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Wills Cafe - serving food and drinks
and selling sandwiches and
cakes etc |
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Playground |
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Frewen College |
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Rose and Crown Public House
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General
Northiam village, sitting on the southerly bank of the Rother river valley, has one of the longest high streets in the county, stretching for the best part of a mile. At the eastern end is “old” Northiam clustered around the small village green, St. Mary’s Church and adjacent Frewen College, with later development extending the village to the west towards the Kent and East Sussex Steam railway line.
Services
Four bus routes pass through Northiam which connect Northiam with Rye, Tenterden and Hastings. Main line rail services to London are via Battle or Robertsbridge stations, both on the Hastings line and about 8 miles from Northiam. Time to London, Charing Cross from Battle is approximately 90 minutes, from Robertsbridge 85 minutes. The best rail connection to Ashford is via the local train service running from Rye, time to Ashford 22 minutes. By road Hastings is 15 minutes away and a car journey to Rye will take about 10 minutes.
Schools
Northiam C of E Primary School, Main Street, (Tel: 01797-252141/253020, and school website www.northiamcep.e-sussex.sch.uk ), takes pupils of the age group 5 to 11 years. Total pupil numbers are about 60, and the catchment is the immediate area of East Sussex. The curriculum is based on a 3 term school year. Secondary schooling is outside the village at Homewood School, Tenterden, Rye Community College or Robertsbridge Community College.
In addition there is Frewen College set in the striking Jacobean Brickwall House, Main Street, one of the country’s leading schools catering for children with dyslexia or related difficulties such as dyspraxia or Aspergers Syndrome, (Tel: 01797-252494, www.frewencollege.co.uk ). Co-educational, pupil ages range from 7 to 17 years, both day and boarding.
There is a Local Produce and Craft Market held in the Village Hall in Frewen Close on the last Friday of each month, from 9 a.m. until noon, (Tel: 01797-252568 for details).
Opposite the Village Green on Main Street, may be found Northiam DIY & Garden Shop (Tel: 01797-252162), open Monday to Friday from 8 a.m. to 5 p.m., Saturdays until 4 p.m., closed Sundays.
Pets are well catered for in Northiam, with Badgers Oak Veterinary Clinic (Tel: 01797-252321) at one end of the village, Petquest (Tel: 01797-252234) at the other and the Blue Cross animal hospital (Tel: 01797-252243) in the middle.
There is a large recycling facility in the main car park in the centre of the village at the junction of Main Street and Fullers Lane. Coincidentally, this car park also serves the large Doctor’s Surgery and Medical Centre (Tel: 01797-252140). Northiam Dental practice is just across the road.
Recreation & What to do
The Manor of Great Dixter, built in the mid-15th Century, and its attached Gardens was the home of the Lloyd family for almost 100 years. The last resident family member, the renowned gardener and plantsman Christopher Lloyd, died in 2006. Since his death the Trust have continued to open the house and extensive gardens to the public from early April to late October, Tuesdays to Sundays from 11 a.m. to 5 p.m. (gardens) and 2 p.m. to 5 p.m. (house).Contact the house on Tel: 01797-252878 for precise timing or log on to www.greatdixter.co.uk. The Nursery (Tel: 01797-253107), a must for all keen gardeners, is open all year round from 9 a.m. On a similar theme for gardeners is The Old Rose Nursery in Quickbourne Lane (off Beales Lane), which is open from 9am to 5pm: Tuesday to Saturday, (Tel: 01797-252680).
Just beyond the village boundary to the north the roadway crosses the Kent & East Sussex Railway preservation line which runs through from Tenterden to Bodiam, from Easter until October, with Santa Specials around Christmas. Northiam Station is situated by the level crossing, and from time to time refreshments are available at the station café. The railway can also be used to travel from Northiam Station to Bodiam Castle, the next stop down the line. Whilst in Station Road in the village, it is worth stopping for a moment to gawp at Smuggler’s Cottage, reputedly the smallest house in Sussex. For other family excursions there are boat trips at Newenden 5 minutes’ drive away (Tel: 01797-253838), the picturesque Cinque Port Town of Rye or the beach at Camber, 15 minutes’ drive away on the Rye road.
There is an impressive list of clubs and societies within Northiam, everything from Angling to Women’s Institute, the principal ones are as follows: Angling (Tel: 01797-224952), Bowls (the Club is located by the Recreation Fields and Children’s Playground on Main Street) (Tel: 01797-252952), Cricket (Tel: 01797-252392), Football (Tel: 01797-252365), Horticultural Society (Tel: 01797-253458), Scouts (Tel: 01797-253228), Women’s Institute (Tel: 01797-252984).
Northiam is still very much a traditional thriving village with its wide range of amenities, clubs and events.
If you have a business or club that you would like featured on this page please contact Matt Moloney.