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Part of Alciston Court and farm with the tithe barn. Like the latter the dovecote was built in the 14th century but fell into disrepair but has recently been restored. Although on private land it is possible to get permission from the landowners to get a closer look at it. This was taken from the lane that runs through the village.
©Simon Carey
A view inside the barn. The western end nowadays contains silos.
©Simon Carey
Built in the 14th century by the then lords of the manor, Battle Abbey, the barn is 170 feet in length believed to be the longest in the country and is still a working barn 700 years after it was first built. When the monasteries were dissolved the manor at Alciston passed to the Gage family at Firle who are still lords of the manor today
©Simon Carey
Looking NE
©Janine Forbes
This is the western part of the barn which is shaped like an L and parts of which date back to the medieval period though the bulk comes from the 16th century. It is the largest barn in Sussex.
©Simon Carey
The manor house of Alciston which incorporates parts of the original grange of the Benedictine monks who were lords of the manor from Conquest to Dissolution. Parts of the building date back to the 14th century though it was heavily altered in the 18th and 19th centuries.
©Simon Carey
©nick macneill
The dovecote dates from the latter half of the 14th century and was built by the Benedictine monks of Battle Abbey who were lords of the manor. Of the 700 nesting boxes about 120 survive whilst the building itself has been partitioned with the southern portion converted into an outhouse whilst the northern part in view has partially collapsed and has lost a wall and its roof. Beyond is another legacy of the monks, the tithe barn, parts of which also dates back to the 14th century though much of the current structure is from the 16th. It is the largest barn in Sussex.
©Simon Carey
Dist:0.1km<br/>
©nick macneill
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©Michael FORD
Dist:0.1km<br/>It's possible to do a short circular route on the road past the ancient barn and back along this lovely little path.
©nick macneill
Dist:0.1km<br/>The hamlet is partly hidden by trees. In the distance across the Cuckmere valley is Windover Hill.
©Robin Webster
Dist:0.2km<br/>A late winter scene just to the south of the church path. Berwick church spire can bee seen to the right of the picture.
©nick macneill
Dist:0.2km<br/>The name of the field according to the 1843 tithe map. The ground drops on the right towards a spring and a couple of medieval fish stews which are concealed by the trees.
©Simon Carey
Dist:0.2km<br/>The name of the field according to the 1843 tithe map and a 1440 estate map. Its nomenclature derives from the site of the South Town of Alciston which lay to the right of the picture. That part of the village decayed and shrank from the 14th century onwards leaving only a handful of houses today south of the great Tithe Barn which can just be made out beyond the trees at the far end of the field. This area of land was also the least productive prior to modern periods and was farmed in common in strips but have now been amalgamted to form one great field.
©Simon Carey

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