Friston Forest: Butchershole

Butchershole provides access to the eastern edge of Friston Forest.
Friston Forest is owned by South East Water and managed by the Forestry Commission on a 200 year lease. The forest covers more than 800 hectares of land within the South Downs National Park. Most of the forest was planted with Beech in the 1950s, in places with conifers to help young broadleaf trees to develop. Gradually many of the conifers have been removed to leave large areas of beech. Because many of the trees were planted over a very short timeframe, the Forestry Commission is concentrating on diversifying the forest through thinning, small fellings, natural regeneration and planting.

Royal Spa

At the south-western corner of Queen's Park in Brighton, stand the remains of an artificial spa opened in 1825 by Dr F.A.Struve, who had opened similar spas at Berlin, Dresden and Leipzig. Mineral waters chemically identical to those of many European spas were concocted with water from a well, and the spa building, which was declined by a Mr Lorraine, became very popular. Indeed, it may even have been visited by William IV and Queen Adelaide; certainly the spa was always referred to as the `Royal' German Spa after a royal warrant was obtained in 1835. However, by the 1850s its popularity had declined so much that the pump room closed, but Hooper Struve Ltd continued the manufacture of bottled mineral waters in the building until 1965. The redundant building then became derelict and eventually passed to the corporation. The pump room at the rear was sadly demolished, but the Ionic portico and north wall were restored by T.R.Wilhiams as an open loggia in. 1978 after a long battle to save it, and the structure is now a listed building within the grounds of the Royal Spa Nursery School.

Catsfield sign

In many parts of southern England an ornamental village sign is erected to announce the village name to those entering the village. They are typically placed on the principal road entrance. The design often depicts a particularly characteristic feature of the village or a scene from its history, heritage, or culture. They are typically made of wood or metal and the designs are often made by the local community.

Drain Guard

Drain guard in Lewes