Pictures of South Harting

About South Harting

On a misty morning there is something quite magical about the view of the slender spire of the church of St.Mary and St.Gabriel as it rises above the wooded farmland surrounding the village of West Hartington. There are three Hartington villages, South, West and East, and of them all South Hartington reflects perfectly, the idyllic Downland village. The church is a spacious building with a cool serenity, amongst its treasures is a fine war memorial by Eric Gill, it is certainly a church worthy of more than a second glance.

The main village street is thronged with exquisite old properties, some of brick, some tile hung, and some are built of Sussex clunch - a beautiful building material of soft limestone. Interestingly, what remains of the village stocks and whipping post can still be seen in the village. As befits such a pleasant little place, there is a fairly sedate atmosphere, this becomes more lively when the village hosts its annual events. There is a Bank Holiday Parade usually held on what was once called Whit Monday and when the village holds it annual fete, the village street is closed off and decked with bunting. Colourful stalls are placed in the main street and at other vantage points, and the church is made more beautiful with huge displays of flowers. It is a lively affair, evocative of a more gentle by-gone age.

It was in this treasured part of West Sussex that writer Anthony Trollope came to spend what were to be the last years of his life. The literary giant, took a 17 year lease on Hartington Grange in 1880, sadly his experience of the area was all too short, he died in 1882.

With rolling downland, and glorious wooded places, there are opportunities here for wonderful country walks where on a lovely summers morning you can be alone with the sound of silence, the singing of birds and the rustle of leaves as squirrel's and other tiny creatures scamper about. In the evening you can find good company in pleasant country inns, serving good Sussex ale and tasty food.

The village with its close proximity to magnificent Uppark House and The Queen Elizabeth Country Park, makes the perfect choice for a quiet weekend away from the demands of every day life.