Welcome to Historic Rottingdean - Sussex, UK - Artistic Welcome Signs on Waymarking.com

This welcome sign provides a picturesque view from the historic windmill across the green fields and the rooftops of the village of Rottingdean, to the south coast of England. The setting offers a view of the many sailboats in the channel, various seagulls in flight, and of course, the obligatory clouds. A view that, unfortunately, we were unable to enjoy as the area was socked in with fog - surprise!

Rottingdean
"Lying within the busy Brighton district, picturesque Rottingdean lies off the busy tourist trail. This is a shame. A small picture-perfect town with a historic past, visitors will also be warmed by the friendliness of the locals. The main attractions in the town are Kipling's Garden, Rottingdean Windmill, St. Margaret's Church with its beautiful stained glass windows and some traditional old inns which were once frequented by smugglers in the area.

Rottingdean developed in the Saxon age around the duck pond opposite the church. A small farming community, the town's name translates as 'the valley of Rota's people'. After the Battle of Hastings, Rottingdean was given as a reward to William de Warrenne, the Lord of Lewes in acknowledgement of his support to William the Conqueror. Due to the poor quality of the roads, the farming community at Rottingdean remained in relative isolation for centuries. At the end of the 19th century, writers and artists in the search for peace and privacy began to settle here. It's an attraction which remains true in the 21st century. Life seems to move slowly here and your encounters with the locals are sure to be friendly and rewarding.

The remoteness of the town combined with its proximity to the sea made Rottingdean a popular spot with smugglers. The illegal merchandise of items such as tea, lace, wine and spirits were hidden anywhere and everywhere. Stashed in barns, tunnels and even churches, the goods waited transportation to the London black market. These times were romanticised in Kipling's, A Smugglers' Song, “Five and twenty ponies/Trotting through the dark/Brandy for the Parson/Baccy for the Clark.” You can still visit some of the smugglers' favourite haunts. The Black Horse is an inn reputed to have been the smugglers' meeting place. Alternatively, there's the Whipping Post House, where the infamous Captain Dunk lived. A butcher by day and a smuggler by night he ironically lived in front of the whipping post, stocks and ducking stool.

Rottingdean Windmill
Erected in 1802, this black smock windmill is a landmark which acts as a beacon pointing visitors towards Rottingdean. The mill was operated last in the 1880s and now peacefully overlooks the Rottingdean Golf Course. The Rottingdean Windmill is open to the public monthly on every third Sunday." (visit link)

Relevant Website: [Web Link]

Visit Instructions:
Please give the date and brief account of your visit - something more than, "Drove past this today." You are encouraged to add a new photo, but this is not mandatory. If you can add any further information about the sign or community, that would be appreciated.

Recent Visits/Logs:

Date Logged Log   08/09/2012 Chasing Blue Sky visited it