Woodingdean
From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
Woodingdean is an eastern suburb of the city of Brighton and Hove, East Sussex, separated from the main part of the city by downland and the Brighton Racecourse. It grew up after the First World War in the northern part of the parish of Rottingdean and consisted of plots of land on the South Downs which had formerly been used for sheep-farming. These were sold by developers (often but not exclusively to returning soldiers) and most were originally smallholdings, e.g. poultry farms. At a former school in Warren Road, whose site is now a hospital, is the deepest hand-dug well in the world.
The development of the present residential area very much mirrors that of neighbouring Ovingdean. From the 1920s building plots were sold off and first generation shacks and houses began to appear. In 1928, Woodingdean and Ovingdean became part of Brighton County Borough, a move which heralded a substantial increase in residential development. The area was extensively developed during the 1950's and 60's when most of the roads in the Southern end of the village were built, including the Council Estate. The area has a population in excess of 10,000 but despite its size still manages to maintain its village atmosphere. Woodingdean today has dynamic social and religious communities of clubs, associations and organisations which also include sports and leisure facilities. There are two primary schools, Woodingdean Primary and Rudyard Kipling, and a special school.
North Woodingdean is the highest part of Brighton and Hove above sea-level.
[edit] References and further reading
- Carder, Tim, The encyclopaedia of Brighton. Lewes: East Sussex County Council (1991).
- Mercer, Robin and Douglas Holland, The Hunns Mere Pit. Lewes: The Book Guild (1993).
- Mercer, Robin, Woodingdean 2000: reflections and the millennium. Woodingdean Community Association (2000).
