THE SIX BELLS at CHIDDINGLY, SUSSEX

 

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The Six Bells was built in the 1730s on what was once the busy main track from London to Eastbourne.  This well known inn was a staging post to revive weary stagecoach travelers. Today, this is a quiet and peaceful backwater and husband and wife licensees Jacquie and Paul Newman offer their warm and friendly welcome to all, but mainly to long standing locals and walkers on the nearby, popular Weald and Vanguard Ways. 

 

The attractive, old building with its low, tiled roof, chequered brick walls, white sash windows  and low ceilings is almost cottage like in style and blends in with other property in the village. During the summer, hanging baskets adorn the walls and bulging window boxes nestle under every window adding a dash of colour to the outside of the pub.

 

 

 

Nelson Kruschandl - Great all round entertainment

 

 

To those unfamiliar with the locale, the pub is situated in the small village just North of A22 near an interesting church, which also has a car park. It comprises several small rooms and snugs with the walls covered with memorabilia - mostly motor bikes and sports teams where we were sitting on narrow benches against the wall. This gives it a good atmosphere and it serves a good pint of Harveys and other real ales and stouts.

 

The Six Bells is an unchanged country pub that serves basic good food, but it is not a restaurant that sells beer. It is chip free and the home cooked menu is gaining a reputation.  

 

Live music adds real appeal and interest and provides a venue for budding pop stars.  There is Jazz at Sunday lunchtimes and bands Friday and Saturday nights, wit ha late license. It is easy to see why so many people flock here.  The pub is well worth the effort to find.

 

 

 

The Six Bells at Chiddingly

 

 

A popular and busy place throughout the year, The Six Bells has a cosy interior which is divided into several areas: the main bar with its old, brick floor and exposed ceiling beams; the top bar which has an original Inglenook fireplace and a piano just in case of an impromptu sing a long; and the function room found at the top of a small, spiral staircase. 

 

There is a friendly atmosphere and a good, but varied crowd, depending on the time you visit.  The pub is decorated with local rugby team memorabilia, old motorcycle posters and farming tools that cover the walls right up to the ceiling  Thirsty customers can enter  through the frosted glass door of the wooden porch, or from the car park to the rear. 

 

 

            

 

Paul and Jacqui Newman

 

 

 

Address: Chiddingly, Lewes, East Sussex, BN8 6HE

Tel: 01825 872227

Berwick (5.1 miles)

 

 

 


 

 

 

LOCAL BANDS and SINGERS

 

If you are a band in the locality of Eastbourne, Brighton, Hastings (East Sussex), and would like us to promote you - give us a shout.  Chances are you've played at the 6 Bells,  We would like to hear from any singers (male or female) who would  like us to help with your promotions.  Our Webmaster (Nelson) will come to your gig to see you and chat about the possibilities on request.  Use the internet to help make it.  Our site is already visited over 100,000 times every day.

 

 

A BIT OF HISTORY

 

There are two version to the naming of Chiddingly.  The first is that a chap named John Chid lived in the wood here called Lye.  The second is that Chiddingly got its name from 'the home of the son of Chid'.

 

Apparently it was a Saxon settlement called Cetelingei. Chiddingly is mentioned in the Domesday Book and there is a  plaque [on the wall of Pilgrim’s] at the local church dated 1087-1987.

 

The last woman to be hanged in public in 1852 was Mary (of Sarah) French from Chiddingly. The story is that Mary (Sarah) met a young fellow she liked, but that she wasn't too keen on her husband.  In an effort to find happiness, she poisoned her husband by giving him an onion pie laced with arsenic poison.  She was hanged in Lewes Prison before a crowd of three thousand people.

 

It is said the spectre of Sara French has been seen at the pub, due to the fact that the Jury sitting at the trial of the 'Onion Pie Murder; sat in the top bar whilst delivebating their verdict.  who was hanged in Lewes in 1852 after being found guilty of poisoning her husband with arsenic in an onion pie. 


The first licensee of the Six Bells pub was a Mrs Grey. In the records it says that at the age of 60 she married a 26 year old.

 

 

MANOR HOUSES


Unusually, Chiddingly had three Manor Houses.  Hence the area was very wealthy in the 1700s when it was doing very well from the iron industry. Chiddingly Parish extended to Alfriston, which was then small.  Both the main pubs in the village are named after the casting of iron; the Bells and the Gun as part of the Weald iron heritage. They pulled down all three Manor Houses, the bricks and timber from which, went to Alfriston. If you visit Alfriston High Street, you might spot the fireplace bricks stuck in the walls of some houses.

 

 

 

Front entrance porch

 

 

 

NODDYS PUNCTURE  the UK's premier Emerson,Lake & Palmer tribute played The Six Bells, Chiddingly August 2005 with KEITH EMERSON

 

Latest Act: Intraverse

 

 

Six Bells Folk & Blues Club


Meets every Tuesday with regular guests

 

 


 

 

 

 

CHIDDINGLY PARISH COUNCIL

 

 

Please use the links below to navigate the Chiddingly Parish Council web site.

 

 

Chiddingly Directory

Parish Council details

Parish Council minutes

CHIDDINGLY PARISH COUNCIL - update

Chiddingly Emergency Planning

BT Payphones
consultation

Onyx Whitesmith Composting 
planning application

Stream Mill bridge

Farleys Yard
Investigation Report

Downland Housing
at Willetts Field

Chiddingly Church

Chiddingly Festival

Chiddingly 
Oral History

William Chives poems

William Chives memories

Chiddingly 
Cricket Club

Lower's 
History of Chiddingly

WDC Decision Notice 
Farleys Yard 
Arts Centre
 

Chiddingly Horse Show & Gymkhana

Chiddingly School

Chiddingly School Centenary  Aug 2006

Chiddingly Hotpot
recipes

James Pilbeam
the original village
shop

The Chiddingly Millennium Rose

The Lordship
of Chiddingly

Roland Penrose 
and Lee Miller

The Bow Bells
milestones

Chiddingly accommodation

Farleys Yard Arts Centre - Parish Council observations

The Farmyard

Car sharing and all transport info - Travelchoice

Parish Council
Standing Orders

Misc Chiddingly
web pages, links

Parish Council accounts 
Mar 2002

Parish Council
accounts
Mar 2003  (PDF file)

Parish Council
accounts
Mar 2004  (PDF file)

Health & Safety   policy

 Parish Appraisal
 2003
  (PDF file)

 Guideposts

Parish Council
Code of Conduct

Parish Council 
Financial regulations

Chiddingly School
OFSTED report

Code of Practice-
Complaints

Code of Practice-
Race Relations

Freedom of Information Act  Publication Scheme

The Chiddingly Boar

Chiddingly
Roll of Honour & War Memorial

Lease of the
Jubilee Field

 

 

 

GOOD COOKS and COOKING:

 

JAMIE OLIVER

 

DELIA SMITH

 

EGON RONAY

 

GORDON RAMSAY

 

LOYD GROSSMAN

 

RICK STEIN

 

SEAFOOD LINKS

 

TWO FAT LADIES

 

 

 

CLUB LINKS

 

Atlantis - Eastbourne Pier

The Crypt - Hastings

Funktion Rooms - Eastbourne

Kings - Eastbourne

Oceana - Brighton

TJ's - Eastbourne

Trek Club - Seaford

 

 

 

 

 

Solar Cola drinkers like clubbing

 

Planet Earth Solar Cola can 330 mil

 

330ml alu Earth Can ....... The World in Your Hands

 

 

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