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Sedlescombe
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(Best gunpowder in Europe)
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General Details
Sedlescombe is a very pretty village, just off the A21
between Hastings and Hawkhurst . It contains many
picturesque 15th,16th and 17th century half-timbered
houses, surrounding the village green.
The Battle of Hastings was fought 3 miles from
Sedlescombe , and the village suffered badly at the
hands of the Norman maurauders. After the battle
many landowners were forced to pay rents to Battle
Abbey.
An iron pot was found in Sedlescombe in 1876, it
contained some 3,000 coins from the reign of King
Edward the Confessor( 1042 - 1066 ). They were thought to
have been the treasure of King Harold , hidden during
the Battle of Hastings . Some of these coins can be
seen in the Hastings Museum.
During the 17th century, Sedlescombe was one part of
a great industrial area, it was an important location
for the Sussex iron industry. Iron has been made in
Sedlescombe since Roman times. The road that runs
through the village follows the route of the original
Roman road. It was built to link various Sussex
iron-workings to London.
At the rear of the Bridge Garage there used to be a
water mill, which ground corn until 1750. It was then
used to make gunpowder, Sedlescombe powder was reputedly
the best in Europe. It was a risky industry, and in
December 1764, four men died following an explosion
in the sifting house.
The river Brede runs through Sedlescombe , and the
bridge crossing it was built in the 18th century,
by local builder John Catt.
Sedlescombe is the home of the famous Pestalozzi
Childrens Village. It was founded in 1959, on the site
of 'Oaklands', the former home of Hercules Brabazon,
who was a popular village squire and painter, his
initials can be seen on some of the buildings in the
village.
The Pestalozzi Village houses over 100 children from
poor areas of Nepal, Thailand, Zambia, Jordan, India
and Tibet. They come to England to learn practical
and academic skills, and then return to share their
acquired knowledge. The village is named after Swiss
educationalist Johann Heinrich Pestalozzi, who in his
lifetime set up several rural orphanages for children
of different nationalities.
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Services
 Sedlescombe has limited services.
An infrequent bus service from Hastings to
Hawkhurst passes through the village.
The trains can be caught in Battle about 4
miles west providing a half hourly service
to London.
The nearest shopping is in Battle about 4 miles
to the west.
The nearest large town is Hastings , about 6 miles
south.
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Views
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The village green at 
