Steyning

Steyning is a small West Sussex town on the South Downs in the Adur valley approximately 4 miles north of Shoreham-by-Sea, though its most famous neighbours are Brighton and Worthing.

In Steyning, there is access to a variety of facilities. These include 4 public houses, 4 estate agents and 4 banks. Furthermore, there is a state-of-the-art leisure centre, which was built with National Lottery funding. The town is home to Steyning Grammar School (a paradoxically titled state comprehensive), which has a body of around 2500 students, with a sixth form comprising over 400. The school has a catchment area that extends as far as Dial Post and sometimes Worthing.

History of Steyning

Steyning has existed since at least Anglo-Saxon times. King Alfred the Great's father, Ethelwulf of Wessex, was buried there in the church of St Cuthman, before being transferred to Winchester.

Legend has it that St Cuthman built the church where he stopped after carrying his mother in a wheelbarrow. Several of the signs that can be seen on entering Steyning bear an image of his feat.

Edward the Confessor granted Steyning to the abbot and convent of Fécamp, who retained control until the 15th century. The Abbey of Fécamp re-dedicated the church of St Cuthman to St Andrew in the 13th Century.

According to the Domesday Book, by 1086 Steyning was a thriving port. It had a market, a mint and two churches. However, in the 14th century, the river began to silt up and the town began to decay.

Later, Steyning was a rotten borough, returning two MPs from 1278 until it was disfranchised by the Reform Act of 1832.

In 1614, William Holland, Alderman of Chichester founded and endowed Steyning Grammar School.

Nightlife

As mentioned above Steyning has four pubs - The Star, The Chequers, The White Horse and The Norfolk Arms The White Horse has recently changed hands several times, originally owned by Ron the ex-copper, then bought by a group of scousers and turned into a bit of theme pub, Ali G impressions and all and now turned towards the more genteel tea room end of the market. The Chequers has always been a favorite of the underage croud, those that have moved up from drinking cider and Hooch at the bus shelter (opposite the clock tower, pictured)

External Links

• St Cuthman of Steyning
• Steyning Grammar School
• Steyning Town Football Club
• Steyning Athletic Club
• Steyning Cricket Club
• Steyning Strikers Football Club
• Steyning Camera Club

See also: Steyning, 1086, 1278, 1614, Alfred the Great