Etchingham
Etchingham (population 806) is a town and civil church in the Rother area of East Sussex in southern England. The town is located roughly 15 miles (24 kilometres) southeast of Royal Tunbridge Wells in Kent and 13 miles (21 km) northwest of Hastings, on the A265, half a mile west of its junction with the A21. Etchingham railway station gets on the Hastings Line to London Charing Cross and Cannon Street. Etchingham was a mansion a very long time prior to the Norman conquest of 1066; after this time the mansion was taken control of by the Normans. In 1166 it was delegated the de Achyngham (Etchingham) household, who were widely known landowners of the time. The Etchingham family documents record that William was so happy with his right-hand man that he offered him the land currently called Etchingham. The moated manor house, long since destroyed, stood at the factor currently occupied by the London to Hastings train line. Some of the stone from the manor was most likely used in the building and construction of the terminal structures. There is one tale that a great bell lay at the bottom of the moat surrounding the church and manor, which it would certainly never ever be seen until 6 yoke of white oxen were brought to drag it up. Centuries have gone by, the moat is long gone and no bell has actually appeared. The 14th-century church was originally constructed within the grounds of the chateau; proof of the moat can still be seen.
