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.
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.
At the edge of Newhaven Harbour, where the River Ouse meets the sea, the white tower of Newhaven Lighthouse has stood since 1885. Built to guide ships safely into port, it rises at the end of the long breakwater, facing the full force of the English Channel. On stormy days the waves hammer the seawall and crash against the lighthouse itself, turning this working harbour into one of the most dramatic sights on the Sussex coast.
Watch the short video here:
Filmed during storm conditions, the footage captures the lighthouse from several vantage points — down on West Beach, up on the cliffs by Newhaven Fort, and across from Seaford Beach.
Newhaven Lighthouse was built at the end of the 19th century, when the harbour was expanding to handle cross-channel trade. The breakwater provided protection for ships entering the River Ouse, while the lighthouse itself ensured vessels could find safe passage in poor weather.
Storm Watching on the Sussex Coast
The harbour wall and West Beach are particularly dramatic in stormy conditions, when waves break over the seawall in bursts of spray.
Newhaven lighthouse storms
Photographers and sightseers often gather along Seaford seafront or up by the fort to capture the power of the sea. Although public access along the “Long Arm” pier to the lighthouse has been closed since 2008, the surrounding viewpoints still offer some of the most striking storm scenes in Sussex.
Practical Info
Location: Newhaven, East Sussex, at the mouth of the River Ouse.
Access: Best viewed from Seaford Beach, West Beach, or the cliffs near Newhaven Fort. The Long Arm and sandy West Beach area remain closed to the public.
Best Time to Visit: During stormy or windy weather, especially when the tide is high — though always from a safe distance.
Above the village of Litlington stands a striking chalk figure carved into the hillside – the Litlington White Horse. From here the landscape opens into the Cuckmere Valley, a place of sky, river, and history. High and Over, the nearby viewpoint, is one of the best places to take it all in, with sweeping views over the South Downs to the sea.
A closer look at the White Horse and valley – watch the full video here:
The Litlington White Horse is a chalk hill figure first cut in 1924 by local villagers. It replaced an earlier horse that had faded into the grass and scrub. While it may not be as ancient as the Uffington figure in Oxfordshire,
white horse of Litlington high and over south downs
it has become a much-loved landmark of East Sussex. Chalk figures like this are a reminder of human imprint on the Downs – visible for miles, yet fragile without upkeep.
High and Over
The headland above Litlington is known as High and Over – a name that perfectly fits its lofty position. This spot offers one of the best viewpoints in the South Downs National Park.
mistly morning high and over cuckmere valley
On a clear day, you can see the Cuckmere meanders winding their way to the sea at Cuckmere Haven, with Seaford Head and the Seven Sisters cliffs beyond.
Cuckmere Valley and River
The Cuckmere is unique as the only Sussex river to cut directly through the chalk South Downs to the sea in a natural valley. Its meandering curves near Exceat are famous among walkers, photographers, and artists. These sweeping bends are classic river features – oxbow shapes that one day may form oxbow lakes when cut off from the main channel. The valley itself remains a beautiful, largely unspoilt landscape.
Lullington and Surroundings
To the east lies Lullington, a hamlet claimed to have the smallest church in England. Walking down Church Lane here, with sunlight spilling across the fields, gives a timeless sense of rural Sussex. Goats grazing the chalk slopes and paragliders drifting above complete the scene – an ever-changing picture of people and nature.
Practical Info
Location: Litlington White Horse, near Alfriston, East Sussex.
Access: Car park at High and Over; footpaths lead to the horse and along the valley.
Best Time to Visit: Clear days for views; late afternoon light gives drama to the valley.
