‘Timeless’ Sussex village with ‘renowned’ pub named one of the poshest in Britain

A “timeless” village in Sussex that was once the home of a famous author has been named one of the poshest in the country.

The Telegraph has shared its picks of Britain’s 49 poshest villages, highlighting the “smartest rural locations” and how much it costs to buy a home there.

Using research from Savills, the poshest villages were broken down by county, with picks based on “a combination of the highest house prices, a lively community, a thriving village hall, great pubs, local shops and sporting facilities”.

Other factors, such as “whether the location sits in a bucolic setting and has an interesting heritage”, as well as having a green, duck pond and thatched cottages, were also considered.

Hartfield in Sussex named one of Britain’s poshest villages

Making the list by the Telegraph was Hartfield, found in the Wealden District of East Sussex.

The parish also includes the settlements of Colemans Hatch, Hammerwood and Holtye, all of which are on the northern edge of the historic Ashdown Forest.

The Telegraph notes that Hartfield’s ‘posh appeal’ comes from its links to Winnie the Pooh, its “historic” golf club and the fact it is adjoining Ashdown Forest.

The publisher wrote: “Only eight miles southwest of Tunbridge Wells, Hartfield is famous as the home of AA Milne, author of the Winnie the Pooh books, and for being the location of Poohsticks Bridge.

“With traditional Wealden architecture providing a timeless feel, the village is near Ashdown Forest and Royal Ashdown Forest Golf Club, founded in 1888, known for its challenging, rugged terrain.

“There are four good pubs in the vicinity, including The Hatch Inn, a renowned gastropub in nearby Coleman’s Hatch.”

House prices in Hartfield have an overall average of £711,750 over the last year, according to Rightmove.

The majority of properties sold in Hartfield during the last year were detached properties, selling for an average price of £1,223,333.

Semi-detached properties sold for an average of £431,333, with terraced properties fetching £450,000.

Overall, the historical sold prices in Hartfield over the last year were 55% up on the previous year and 26% down on the 2020 peak of £959,861.

Things to do in Hartfield

Hartfield may be a smaller village, but there are some great things to do there and in the wider area.

Being near the historic Ashdown Forest, there are plenty of walking routes in and around Hartfield.

The village is also well known as the home of Winnie the Pooh, with author A. A. Milne living at Cotchford Farm, near Hartfield.

A post shared by Pooh Corner (@poohcornerhartfield)

Milne took his son, Christopher Robin, walking in the forest with artist E. H. Shepard drawing on the landscapes of Ashdown Forest as inspiration for many of the illustrations he provided for the Pooh books.

Pooh Corner in the village is both a tea shop and a shop full of Winnie the Pooh memorabilia.

Just outside the village, famous places such as Pooh Bridge, 100 Acre Wood and Eeyore’s Gloomy Place can all be found.

As previously mentioned by The Telegraph, there are four good pubs in the area, with it picking out The Hatch Inn as one to try.

The gastropub says it is “cherished for its culinary delights” and makes for the “perfect spot for a delightful day out”.

It is rated a 4.2/5 on Tripadvisor from more than 600 reviews.

Search for an article