Hooe, East Sussex

Hooe is a small village and civil parish in East Sussex’s Wealden District, situated about two miles north-west of Bexhill. The main population centre, known as Hooe Common, lies to the north of the parish church dedicated to St Oswald. The village’s name derives from the Saxon word for ridge, reflecting its position between two former arms of the sea now known as the Hooe Levels.

Historically, Hooe played a role in the smuggling trade during the 18th century, with local Romney sheep wool traded or smuggled for luxury goods like brandy and tobacco. The nearby River Ashbourne once served as a shipping route for iron products from the Wealden iron works. An abandoned medieval village, Northeye, lies on the Hooe Levels and may have been deserted during the plague.

Landmarks include the site of a former windmill near the recreation ground and King Henry VIII’s hunting lodge at Court Lodge, where he stayed with Katherine Howard before their marriage. Part of the Pevensey Levels, a Site of Special Scientific Interest, falls within the parish. This area is noted for its wetland flora and fauna and is home to the distinctive Sussex cattle, known for thriving on the mineral-rich marshland.

Hooe has a population of 435, with a higher proportion of elderly residents compared to the national average. Public transport is limited, with Renown Coaches operating a couple of weekday bus services connecting Hooe to Bexhill and a school bus route to Claverham.