Wartling, East Sussex

Wartling is a village in East Sussex, nestled between Bexhill and Hailsham at the northern edge of the Pevensey Levels. The parish also includes Boreham Street, located just over a mile to the north-east along the A271 road. The village’s history stretches back to at least the Domesday Book of 1086, which records a chapel on the site.

The parish church of St Mary Magdalene, a Grade I listed building, dates largely from the 13th century and likely stands on the original chapel’s site. Architectural features span several centuries, with the chancel and nave from the 13th century, a 14th-century north aisle and bell turret, and a south aisle probably added in the 15th century. Notable interior details include a stained glass window of St Christopher by Hardman & Co from 1938 and a carved heron lectern from 1979.

Wartling’s past is also marked by its role in the iron industry during the 17th and 18th centuries, a common thread among Wealden villages. The village has a long-standing connection with herons, which have nested in the area for over a century, reflected in the church’s carved lectern.

Among notable figures associated with Wartling are Mascal Gyles, a 17th-century vicar known for his religious polemics, and H.J.C. Turner, born at the Wartling Rectory, who played in the first rugby international in 1871. The village’s heritage is closely tied to its ecclesiastical and industrial history, offering a glimpse into rural life in East Sussex through the centuries.