Billingshurst
The town of Billingshurst is located eight miles
west of Hosham and straddles the historic Roman road called
Stane Street. It's high street sits on one of the longest
straight roads in Sussex and the coaching inn is one of
the oldest buildings in the town.
There is only an obscure entry in the Domesday Book relating
to Billingshurst. The earliest document record appears
to be from around the 1100’s. The document is witnessed
by ‘Sir G. Vicar of Billingshurst’. The document being
a grant of land from Matilda of Watersfield to Richard
of Sperra. This document is but one of many concerning
the town.
The name Billingshurst derives from the usual meaning
of ‘hurst’ being a wooded hill and the ‘Billings’ being
a name. In this case, the name is thought to have come
from the fact that the territory belonged to Billingas.
The name developed from Billingas hyrst to Bellingesherst
by 1203 and 50 years later became Billyngeshurst.
Some are convinced that Billingshurst is linked with
Billingsgate in London. The Roman road from Chichester
to London which runs through Billingshurst and reaches
to Billingsgate is said to have been built by the tribe’s
leader, Billa. Then a part of the Billingas tribe settled
near the site of the gate. Others believe that the name
is associated in some way with the Romans and a Roman
General thought to have built Stane Street, which probably
brought about the very existence of Billingshurst. It
was this highway which from the earliest days brought
prosperity to the area. With the arrival of the stage
coach and better road construction techniques, it became
a stopping off point and buildings such as the King’s
Head offered good accommodation for both the weary traveller
as well as the coachman and his horses. The King’s Arms
(in Billingshurst High Street) is approximately 400 years
old and is a timber-framed building. It has had several
modernisations over the years, for example the modern
frontage and the roof being raised to facilitate another
storey. It was used in its capacity for travellers in
conjunction with The White Horse Inn .
Ye Olde Six Bells offers a stunning sight along Billingshurst
High Street. The building dates back to the 16th century,
it has since had a very varied history. Some uses of this
fine old building being a yeoman farm in 1530, a coaching
house, tannery in 1830 and brewery in 1851.
The Railway Hotel, as with many public houses of this
name, was built with the arrival of the railroad in 1859
– although documentation suggests that the railroad was
started in 1833. In 1862 it was listed as ‘Station Inn’
and licensed to one William Harsant. By 1898 it was also
licensed to let horses and also ran a coal merchant’s
business.
There were two windmills in Billingshurst. Hammond’s
Mill, built for Richard Chennell by J Streeter in 1825.
In 1841 it is recorded as East Mill when it was run by
a Mr Sprinks who also worked another mill in the village.
In 1895 the sweeps were badly damaged whilst in the charge
of an apprentice and was blown down by a gale in 1906.
By 1920 the smock had gone and the base used as a store.
The other mill which was behind the Six Bells, was burned
down on 5th November 1852.
The Unitarian Church in the High Street is apparently
one of the oldest chapels in the South East of England.
Having been built in 1754, in 1880 an open-air baptistry
was made into a library where children had their lessons
for there was no village school.
Billingshurst had its share of Turnpike Gates. On the
road to Horsham there was one after Five Oaks, one at
Lyons Corner and one this side of Broadbridge Heath. Worthing
always having been famous for its fishing, used to deliver
fish to Billingshurst. The fish were transported on a
cart pulled by four dogs !
