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Penhurst
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(Beautiful yet Remote)
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General Details
Penhurst lies off all the main roads in one of the most rural areas
in East Sussex. It is accessible from the B2096 Heathfield to Battle
and the B2204 Battle to Herstmonceux roads, but the roads to the
village are barely wide enough for one car, so take great care
if you do go to visit.
Near to Ashburnham and Penhurst at Creep Wood is an old earthworks
probably dating from Pre-Saxon times, the site is about 250 metres long.
It is believed that this may be the lost town of Mercredsburn ,
which was conquered by the Saxon Aella in 491AD, just before Pevensey
(Andredceaster or Anderida{ Roman }) was sacked. Towards the end of
the battle, some of the ancient britons escaped to Pevensey probably
by boat along the Ashbourne valley, which prompted Aella's attack.
This is a very old village, and is mentioned in the Domesday book.
Penehest was owned by Osborn for the Count of Eu, the area was half
a hide, in which there were two villeins, two ploughs, one acre of
meadow and wood for two hogs. It was worth at the time 15 shillings.
It is believed that this was one of the local villages badly damaged
by the Normans before the Battle of Hastings 1066 .
The village consists only of the 14th century Church, an Elizabethan
manor house built by William Relph, a local Ironmaster , a few farm
buildings and a duck pond.
From the late 1700's the Ashburnham family took ownership of the manor.
In the manor house are some of the last firebacks cast at the nearby
Ashburnham forge which closed in the early 1800's.
The rectory was next to the church, but in 1811 the church was joined
with the parish of Ashburnham, and the rectory moved there.
In the churchyard lies the grave of Harry H Corbett, of Steptoe
and Son (an early BBC Comedy) fame, who lived in nearby Ashburnham .
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Services
 Penhurst has only the church to provide Sunday services.
The nearest other services can be obtained from Battle about
3 miles to the East. Busses can be caught at Netherfield
and Brightling a few miles away to the north.
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