Jack and Jill went Up the Hill, the Lads Likewise to See Her

Location

Brighton area, East Sussex

OutdoorLads shares the exact meeting point with people who have signed up, closer to the date. See the OutdoorLads listing for details.

About this event

Jack and Jill, in case you are wondering, are a pair of windmills on the Downs behind Brighton, he a brick tower mill, she a wooden post mill. Jack is currently indisposed: he's lost his sails and dome while restoration work goes on, but Jill has just been fully restored and now opens on Sundays in August and September, hence this walk. Even if you've seen the windmills lots of times before, seeing inside Jill, seeing the Grade I-listed Elizabethan mansion that is Danny House, seeing the views of the Weald to the north and Brighton to the south, seeing the fare in the tearooms of Ditchling and seeing your OutdoorLads mates should be enough reasons to venture up the hill again.The sights:Danny House: A Grade I-listed Elizabethan mansion at the foot of Wolstonbury Hill, built in 1593–95 by George Goring on the site of an earlier medieval house. Designed in the shape of the letter 'E' in honour of Queen Elizabeth I, it is an outstanding example of Elizabethan architecture, with a monumental red-brick east front and an elegant Georgian south façade added in the 1720s. During the First World War, Prime Minister David Lloyd George lived at Danny House, where meetings of the Imperial War Cabinet were held. On 13 October 1918, ministers agreed the armistice terms to be offered to Germany, a decision that helped bring the war to an end. The surrounding parkland retains ancient trees, including the celebrated "Danny Old One" oak (perhaps the oldest oak tree in the Sussex Weald with a girth of 9.9 metres), and historic woodland.Wolstonbury Hill: A 58.9-hectare biological Site of Special Scientific Interest. Rising to 206 metres, it extends northwards into the Weald off the South Downs, offering extensive views across both the South Downs and the Weald. Notable landmarks visible from the summit include the Clayton Windmills, Ditchling Beacon, Devil's Dyke and Chanctonbury Ring. The hill is owned and managed by the National Trust, and part of it is designated as a Scheduled Monument.Jack and Jill Windmills: Jill is a beautifully restored wooden post mill dating from 1821, hauled from Seven Dials in Brighton in 1852 (by 86 Sussex oxen, some sources say) and open to visitors on the day of our walk. Nearby Jack, a brick tower mill built in 1866, remains structurally intact but is currently without its cap and sails while restoration work continues. Admission to Jill is free, with donations welcomed, and refreshments are usually available. For more information, click here.Ditchling: Built on a crossroads which has the C13 St Margaret's Church high above it, it is very pretty in flint, timber, brick and tile. Interesting buildings include: 'Anne of Cleves' House', which was given by Henry VIII to his fourth queen as part of her marriage annulment settlement; and 'Sopers', the home of wood engraver, stone sculptor, type designer and sexual abuser Eric Gill, which became an artistic community and inspired a museum of the arts and crafts. This was designed in 2014 by Adam Richards Architects. Noted Ditchling residents include Raymond Briggs, Donald Sinden and Dame Vera Lynn. Ditchling also has a good supply of pubs and tearooms of which we'll make use. Just outside Ditchling at Keymer is another windmill, Oldland Windmill, a wooden post mill from 1703, restored and functioning.The route (please click the link to see it at the Ordnance Survey):We'll follow the B2166, walking on the pavement west out of Hassocks, before turning south down New Way Lane before quickly taking a footpath to Danny House along its avenue. We'll get back on to New Way Lane before turning west along a bridleway and then south up Wolstonbury Hill. Descending the hill we'll turn east towards Rockrose. Emerging on to the the A273 we'll head south using its pavement to pick up the South Downs Way to Clayton Windmills, have lunch, then head further east and then north to descend the Downs along the Sussex Border Path. We'll then reach Ditchling for tea and cake. Leaving the village by heading northwest along Lodge Hill Lane, we'll pass Oldland Windmill and reach Mill Lane. Ockley Lane will take us back into Hassocks and Grand Avenue back to the station.Dogs:I love having dogs on my walks and this walk is very suitable for them unless it's really hot. There will be some stiles and livestock, plus some roads to walk along. A dog off the lead must be obedient.(Picture credits: Jack and Jill Upon The Hill: Photo © Peter Trimming (cc-by-sa/2.0); Wolstonbury Hill Trig Point: Photo © Janine Forbes (cc-by-sa/2.0); View over the Low Weald: Photo © Chris Morgan (cc-by-sa/2.0); Ditchling Beacon by Chris Thomas-Atkin: Photo © Chris Thomas-Atkin (cc-by-sa/2.0); Jack and Jill Windmills (Clayton Windmills): Photo © Stephen McKay (cc-by-sa/2.0); Clay vale pasture: Photo © N Chadwick (cc-by-sa/2.0); In the centre of Ditchling: Photo © Marathon (cc-by-sa/2.0); High Street, Ditchling: Photo © Peter Whitcomb (cc-by-sa/2.0); Oldland Mill, Keymer: Photo © Robin Webster (cc-by-sa/2.0). These pictures are copyrighted but are licensed for reuse under Creative Commons CC-BY-SA 2.0 and are here attributed to their copyright holders. The other pictures were taken by the leader on his recce.)