. . . .The parish contains the villages, Binsted, Fontwell, and Walberton.together with Havenwood Park. The population at the 1991 Census was 1,945.
. . . .Walberton was a flourishing village in Saxon times with a population of 35 men and their families at the time of the Domesday survey. It is situated just to the south of the South Downs. The north-east of the parish, Rewell Wood, is within the Area of Outstanding Natural Beauty. The A27 highway runs along part of the northern boundary of the parish and provides relatively easy access to Chichester and Worthing for commuters and shoppers. Littlehampton and Bognor Regis are also within easy reach. There is a community bus service, several supermarkets run free buses, and thre are regular hourly bus services to Arundel, Barnham, Bognor Regis, and Chichester. Timetables and other information are available in a the "Bus Fact Sheet" which is available from the Post Office for 15p. Train services run from Barnham Station, about 2 miles away, to Bognor Regis, Bournemouth, Brighton, Littlehampton, London, Portsmouth, Southampton, Swansea, and Winchester.
. . . .Walberton
residents are very active and the village received "Best Kept Village" awards in 1975, 1976, and 1979.
There are numerous societies and
groups, a Village School which dates from 1732, a Village Hall (built in 1989),
three public houses, a Post Office (which contains a tearoom), six shops, plus three in Fontwell,
as well as a four-star hotel, and the village garage in The Street. In Fontwell
there are also a large filling station and a Travelodge.
. . . .The Church of St. Mary in Walberton was founded in Saxon times. The first known priest was Acard in 1086. The Saxon font and west wall remain with additions in the 11th, 13th, and later centuries. The Lychgate is an unusual war memorial.
. . . .The main fabric of Binsted church is 12th century although the font seems to be 11th century. During a major restoration in 1868 the interior was found to be covered with wall paintings but, unfortunately these have now faded and only one can be made out.
. . . .The Baptist chapel, which replaces a meeting house registered in 1714, was opened in 1886.
. . . .The village green
with unique gateway commemorating King George V's Jubilee and pond are attractive features
which visitors stop to admire. Fishermen seek the large carp and other fish in the pond.
Walberton Park is a most attractive building and there are many 18th C. dwellings
giving charm and character. Buildings, formerly bakery, brewery, dairy, forge, housing,
malt-house, and mills, are still in use, mainly as dwellings.
A stroll along The Street s much more interesting if you have a copy of John Eyre's "An Imagined Stroll through the Centre of Walberton in 1894" which Mike Roddham has prepared and illustrated with up-to-date photographs.
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. . .Walberton celebrated the Millennium with a week of events that culminated
in the burial of a "Millennium Capsule" to provide a record of Walberton in the year 2000.
A plaque was added beside those for the three "Best Kept Village" awards.
The village is very attractive and the photo of the front of one of the houses in
Homefield Crescent, below, is not untypical.
. . . .The village is surrounded by attractive countryside bordering on the
South Downs with a number of footpaths that give plenty of
attractive walks through woods and farmland, although, to the south, horticultural nurseries
have taken an increasing share of the land in recent years.
. . . .If you intend visiting Walberton click here to view the accomodation available.