Whatlington, East Sussex

Whatlington is a small village and civil parish in East Sussex, located seven miles north of Hastings and just off the A21 road. The village is split into two parts: one lies in a valley along the road from Battle, where the Norman parish church of St Mary Magdalene and the parish hall stand on either side of a stream. The other part is about a mile further along the A21, featuring a triangular village green in front of the Royal Oak pub and restaurant.

The parish church is notable for its yew tree, which stood until 1987 and was traditionally believed to be a thousand years old. Local legend suggests William the Conqueror used the tree to hang members of King Harold’s personal guard. The churchyard is also the resting place of Malcolm Muggeridge and his wife.

On the main road, a disused chapel has been repurposed for commercial use. Whatlington is also the birthplace of early feminist Barbara Bodichon, born in 1827.

Local governance is managed by the Whatlington parish council, which oversees amenities such as litter bins and bus shelters. The village falls within the Rother district and East Sussex county councils, and is part of the Bexhill and Battle parliamentary constituency.