Tourism
A variety of activities make this area suitable for a pleasant stay or just a days visit.
Attractions
Danny House – Red brick Elizabethan mansion
Jack & Jill Windmills – On the South Downs
Ditchling Common Country Park
Plumpton Racecourse
Ditchling Beacon Hill Fort
Transport
Road – The A273 staring at Pyecombe on the A23 to the south passes through Hassocks on its way to the A272 at Haywards Heath.
Rail – The village is served by a railway station which is on the London – Brighton line.
Brief History
The village’s roots stretch back far into prehistory, testified to by the discovery of Neolithic clay spoons and Stone Age flint tools. Bronze Age people also set up home in the area some 4,000 years ago, followed by the Romans nearly 2,000 years ago. A large Roman cemetery was discovered near what is now the Stonepound Crossroad. The Saxons decided to settle at nearby Clayton which became the site of St John the Baptist Church. The chancel arch of which is 900 years old, and the church houses medieval wall paintings of national importance. The arrival which made the most impact on the area came in the 1840s - the railway. The opening of Hassocks Gate as the station in 1841 heralded the beginning of the village as it is it today. This was followed by housing development in the centre to cater for commuters using the railway.
Famous People
Dame Vera Lynn – Singer and World War II entertainer
Sir Donald Sinden – Actor (stage, screen & TV)
Raymond Briggs – Author & graphic novelist (wrote “The Snowman, the cartoon film)
Jamie Theakston – TV & radio presenter
Jimmy Hill – Ex footballer & TV commentator
Gwyneth Powell – Actress, played Mrs McCluskey in “Grange Hill”
Approximate Population
The population of Hassocks is approximately 6800
Nearest Tourist Information Centre
Brighton & Hove
Bartholomew Square, Brighton, East Sussex BN1 1JA
Tel: 0906 7112255 (calls 50p per min)
Suggested Links
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