Today, the South Downs, Ashdown Forest and the wooded hills of the High Weald are among the most peaceful landscapes in East Sussex. Walk these places now and it can be difficult to imagine the skies above them filled with aircraft heading to and from war.
Yet during the Second World War, East Sussex lay beneath one of the great aerial highways between Britain and occupied Europe.
Bomber crews crossed the Sussex coast on their way out. Hours later, often in darkness and poor weather, they searched for England again. Some returned with damaged aircraft, wounded crew or failing engines, knowing that reaching the English coast did not necessarily mean they were safe.
Across East Sussex, memorials still mark some of those final journeys.
This story begins on the cliffs at Beachy Head, follows the returning aircraft inland towards the airfields they hoped to reach, and ends among the fields that once formed another temporary wartime airfield.
It is a story about British, American and Polish airmen. But it is also about the landscape that remembers them.
More than eighty years later the runways have disappeared, the wreckage has gone and nature has reclaimed most of the crash sites. In many places, a stone, plaque or small memorial is now the only indication that anything happened there at all.
Today, the High Weald of East Sussex is one of the most peaceful landscapes in southern England. Narrow lanes wind between woods and fields, old farms sit among wooded ridges, and from the higher ground there are long views across a countryside that can seem almost untouched by the modern world.
It is difficult to imagine this same landscape with a battle raging in the skies above it.
High weald view from penhurst lane looking south west to butts brow on the south downs east Sussex south east England UK
Yet during the summer and autumn of 1940, south-east England stood beneath the Battle of Britain. German bombers and fighters crossed the coast while RAF pilots climbed to intercept them, often fighting at great height before damaged aircraft spiralled back towards the countryside below.
Hastings is famous for 1066, its ruined castle, historic Old Town and working fishing beach. Look beyond those familiar attractions, however, and another side of the town begins to appear—one hidden among woodland, cliffs, parks, housing estates and quiet corners that most visitors pass without noticing.
These lesser-known places reveal a much longer and stranger history than the Battle of Hastings alone. They include secluded beaches, the remains of a vast Roman iron industry, ruined medieval churches, a mysterious woodland bath, a pyramid memorial, a forgotten waterfall and a cave once occupied by a Victorian hermit.
This guide explores ten unusual places in and around Hastings, East Sussex. Some are nationally important historic remains, while others are natural curiosities or local landmarks with remarkable stories. Each offers something worth discovering and photographing, whether you are exploring with a camera, a phone or simply an interest in the hidden history of Hastings.
Ashcombe Windmill is one of those landmarks that seems to belong exactly where it stands. High above Kingston near Lewes, with the South Downs rolling around it, the restored mill already makes a strong subject — but finding a field of poppies in front of it turned the scene into something far more special.
Hidden in St Helen’s Wood above Ore in Hastings is a small spring known as St Helen’s Well. Tucked away in the woodland valley below the ridge where Old St Helen’s Church stands, it’s an easy place to walk past without ever realising it’s there.
The well itself isn’t marked on modern OS maps, but the clue lies in the spring symbol in the valley. By heading towards the nearest spring relative to St Helen’s Wood, it’s possible to track down the location where the water emerges from the hillside.
The church’s elevated position reflects an older landscape. In medieval times churches were often built on high ground overlooking settlements and farmland, both for visibility and for the practical benefit of dry ground above the valley below.
Standing quietly on the ridge above Ore in Hastings are the remains of Old St Helen’s Church, one of the oldest church sites in the town. Today the roofless walls and sturdy tower sit among weathered gravestones and grass, but for centuries this was the parish church serving the surrounding rural community.
While exploring the foreshore at Bexhill Beach over the last couple of days, I came across several remarkable features preserved in the rock – dinosaur footprints dating back roughly 135 million years to the Early Cretaceous period.
The Sussex coast exposes rocks from the Ashdown Formation, part of the Wealden Group. At the time these sediments were forming, this area wasn’t coastline at all. It was a warm river floodplain with muddy riverbanks, shallow lagoons and dense vegetation. Dinosaurs walked across these mudflats, leaving footprints that were buried by sediment and eventually turned into rock.
Coastal erosion along the foreshore is now slowly revealing parts of that ancient landscape again.
Romney Marsh once held dozens of small medieval parishes scattered across the wetland. Many disappeared as the land flooded, drained or shifted, leaving only fragments of stone, earthworks or a solitary church in the fields.
Before diving into each site, here is the full map of all locations:
Here is the long-form video that explores all four churches together:
This post breaks down each location separately, with individual map links and photos.
All Saints Church, Hope
One of the earliest medieval parishes on the Marsh, Hope was built in the 12th century and abandoned by the 1500s as the coastline shifted and the land became grazing marsh. Only fragments of walling survive beside the B2075, now surrounded by a modern sculpture park that occupies the old churchyard.
Midley was founded in the 14th century on what was then an island of higher ground in the Marsh. Flooding and silting forced the parish to be abandoned by the 1500s, and the church was gradually robbed for stone. Today only the lone west arch stands in the field — one of the most striking remains on Romney Marsh.
the ruins of midley church on romney marsh kent south east England UK
Eastbridge was a later medieval parish that stood between Ivychurch and Newchurch. It declined rapidly in the 16th century as water management changed and the local population moved away. The remains sit behind a cottage off Chapel Lane, half-hidden in scrub with a short footpath cut through the bushes to reach the site.
The ruins of Eastbridge church on the Romney Marsh Kent south east England UK
Map: Eastbridge Church Ruins (Chapel Lane) View on Google Maps
St Thomas à Becket, Fairfield
Fairfield is the complete contrast — a 13th-century church that survived while the other parishes vanished. Rebuilt in brick in the 1790s to replace the failing timber structure, it still stands alone in the fields and remains consecrated today. The drainage channels and wide open skies make it one of the most photogenic churches in Kent.
Rolling evening clouds over St Thomas A Becket Church on Romney Marsh Kent south east England UK
Hope, Midley and Eastbridge all tell the same story: marshland, shifting water and the long decline of settlement across Romney Marsh. Fairfield tells the opposite — a parish that endured.
Together they form one of the most atmospheric and historically rich landscapes in the South East.
Related Posts
Broomhill Sands – East Sussex Coast Long beach and shingle on the Romney Marsh edge.
Brookland Church – Timber Tower of Romney Marsh One of the Marsh’s most distinctive standing churches.
St George’s Ivychurch – The Cathedral of the Marsh A vast medieval church dominating the landscape.
Denge Sound Mirrors – Early Acoustic Defence Historic concrete listening structures on the edge of the Marsh.
Scotney Castle is unusual because it isn’t one building but two. Down by the water sits the medieval Old Castle, once a fortified manor. Above it stands the 1830s New House, built deliberately to overlook the ruins. Together they form one of the most photographed estates in Kent.
Below is the short video showing both parts of the estate:
A wider look at Scotney: the Old Castle in the moat and the New House in the landscape.
The Old Castle dates to the mid-14th century, when Kent was vulnerable to coastal raids during the Hundred Years’ War. It was never a full fortress, but a moated, defensible manor built to protect the family and estate during periods of instability.
Scotney castle
By the 1830s the Hussey family wanted a modern home, so the New House was built on the hill. Rather than demolish the medieval structure, they turned it into a romantic garden feature. The valley below was landscaped so that the ruins were always the centre of the view from the new house.
Exploring the Site
The Old Castle: Only part of the original structure survives – the gate tower, a hall range wall and the moat. Time, water and ivy soften the remaining stonework, making it one of the most recognisable scenes in the region.
The New House: A classic Victorian country house built for comfort, with long views across the valley. The design intentionally frames the Old Castle, showing how 19th-century landscaping turned medieval remains into a feature rather than a burden.
The Grounds: Lakes, woodland paths, and carefully planted slopes connect both buildings. The entire estate is a managed blend of medieval history and Victorian landscaping.
Practical Info
Location: Scotney Castle, near Lamberhurst, Kent (National Trust).
Access: Paid National Trust entry. Parking on site. Easy walking across the gardens.
Best Time to Visit: Spring for rhododendrons, summer for reflections in the moat, autumn for colours around the valley, winter for clear views of the ruin.
Nearby:
Bodiam Castle – a classic moated fortress with a complete exterior.
St Thomas à Becket at Fairfield is the church most people recognise instantly from Romney Marsh — a single, isolated building in the middle of vast grazing fields, with sheep, water channels and open landscape stretching in every direction.
Although the other medieval parishes around here vanished centuries ago, Fairfield survived. The result is a site that feels both historic and photographic at the same time: part heritage, part natural sculpture.
Here’s the YouTube Short that introduces the location:
A short walk across the fields brings you right up to the church, and on the right light it becomes one of the most rewarding photographic spots anywhere in Kent.
Most of Romney Marsh’s medieval parishes didn’t survive. Places like Hope, Midley and Eastbridge were abandoned by the 1500s as flooding, drainage problems and shifting settlement patterns emptied the land.
Fairfield, however, took a different path.
13th-century origins
The original church was built in the 13th century, constructed on wooden piles driven into the marshy ground. It served a tiny farming community long since faded from the map.
1790s reconstruction
By the late 1700s the old timber-framed structure was failing, and the whole building was rebuilt in brick around 1792–1800. The interior fittings — including the Georgian box pews and pulpit — were brought here from a church in Snargate.
Still consecrated today
Despite its isolation, the church remains consecrated and still holds occasional services. It’s one of the only original marsh churches to stand more or less untouched by development.
A landscape shaped by water
Drainage channels, sheep fields and open skies dominate the area. At certain times of year, when the fields are saturated or flooded, the church appears to float above the reflections — one of the reasons it has become such a magnet for photographers.
A Photographer’s Gem
Photographically, Fairfield is exceptional because it offers:
Wide compositions
There is almost nothing around it. Every direction gives clean framing with long lead-ins, perfect for both stills and video.
Rolling evening clouds over St Thomas A Becket Church on Romney Marsh Kent south east England UK
Minimalism and mood
Cloud cover, mist, and winter light create soft tonal transitions that suit:
long exposure
black and white
pastel colour edits
silhouettes against dusk
360-degree access
The path allows the whole building to be photographed from every angle without obstruction.
Long-exposure potential
On calm days, the drainage ditches reflect the church beautifully. On windy days, long exposures turn the grass and clouds into soft textured motion.
Seasonal variation
Winter gives you saturated marsh colours and dramatic skies. Summer gives you dry grass, warm tones and clear geometry.
Your long-exposure shots of the church fit exactly into this environment — a quiet, timeless landscape where the Marsh seems to pause itself for the camera.
Practical Info
Location: Fairfield, Romney Marsh, Kent — in the fields west of Newchurch and north of Lydd.
Official Information: For historical background, service details and the church’s preserved status, visit the Romney Marsh Historic Churches Trust page for Fairfield. It’s the most accurate and up-to-date source on St Thomas à Becket Church.
Access: Park at the lay-by on Fairfield Road (TQ 949 275), then follow the footpath across the fields. The route is flat but can be very muddy in winter.
If you want to go inside the church the key can be recovered from the cottage nearby on the side of the road.
Best Time to Visit:
Early morning for soft light over the marsh
Late afternoon for warm sidelight
Winter and early spring for reflections in the drainage channels
Calm days for long-exposure photography
Nearby:
Brookland Church – Unique detached timber tower and medieval interior.
St George’s Ivychurch – Known as the “Cathedral of the Marsh.”
Broomhill Sands – Wide beach and shingle for coastal photography.
Early one September morning, I filmed Battle Abbey from the town square as golden light hit the stone gatehouse. From there I launched the drone to get a full view of the site — the gatehouse, the surviving ranges, the ruins of the abbey church, and the fields where King Harold was said to have fallen in 1066.
Battle Abbey was founded by William the Conqueror as an act of penance following the Battle of Hastings in 1066. According to tradition, the high altar of the abbey church was placed on the very spot where King Harold was killed, marking the turning point in English history.
The abbey grew into one of Sussex’s most important monastic houses. Much of what stands today is the 14th-century gatehouse, built over an earlier Norman core, controlling access to the precinct.
The Gatehouse and Precinct
The gatehouse dominates the town square and remains one of the most complete medieval monastic gatehouses in England. It was both a symbol of authority and a checkpoint controlling access to the abbey’s lands and storehouses.
The impressive battle abbey gatehouse in east Sussex south east England UK
Behind it lies the west range, which survived largely intact because it was reused after the Dissolution of the Monasteries under Henry VIII. It became a private residence and later Battle Abbey School, which still occupies the buildings today.
The Ruins and the Battlefield
Little remains of the abbey church and cloister, but from the air the plan is still visible — the cloister to the south, chapter house and dormitory to the east, and refectory on the south range.
battle abbey ruins
Beyond the walls stretch the fields traditionally known as the 1066 battlefield, where Harold’s army faced William’s Norman forces. Alternative theories place the battle at Caldbec Hill or Crowhurst, but Battle remains the most widely accepted site.
A Site of Survival
Battle Abbey’s condition today owes much to reuse and repair. Unlike the weathered civic gates of Rye and Winchelsea, this monastic gatehouse was adapted, maintained, and lived in. English Heritage now manages the site, preserving both the ruins and the memory of England’s defining battle.
Practical Info
Location: Battle, East Sussex Access: Public entrance via the town square; English Heritage admission applies Best Time to Visit: Early morning or late afternoon for light on the stonework Nearby:
Tucked away in the valley of the River Teise, Bayham Abbey is one of the most atmospheric ruins on the Sussex–Kent border. Founded in 1208 for the Premonstratensian order, it was once a thriving monastery of white-robed canons devoted to prayer and labour. Today the site is cared for by English Heritage and remains a hauntingly beautiful reminder of medieval devotion and Tudor upheaval.
Watch the short below for a glimpse of the ruins and autumn colours around the site.
A landscape steeped in history, Bayham Abbey straddles the boundary between East Sussex and Kent — the River Teise running through the grounds marks the official county line. Most of the abbey ruins lie just inside East Sussex, while the old entrance and later estate houses fall within Kent.
Bayham Abbey was established in 1208 when two smaller Premonstratensian houses — Otham in Sussex and Brockley in Kent — were merged into a new foundation on the River Teise. The order followed the rule of St Augustine, living communally with a focus on simplicity and self-sufficiency.
Bayham abbey ruins on the river Teise valley
For more than three centuries, Bayham flourished. Its sandstone church, cloisters and chapter house formed a compact but impressive complex, surrounded by farmland and woodland owned by the abbey. Like so many monastic houses, it met its end in the 1530s during the Dissolution under Henry VIII. The property was seized by the Crown and the buildings quickly fell into ruin.
By the 18th century, the romantic decay of the abbey became part of a landscaped estate. A smaller house was built beside the ruins to frame the arches as a garden feature. In the early 19th century, architect Decimus Burton designed Bayham Old Abbey House on the hill above — a grand mansion overlooking both valley and ruins.
Visiting Today
Today, the abbey remains are managed by English Heritage and open to visitors. The ruins stand within a peaceful riverside meadow, surrounded by trees and gentle slopes. You can still trace the outlines of the church, cloisters and chapter house, with the tall west front and crossing arches rising above the grass.
bayham old abbey ruins
It’s a quiet site, ideal for photography in early morning or late afternoon light. Autumn brings rich colour to the surrounding woodland, while spring reveals carpets of wildflowers along the banks of the Teise.
Practical Info
Location: Bayham Abbey, Furnace Lane, Little Bayham, Tunbridge Wells TN3 8LP Access: Small English Heritage car park on site (free for members). Best Time to Visit: Early morning or late afternoon for soft light; autumn and spring for colour. Nearby:
Scotney Castle – a romantic moated house and gardens nearby in Lamberhurst.
Bewl Water – large reservoir offering walks and cycling routes.
Batemans – the former home of Rudyard Kipling near Burwash.
