Rottingdean History 1 click for page 2
Rottingdean developed as a small community around the pond in Saxon times and its name means 'the village of Rota's people'. The doomsday book records that the land was given to William de Warrenne the Lord of Lewes as a reward for his support at the Battle of Hastings. For centuries it remained an isolated rural farming settlement and only became accessible as the coastal road from Brighton improved. Towards the end of the 19th century it offered seclusion and inspiration for many artists, writers and public figures, factors which influence both residents and visitors to this day.The main attractions in the town are Kipling's Garden, Rottingdean Windmill, St. Margaret's Church with its beautiful stained glass windows and some traditional old inns which were once frequented by smugglers in the area.
St Margarets church
Rottingdean is an ancient Anglo-Saxon settlement and there may have been an earlier church on this site as is so often the case with these ancient villages. But most of this was likely to have been swept away in the years following the Norman conquest, when William de Warrenne, to whom the village of Rottingdean and adjoing land was granted, gave funds to rebuild the church in flint and Caen sandstone. About the year AD 1100 a tower was erected on the present Saxon chancel, where the present tower still stands, and constructed a new chancel beyond it, and two transepts of similar dimensions. The rebuilding work of William de Warenne lasted less than a century for by about AD 1200 the tower had collapsed, bringing down with it substantial parts of the nave and chancel. The tower was immediately rebuilt - but this time in the Early English style. It's massive walls, over four feet feet thick, flanked by strong buttresses, bear testament to the skill of these Early English builders for the tower has stood the test of time these 800 years.
The seven stainend glass windows in the chancel and tower are one of the chief glories of the church. They were made by William Morris & Co from the designs of Sir Edward Burne-Jones and are generally recognised to be some of their finest work. The three light east window in the chancel, was erected in 1893, to commemorate the marriage of Burne Jones's daughter, Margaret. The Burne -Jones lived across the green from the church and were frequent visitors to the church. The window represents the three archangels, Gabriel, Michael and Raphael. Underneath are panels representing the Annunciation; Michael slaying the dragon and Raphael the guardian of little children.
Smugglers Village
This is an old smuggler's village. During the eighteenth and early nineteenth century, smuggling was a way of life on this coast. Stories abound of ships quietly mooring offshore in the early hours of the morning and delivering cargoes of barrels of brandy, packs of tobacco and yards of French lace which were either floated or rowed ashore, of wreckers luring ships onto the hostile shore when their own smuggling activities were temporarily in decline, of running fights and ambushes with the Revenue Officers. Bouts of drunkeness on the beach were also not unknown, especially when the barrels of spirits had to be quickly got rid of!
Once
on the beach it was customary for the contraband to be rapidly
transferred to the honeycomb of cellars existing underneath the high
street or, if danger was nearby, to the backs of ponies for a journey
inland across the downs. The Reverend Thomas Hooker, owner of a
particularly fast grey mare, was reputed to have been involved in the
"free trade". It is said that a stranger rode into the village one night
when a big landing was being dealt with on the beach.
The
man was appalled by the lawlessness in front of him and he asked a
villager whether there was no magistrate or justice of the peace to
maintain order here.
"No."
"Then where is the vicar who might serve to uphold the law?"
"He's over there, holding the lantern."
