England & Wales Hardwicke Marriage Index
Marriages 1754 - 1837
Edburton St Andrew

The Parish

The parish of Edburton lies in southern Susses roughly 9 miles northwest of the coastal resort of Brighton. Edburton sits tucked in at the foot of the South Downs a little over a mile east of the A2037 road, a linking road connecting the A283 (Shoreham to Pulborough) road with the A281 (Brighton to Henfield) road. Whilst the hamlet of Edburton grants its name to the parish it is merely a cluster of cottages gathered around the church, a half mile further east lies Fulking, the larger settlement in the parish. Both Edburton and Fulking sit below one of the steepest sections of the South Downs escarpment rearing up above, to the east sits the erosion feature of the Devil's Dyke where tremendous forces gouged a defile into the escarpment in peri-glacial times. The parish has a mixture of farming types, sheep graze the slopes of the chalk whilst in the Wealden portion arable is intermixed with woodland management. Edburton is drained, initially northwards and then westward, by small brooks which head into the River Adur, the latter carves through the chalk to reach the English Channel at Shoreham by Sea. Edburton is sited at 50 metres above the sea with Fulking 10 metres higher, the Downs, capped by the South Downs Wat National Trail, rise immediately from the front door of the church to 216 metres in Truleigh Hill. Covering just over 2,200 acres Edburton parish was larger than some Sussex parishes but not exceptionally so, that acreage would have supported a population of around 300 parishioners. Whilst Edburton is not mentioned in Domesday Book two manor within the parish are so, Fulking held by William de Warenne offered merely 2 ploughs whilst Truleigh held by William de Braose similarly held 2 ploughs but also had a pair of mills.

The Church

St Andrew's church sits to the north of the Edburton Road, the main east to west running lane through the hamlet of Edburton. The church is a rare example of one left to its own devices since it was built (or perhaps rebuilt) in the 13th century. Lancet styled windows characteristic of the Early English Gothic period abound although these are of a late version so perhaps might be styled Transitional. The main body of nave and chancel with a southern transept was certainly completed by c1300. Early in the 14th century a northern chapel, dated to 1320 by Pevsner, was added also in the Early English Gothic style yet 50 years behind the fashion for the times. Late in the 14th century or early in the 15th the tower arch was replaced in a Perpendicular style but there matters rested until the usual Victorian restoration, described by Pevsner as "harsh", took place, here in 1878. A narrow and rather shady lane leads to the church northwards from Edburton Road but widens into a roughly surfaced turning and parking area outside the gates. Metal gates and a post & rail fence give entry to a churchyard which will create many issues with trees for the photographer with most of the southern aspects impeded or lost, a challenge on a sunny day.