Surroundings, activities, sights.

Billingshurst is 6 miles Southwest of Horsham.

The house, set in the centre of the village, has a supermarket, butcher, baker, farm shop, vintners and many restaurants within walking distance.

The railway station is ten minutes walk via the churchyard and a park. Trains through the day run twice an hour (with exceptions) and it is just over an hour by train to London Victoria.

Behind Causeway Cottage, St.Mary`s church has a 13th century west tower. The church was largely re-built in the 15th century when a broach style spire was added, the Nave has a 15th century wagon roof with a pattern of square panels and carved bosses at the intersections. The church clock is an exact half-sized replica of the ‘Big Ben’ clock.

Bluebells in the Mens and the Cut, Wisborough Green.

About 5 miles away to the west lies The Mens and The Cut, a large expanse of ancient forest commonland owned by the Sussex Wildlife Trust. It is unmanicured, being mainly beechwood on a clay hill slope into which are cut, by small streams, deep gulleys up to 50 - 60 feet deep leading down from the hill at Bedham. This extensive wild landscape is largely unpeopled, gently dramatic, especially during the spring, with bluebell and early beech leaves and with beech colours in autumn.

The South Downs are about ten miles away across the Arun floodplain. The river Arun is tidal as far upstream as Pulborough, ideal for canoeists who want to run with the tide in both directions (ie. to Arundel).





To view slideshow of nature in this area, click link below:
https://picasaweb.google.com/116922605845018607478/AREAWILDNATUREPICTURES#slideshow/5740083912536983906

Sport and Leisure.

Swimming – There is a sports centre at the Weald School (5 minutes) with a four-lane swimming pool.

Horsham has a full-size pool and water-leisure facilities in its park.

Real Tennis – Petworth House Real Tennis Club is 9 miles away in the grounds of Petworth House.

Tennis, badminton, squash – There are clubs all over the area.

Mountain biking, walking – The South Downs and the hangers on their northern edge provide many rides and walks. Leith Hill and Box Hill and North Downs to the north. Numerous woodlands (West Sussex is the most heavily wooded county in England).

Golf – The West Sussex Golf Club at West Chiltington, West Chiltington Golf Club, Cowdray Golf Club at Midhurst, Slinfold Golf Club are a few of those in the area.

Horse Racecourses – Fontwell Park and Goodwood,

Historic Car racing – Goodwood House.

Country homes and gardens and historic sites.

To the South: 

Parham Park (Elizabethan) near Storrington, Pulborough and Amberley Wildbrooks, Amberley Castle and Chalk Pits Museum,  Arundel Castle & Cathedral, Arundel Wildfowl Trust, Chanctonbury Ring and Cissbury Ring on the Downs north of Worthing.

To the Southwest:

Bignor Roman Villa, Stansted Park and Fishbourne Roman Palace near the Roman city of Chichester, Goodwood House and the Weald and Downland Museum and West Dean Gardens to the north of Chichester.

To the West (off A272):

Petworth House, Cowdray House ruins at Midhurst, Uppark.

To the Northwest:

National Trust properties Blackdown, Devil’s Punchbowl and Winkworth Arboretum, Hascombe Court, Ramster and Feathercombe Gardens.

To the North:

N.T. properties along the North Downs, Leith Hill Tower, Hatchlands, Polesden Lacy, Hackhurst Down and BoxHill.

To the East: 

Nymans Garden, Wakehurst Place,  Borde Hill Gardens, Sheffield Park. Bluebell Railway.

To the Southeast: