Fairlight, Rother (1474). TQ8612. 3m ENE of Hastings

At over 500’ on Fairlight Down, the seaward end of the Battle Ridge. The high tower of the church (rebuilt 1845) provides a fine viewpoint. Popular coastal scenery (in borough of Hastings) of Fairlight Glen, Lovers’ Seat and gorse-clad Fire Hills, with sandstone cliffs up to 400’ high (NT). Fairlight Cove is a modern development 1m E.

Falmer, Lewes (165). TQ3508. 4m NE of Brighton

In the Downs on A27. Victorian neo-Norman Church. Village pond. Barn at Court Farm.

Fernhurst, Chichester (2880). SU8928. 3m S of Haslemere

Attractive village, with a small green, in the western Weald below Blackdown. The partly Norman Church (restored) incs an old font. Incs Kingsley Green (1½m N), on the N Greensand ridge, and Camelsdale (2½m NNW), on the infant R Wey near Haslemere (Surrey). Near Kingsley Green is the NT property of Marley Common, the viewpoint of Marley Heights, and Shottermill Ponds (two hammer-ponds). The corresponding S greensand ridge (Henley Down), across the valley, culminates in Telegraph Hill (2m SW, 676’).

Ferring, Arun (3969). TQ0902. 3m W of Worthing

Coastal village and resort with much recent growth. Church mostly E.E. Highdown Hill (1m N, 266’, NT), an isolated chalk ridge S of Downs settled from the Bronze Age, has an Iron Age hillfort, Saxon cemetery, and the tomb of a local miller (1793). Highdown Tower is a neo-Tudor house (c.1820/1900) on the SE slope. ٱHighdown Gardens.

Findon, Arun (1545). TQ1208. 4m NNW of Worthing

In the Findon Valley of the S Downs [sheep fair (C14 Sep)]. The early C18 Findon Place (W) was enlarged after 1786. The Norman/E.E. Church close by has a C13 screen, and a remarkable kingpost roof across both nave and aisle. Neolithic flint mines on Church Hill. Muntham Court (1m NW) was demolished 1961. Long Furlong, a fine stretch of downland road (A280) to the W.

Fishbourne, Chichester (Bosham/Chichester). SU 8404. 1m W of Chichester.

Old Fishbourne (1m W, in Bosham parish). ٱRoman Palace: site occupied soon after the Roman conquest; the palace itself, probably the residence of the Romans’ ally Cogidubnus, was begun after AD75, with four wings round a formal garden (reconstructed). Much altered after his death at the end of the C1, but remained affluent until destroyed by fire in the late C3AD. Discovered 1960; partly covered by A27. Remains of N wing: guest-rooms round two smaller courtyards with magnificent decoration, particularly the mosaics, the best in N Europe; also hypocausts etc.

New Fishbourne, at the head of the E arm of Chichester Harbour (in Chichester), has a rebuilt Church.

Fittleworth, Chichester (895). TQ0119. 2m W of Pulborough

Pleasant village on the N bank of the Rother. C13/Vict. Church. The Swan Inn has a gallows sign. The Greensand ridge to the N attains over 500’. See also Coates.

Fletching, Wealden (867). TQ4323. 3m NW of Uckfield

Near the R Ouse. Here Simon de Montfort’s army camped the night before the battle of Lewes. The C12/13 Church (restored) has an old screen, brasses (one C14, the other a curious one to a glover), and an Eliz. monument; in the C18 Sheffield Mausoleum is the tomb of Edward Gibbon, the historian (d.1794). Gatehouse and half-timbered estate housing in village. Sheffield Pk (1m WNW) is an early neo-Gothic gabled and turreted mansion built by James Wyatt before 1779; classical interiors; fine Gardens (NT) by Repton with lakes etc. Nearby is the S terminus of the Bluebell Railway (cf. Horsted Keynes).

Piltdown (1¨m SE), a hamlet on the heath where the skull of the infamous Piltdown Man was found by Charles Dawson of Lewes (1912); thought at the time to be the oldest known in England but realised to be a hoax in 1953.

Folkington, Wealden (58). TQ5604. 4m SSW of Hailsham

Hamlet under the Downs, with small C13 flint Church, and the neo-Tudor Folkington Mnr (1843).

Ford, Arun (366). TQ0003. 2m SSW of Arundel

On the W bank of the lower Arun, by the former Arundel-Portsmouth Canal. Small and attractive Church, early Norman in part, with a white bellcote; wall-paintings. Disused airfield.

Forest Row, Wealden (4270). TQ4235. 3m SE of East Grinstead

N of Ashdown Forest by the infant Medway. The impressive ruin of Brambletye Ho (½m W), with angle-towers, tall porch, vaulted undercroft, and ruined gatehouse, built 1631 and abandoned 1683; the new neo-Tudor house (to its N) was built 1919. Kidbrooke Pk (1724) to the SW, with good stables and ٱgardens by Repton, was the home of Lord Colchester, Speaker of the House of Commons (d.1829). ٱAshdown Ho (1m ENE, now a school) and ٱHammerwood Ho (3m NNE) were both built by Benjamin Latrobe, architect of Baltimore Cathedral. By Weir Wood Reservoir is the ٱSpring Hill Wildfowl Park (1½m SW), and at Wych Cross (2m S), the ٱAshdown Forest Farm Rare Breed Centre.

Framfield, Wealden (1939). TQ4920. 2m ESE of Uckfield

Has a Perp Church (after fire 1509) with a Vict. tower. Framfield Pl is C18/19. Blackboys is 2m E.

Frant, Wealden (1355). TQ5935. 3m S of Tunbridge Wells

Attractive Wealden hilltop village near the Kent border, with green. Unusual neo-Perp church by John Montier (1819-22) with iron piers and tracery. Sir Stratford Canning, the diplomat (d.1880), is bur. under an obelisk in the churchyard. Shernfield Pk (S) is an Italianate mansion by Vulliamy (1853). 1½m E of Bells Yew Green (1m ENE by Frant Sta) is ٱBartley Mill.

Bayham Abbey (EH) (4m E). Premonstratensian, founded from Otham (see Polegate) in 1199-1211, dissolved 1525, and now, in its position on the R Teise, the finest monastic ruin in county; restored and landscaped by Repton (c.1800) as a ‘romantic vista’ for the nearby Dower Ho (1752). The Ch. has a later C13 E end with second transepts and rare polygonal apse; around the Cloisters remains of Chapter House etc. on E side, refectory undercroft on S, and storerooms on W. Across the stream is the ruined C14 Gatehouse. See also Lamberhurst (Kent).

Eridge Green (2m W). Eridge Castle, the neo-Gothic mansion of the Marquesses of Abergavenny (1787), was demolished 1939; the extensive park remains. ٱHigh Rocks (1½m N): a remarkable weathered sandstone cliff along a fault-line; Mesolithic rock-shelters found; Iron Age hillfort to SE. Eridge Rocks are a similar feature.

Friston, Wealden (430). TV5598. 4m W of Eastbourne

On the Downs. Church C12/13 with possible Saxon remains; good roof, old chair, and Selwyn monuments [e.g. 1613]. The C15 timber-framed Friston Place (½m NNW) has a C17 brick front. To the NW, the extensive Friston Forest has been planted. Seven Sisters etc. (NT), see East Dean.

Fulking, Mid Sussex (259). TQ2511. 4m SE of Henfield

Under the South Downs escarpment (NT), with ‘Shepherd and Dog’ inn, and memorial fountain to John Ruskin. ٱDowners Vineyard.

Funtington, Chichester (1435). SU8008. 4m WNW of Chichester

At the foot of the Downs. The church is restored. Incs East and West Ashling (1m ESE/SE). See also West Stoke.