East Sussex Town Guide

Tourist Guide for Alfriston East Sussex

- History of Alfriston


Alfriston has been inhabited at least since Saxon times evidence to support this was found when the Sanctuary’s foundations (a house located to the north of the village) were excavated - around one hundred and fifty graves from Anglo-Saxon times were found.

Alfriston is situated on ground adjacent to the Cuckmere River. It has grown in size since the Norman times

Aftifacts from the Village are located in the Barbican House Museum in Lewes.

The Domesday Book lists the village a being named as Alvriceston.

The construction of the parish church of St. Andrew was started about 1360, it is built on a mound in a bend in the river to the East of the village.

The position of the village made it ideal as a centre for smuggling as it is close to the Cuckmere River, with the waterway leading down to Cuckmere Haven.

In the mid nineteenth century, the most famous smuggler was Stanton Collins, (he and his men were known as the Alfriston Gang) the landlord of the “Market Cross Inne”, otherwise known as “The Smugglers”. The Inn is full of secret hiding places, false walls and doors that lead nowhere.

The grand Fete is held once a year on The Tye. People come from all over the area to enjoy it. There are traditional games such as tilting the bucket, where everyone hopes the contestants will get soaked, bowling for a joint of pork, guessing the weight of a cake, and darts. Stalls sell local home made cakes and there are raffles for various bottles.



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