice into the district council meetings. The parish council comprises thirteen councillors with elections being held every four years. The May 2007 election was uncontested. [cite web |url=http://www.rother.gov.uk/media/pdf/l/l/NOTICE_OF_ELECTION_2007_Town___Parish_Councils.pdf |title=Notice of Election |accessdate=2008-05-29|last=Stevens |first=Derek |date=2007-03-19|format=pdf |publisher=Rother District Council]

Rother District council provides the next level of government with services such as refuse collection, planning consent, leisure amenities and council tax collection. Burwash lies within the Darwell ward, which provides two councillors. The May 2007 election returned one Conservative and one independent councillor.

East Sussex county council is the third tier of government, providing education, libraries and highway maintenance. Burwash falls within the Rother North West ward. Anthony (John) Barnes, Conservative, was elected in the May 2005 election with 56.3% of the vote.

The UK Parliament constituency for Burwash is Bexhill and Battle. Gregory Barker was re-elected in the May 2005 election.

At European level, Burwash 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 |url=http://www.europarl.org.uk/uk_meps/MembersMain.htm |title=UK MEP's |accessdate=2007-01-25 |publisher=UK Office of the European Parliament]

Notable people

The cricketer Albert Relf (1874–1937) was born here, and The Who frontman Roger Daltrey maintains a country estate in the Burwash area.

References