Why live in Henfield?

Set in the district of Horsham in West Sussex, Henfield is nestled between London to it’s North and Brighton to it’s South. Whether you love exploring the great British Countryside, stepping back into history or are a food fanatic, Henfield is the ideal place to live!

Henfield has a rich heritage and offers all of the amenities you’d expect from a large town with a thriving high street packed with a diverse range of shops, cafes and pubs whilst still offering you all of the charm and picturesque views you’d expect from village life.

Set in the beautiful Sussex countryside, on the Downs Link Bridleway and bordering the stunning South Downs National Park, Henfield is a classic English village whilst also being close to Brighton and Horsham and only 7 miles from the nearest railway station giving great direct connections to London.

HISTORY

Henfield has a rich heritage and there is even evidence to suggest that there were settlers in the village as far back as the Stone Age. The name Henfield comes from the Anglo-Saxon ‘Hamfield’ meaning a hamlet on high open ground.

At the centre of Henfield, the beautiful St Peter’s Church stands proudly and was initially constructed as a wooden building in 770AD in honour of St Peter by the command of King Osmund of the South Saxons. Since then, the church has undergone various renovations and improvements from adding the tower to house 8 church bells in 1450 to installing a 3 faced clock to commemorate the Queen’s Diamond Jubilee and adding a new stone flooring with underfloor heating in 2008!

The church now provides a central place of worship whilst also leading many vital community support initiatives.

Did you know?

- That Henfield has one of the oldest existing cricket clubs and Scout Troops in the world today?

The Henfield Scout Troop was originally founded in 1907 according to the International Scout and Guide Federation.

The 1st Scout Group had 38 Scouts and today it continues as one of the most thriving Scout groups in Sussex with between 120-150 young people meeting every week to take part in a range of activities and adventures.

However, if Scouts aren’t your thing then maybe cricket is! Henfield also boasts one of the oldest surviving cricket clubs in the world.

Henfield Cricket Club is located in the South-Eastern corner of the Common and earliest reference to it, remarkably, dates back to June 1719! The Club is now part of the Sussex Cricket League and comprises of three men’s and one woman’s divisions along with a Colts children’s club to carry the village’s cricketing legacy into the future.

TOP THINGS TO DO

SUSSEX PRAIRIE GARDEN

Sussex Prairie Garden is a majestic sight to behold! Britain’s largest naturalistic garden with over 8 acres of stunning well thought out and cared for gardens to wander through. The gardens are open between June and October and are one of the few gardens that allow dogs to visit so you needn’t leave anyone at home! Click here for admission prices.

HENFIELD MUSEUM

If you would like to learn a bit more about Henfield’s reputation for its art and culture following then we would recommend taking a trip to the village’s museum located within Henfield Hall. The museum shows the journey of the village’s development through the ages via the spectacular collection of paintings and photographs. What’s more this walk down memory lane won’t cost you a penny as admission is free - perfect for a day trip! Click here for more information.

ST ANTHONY’S COTTAGE

St Anthony’s cottage is situated adjacent to the White Hart Pub and is a fascinating testament to Henfield’s history. As it stands, it is one of the earliest surviving buildings in Henfield and is a fantastic example of a traditional hall house building from the Middle Ages. Make sure you don’t forget to look up at its superb chimney which seems to defy all normal rules of gravity!

TOP 5 PLACES TO EAT

Henfield is known as a haven for food lovers, it is bursting with a wide range of places to eat in and around the village. Here’s our pick of the top 5!

The Bull Inn

1. Fancy a gourmet pizza with the family on a Friday night? The Bull in is your place if you do! Located just north of Henfield this pub has an outside beer garden for those summer evenings, is dog friendly and has a large children’s play area so all the whole family can be entertained. Click here to make a reservation.

The White Hart

2. The White Hart is a historical oak-beamed pub dating back to the 16th century with plenty of architectural detail to enjoy whilst sampling from an array of award-winning ales or tasting the extensive list of local and award-winning gins. The menu is a wholesome country pub with a modern twist with all ingredients being sourced locally. Click here to make a reservation.

The Plough

3. A charming 17th-century pub located in the heart of the village, serving traditional pub food, The Plough has a friendly and relaxed atmosphere. Dogs are also welcome in the pub and dog bowls and doggie treats are normally available for any four-legged companions! Click here to find out more.

Relish

4. Located on the village High Street and offers hot and cold breakfast, brunch and lunch both eat in and take away. They also have a license to sell alcohol. They do fabulous Sunday lunches!

Post House Café

5. In the heart of the village and open 7 days a week. Great for breakfast, light lunch and fabulous cakes and hot beverages. Lovely garden for the summer. Eat in or takeaway.

LOCAL SCHOOLS

St Peter’s C Of E Primary School.

Rated “Good” in their last Ofsted report in June 2016 this is a lovely caring and creative primary school with their Ofsted inspection reporting that “pupils are proud to be part of the school and enjoy talking about their achievements.” Click here for more details on the school including contact and admission information.

Hurstpierpoint College

A co-educational day and boarding school for pupils from age 4 to 18 years old, situated within a 140-acre campus and surrounded by beautiful countryside close to the village of Hurstpierpoint. The college was established in 1849 and in 1993 the Prep School opened its doors to girls after being an all-boys school for nearly 150 years! Click here for more details on the school including contact and admission information.

Steyning Grammar School

Steyning’s vision is that “Every Person The Best They Can Be”, is a non-selective C of E Voluntary Controlled Comprehensive School with a longstanding history - in 2014 it celebrated its 400th anniversary of the foundation of the Steyning Grammar School. The school is a day and residential school, with boarding rated outstanding in it’s 2015 Ofsted report. Click here for more details on the school including contact and admission information.

TRAVEL

BY CAR

Henfield is located on the A281, from the junction with the A2037, 33 miles from London and 12 miles from Brighton. The A23 and A24 are situated close by.

There are two car parks in the village, one by the Library and the other in Coopers Way. Both are run by Horsham District Council and are pay and display.

BY BUS

Buses run from Brighton to Horsham, via Henfield, throughout the week. Stagecoach and Compass operate them and timetables can be found on their websites.