England's Charming Villages of Sussex with Dr. Alan Montgomery

Easily accessible from London, the counties of East and West Sussex in southeast England are known for their beautiful landscapes, historic buildings, and characterful villages. This seminar will lead us on a virtual tour of several of these villages, exploring their history, their architecture, and their legends, discussing how they have evolved and changed over the centuries while still retaining their unique rural charm. 

Highlights of the tour will include the village of Alfriston, nestled amongst the dramatic hills of the South Downs, with its impressive church, village green, and oak-beamed medieval inns. We’ll also venture to the nearby village of Wilmington, overlooked by a mysterious chalk hill-figure, and is also home to a wonderful collection of characterful cottages that are clustered around the ruins of a medieval priory. Further west can be found Arundel, which was first mentioned in the Domesday Book in 1086 and is now famous for its magnificent castle, the ancestral home of the Dukes of Norfolk. Laid out in the 1280s, Winchelsea was a center for international trade for centuries, and many of its houses still have ancient vaulted cellars once used to store goods. Our showstopper finale is a virtual visit to Rye, once a busy port. Today, its streets of fine historic houses bear witness to its wealthy past. As well as a splendid church and tiny castle, Rye is also known for picturesque Mermaid Street, where visitors can spend the night in the ivy-clad (and supposedly haunted!) Mermaid Inn. 

Led by historian, Dr. Alan Montgomery, this interactive seminar will explore a selection of Sussex’s prettiest places, explaining their historical importance and highlighting their most interesting attractions and monuments. Designed to inform curiosity as well as future travels, participants will come away with an insider’s view of some of England’s most charming villages.