QHWest Chiltington
West Chiltington
A village with a past
and a future
West Chiltington is slightly off the beaten track, reached by one of those wonderfully wiggly lanes that already feels like an escape.It’s picture-postcard pretty and has a Grade1 listed 12th century church with some incredible medieval wall paintings. Take a stroll around the village and you’ll see curious street and property names like Smock Alley, Hobjohns, The Hollow and Picketty, along with 17th-century stocks and even a whipping post. There’s also a small village museum and a smock windmill (now a private home).
The village is surrounded by beautiful countryside, great country walks ,wildlife, award-winning vineyards and in the heart of the village is a friendly, bustling, proper community pub, The Queens Head .
Adapted with kind permission from an editorial by Sussex Exclusive ​
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The Parish Church of St Mary is a Grade 1 listed building of exceptional architectural and historic interest which has served the village for centuries.Situated at the very heart of the village it was probably built on the site of an earlier Saxon Church and constructed between 1100 and 1150, with the Chantry Chapel being built in the 14th century and the spire added in 1602.The most impressive features of the church are the wall paintings which were uncovered in 1882, the majority being from the 12th & 13th centuries.
Meeten's Mill is a grade II listed smock mill which was originally built at nearby Monkmead and moved to West Chiltington in 1838.It first appeared on the West Chiltington tithe map of 1840 and was a working mill until 1922 when it was first converted into a residential property.
The Mill's most recent and immaculate renovation was carried out by the current owners over a period of 10 years and was clearly a labour of love.
Monkmead Woods are located along the River Chilt, a tributary of the River Arun. The site is made up of Willow, Alder and Birch woodland, heathland and bog habitats. These mixed habitats create a mosaic of wet, damp and dry areas rich in biodiversity.
There is a small car park off Monkmead Lane with a public bridleway and several permissive footpaths through the woodland.
Vineyards in Sussex are located on the same band of chalk that runs under the English Channel from the Champagne producing region of France. This type of soil, combined with a cool climate, is perfect for the production of high-quality sparkling wine grapes. Hence the ever increasing number of Vineyards in our region and West Chiltington is pretty much surrounded by them.
Whilst names such as Nyetimber and Bolney spring to mind, our particular favourite is a very near neighbour, the vineyard at Moralee Farm. Moralee Wines produce small-batch, vintage and award winning wines using traditional methods with a focus on quality over volume.
