Etchingham
Etchingham (population 806) is a town as well as civil church in the Rother area of East Sussex in southerly England. The town is located approximately 15 miles (24 kilometres) southeast of Royal Tunbridge Wells in Kent and 13 miles (21 kilometres) northwest of Hastings, on the A265, half a mile west of its joint with the A21. Etchingham railway station is on the Hastings Line to London Charing Cross and also Cannon Street. Etchingham was a manor a long period of time before the Norman conquest of 1066; hereafter time the mansion was taken over by the Normans. In 1166 it was entrusted to the de Achyngham (Etchingham) family members, who were popular landowners of the time. The Etchingham family members papers document that William was so delighted with his right-hand man that he offered him the land now known as Etchingham. The moated manor house, long since knocked down, stood at the point now occupied by the London to Hastings train line. Several of the stone from the manor was most likely used in the building of the terminal structures. There is one tale that a fantastic bell lay at the end of the moat bordering the church and mansion, and that it would certainly never be seen up until 6 yoke of white oxen were given drag it up. Centuries have actually passed by, the moat is long gone and no bell has emerged. The 14th-century church was originally constructed within the grounds of the estate; proof of the moat can still be seen.
