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Polegate

Polegate
Polegate mill.jpg
The windmill
Polegate is located in East Sussex
Polegate
Polegate
Polegate shown within East Sussex
Area 7.3 km2 (2.8 sq mi) 
Population 8,586 (2011)
• Density 2,853/sq mi (1,102/km2)
OS grid reference TQ587058
• London 49 miles (79 km) NNW
District
Shire county
Region
Country England
Sovereign state United Kingdom
Post town POLEGATE
Postcode district BN26
Dialling code 01323
Police Sussex
Fire East Sussex
Ambulance South East Coast
EU Parliament South East England
UK Parliament
Website http://www.polegate-tc.co.uk/
List of places
UK
England
East Sussex
50°49′18″N 0°14′39″E / 50.8216°N 0.2442°E / 50.8216; 0.2442Coordinates: 50°49′18″N 0°14′39″E / 50.8216°N 0.2442°E / 50.8216; 0.2442

Polegate is a town and civil parish in the Wealden District of East Sussex, England, United Kingdom. It is located five miles (8 km) north of the seaside resort of Eastbourne, and is part of the greater area of that town. Although once a railway settlement, its importance as such has now waned with closures of routes. The parish of Polegate had a population of 8586 on the 2011 census of which 41.2% were aged 65 and over.

Until the coming of the railways in the 1840s, Polegate was a small settlement within the parish of Hailsham. The Roman road from Pevensey to Lewes passed through here, and the turnpike between London and Eastbourne was developed in the 18th century; but it was the opening of the railway between Lewes and Hastings, with later branches to Eastbourne and Hailsham, that meant growth for Polegate. It became a significant junction, with a freight terminal serving both the nearby market town of Hailsham and the local brick making industry. The town grew partly to accommodate the railway employees.

In the 12th century, the Premonstratensian order of monks occupied Otham Abbey in the parish, before relocating around 1208 to Bayham Abbey, near Lamberhurst. Two buildings remain of that time, Otteham Court and its Chapel.

In 1851 a church school was established in Polegate.

St John's Church was opened on 10 November 1876. The site of the church and the parsonage was donated by Mr Fuller-Meyrick, owner of the Brightling Park Estate. The separate parish of St John's was formed on 26 October 1937, with the first vicar being Rev. John Catterall Salisbury (he had been curate since 1933). In 2013 the Parsonage building in Church Road was sold by the Diocese.

In the 21st century, with the closure of the line to Hailsham and the once direct route to Hastings, its importance as a railway hub has gone. It remains a road junction, with the erstwhile turnpike now being the A22 road; the junction with the A27 lies within the town boundary.


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Wikipedia

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