South Downs rural Bed and Breakfast, England

Environment

Our garden is there for your use as well and can be very relaxing. Each year we open our garden under the National Garden Scheme in order to raise money for MacMillan Nurses and other worthy causes. For many years now we have also been involved with organising cultural events in the village, particularly the Bignor Weed and Wildflower Festival which has grow to become a national event. It is pertinent here because much of the event is a real celebration of the natural environment. Wild food cookery demonstrations, plant medicine education and wildflower painting classes are just a few of the engaging and environmentally supportive activities that are on offer here.

This is a classic English Country House that had been “modernised” in the 1960’s and we had great fun over 10 years undertaking major repairs and alterations, reintroducing all of the period features that had been taken out in the past. The decor is now in the classic English country house style with all the period features appropriate to the Victorian era during the Arts and Crafts period.

Community

Our local farm, which has been in the same family for generations, produces mostly wheat. Below the Villa the land has recently been turned over to the growing of grapes. The soil is said to similar to the Champagne region in France (as the countries were once joined) and this local business enterprise is very exciting for the entire region. Such much farming industry has unfortunately been in decline in recent years but this would suggest that perhaps the South Downs will become England’s hub for wine-making, encouraging a profitable export market and also encouraging tourism.

Bury, our next village to the east, has a well known dairy farm where you can still buy delicious milk that has only been heat treated, so thick golden top and a delightful flavour to die for! Turners Garage in Bury, one of the few left where they will actually serve you, provides local services and there is also a local farm shop.

Within walking distance is the next village of Sutton with the White Horse pub which does food. This can either be reached by country lane or by a footpath across the fields.

Landscape

We have lived in Bignor for some twenty years so if there is anything about the locality that you would like to know, we should be able to help. We have various guide books and maps which you can borrow.

The wooded Downland slopes you see opposite the house, all owned by the National Trust, have the remains of the ancient road “Stane Street”, built by the Romans during the first century A.D. which went from Chichester (Noviomagus Regnensium) to London (Londinium).

Not only do we have the famous Roman Villa and medieval stone church, both well worth a visit, but there are some lovely walks across the fields, a short stroll around the village or a slightly longer one to our local pub in the next village.

If you are feeling energetic the walk to the top of the Downs is so rewarding with some quite outstanding views not only of the south coast but all the way up to the North Downs. The top is also accessible by car and there is a car park. (We can take you up if necessary.)