Denton, East Sussex Explained

Country:England
Official Name:Denton
Shire District:Lewes
Shire County:East Sussex
Civil Parish:Newhaven
Region:South East England
Constituency Westminster:Lewes
Post Town:NEWHAVEN
Postcode Area:BN
Postcode District:BN9
Dial Code:01273
Os Grid Reference:TQ451023
Coordinates:50.8025°N 0.0589°W
Static Image:Acacia Road - geograph.org.uk - 1177062.jpg
Static Image Caption:Acacia Road

Denton is a small village in the civil parish of Newhaven, in the Lewes district, in the county of East Sussex, England.[1] [2] It adjoins the villages of South Heighton and Mount Pleasant and backs onto the South Downs.

History

The Manor of Denton was held in Saxon times by Earl Godwin, Father of King Harold II Godwinson. It seems likely that Denton was destroyed during the Saxon rebellion of 1068. It does not appear in the Domesday Book of 1086. The name Denton comes from Old English and means farmstead or village in a valley.[3]

In 1894 the parish of Denton Urban was split from Denton.[4] In 1931 the parish had a population of 568.[5] On 1 April 1934 the parish was abolished and merged with Newhaven and South Heighton.[6]

Amenities

Denton's church, St. Leonard's, was first built around 1288, later extended and carefully restored during the Decorated Period. The walls are of flint and stone and the Vestry was added during the 20th century. The remains of what is thought to have been a priest's house in the west end of the churchyard, dating from about 1280, have recently been partly restored. The village has a junior school and one pub, the "Flying Fish" (originally named the "Kicking Donkey") which dates back to the 18th century.

Denton Island

There is also a man-made island called Denton Island, in the middle of Newhaven Harbour, which featured a Toll Bridge which the residents of Denton village were exempt from paying.

Residents

Ralph Reader who created the Gang Show for the Scout movement was from the village and the local Scout group is known as "The 2nd Denton & South Heighton (Ralph Reader's Own)".

Notes and References

  1. Ordnance Survey: Landranger map sheet 198 Brighton & Lewes (Worthing, Horsham & Haywards Heath). 9780319231432 . Ordnance Survey. 2011.
  2. Web site: Ordnance Survey: 1:50,000 Scale Gazetteer . csv (download) . 1 January 2016 . Ordnance Survey . www.ordnancesurvey.co.uk . 18 February 2016.
  3. Book: A Dictionary of British Place Names. A.D.. Mills. Oxford University Press. Oxford. first published 1991. 2011. First edition revised 2011. 9780199609086. 149.
  4. Web site: Lewes Registration District. UKBMD. 4 February 2023.
  5. Web site: Population statistics Denton AP/CP through time. A Vision of Britain through Time. 4 February 2023.
  6. Web site: Relationships and changes Denton AP/CP through time. A Vision of Britain through Time. 4 February 2023.