About Upper Beeding

Upper Beeding lies at the foot of the Downs on the east bank of the River Adur on the line of ancient trading and pilgrim routes. In Saxon times it was owned by the Kings of Wessex, but after the Norman Conquest it became part of the Rape of Bramber, held by William de Braose.

William replaced its Saxon church and built the Priory of Sele in which he installed Benedictine monks from France. In 1459 the priory and all its land and possessions in Beeding and surrounding parishes, were transferred to Magdalen College, Oxford in whose hands it remained until recent times. Despite the building of new housing estates since the 1960's, many ancient timber-framed houses remain, particularly in the High Street and Hyde Street conservation areas and the remains of medieval salterns can been seen in Saltings Field.

Delightful walks can be taken along the river bank, across the water meadows to the north of the village, or onto the Downs where in these varied habitats a variety of wildlife can be seen.