Fernhurst | |
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The Green |
|
Fernhurst shown within West Sussex | |
Area | 23.37 km2 (9.02 sq mi) |
Population | 2,942. 2011 Census |
• Density | 118/km2 (310/sq mi) |
OS grid reference | SU896284 |
• London | 41 miles (66 km) NE |
Civil parish |
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District | |
Shire county | |
Region | |
Country | England |
Sovereign state | United Kingdom |
Post town | HASLEMERE |
Postcode district | GU27 3 |
Dialling code | 01428 |
Police | Sussex |
Fire | West Sussex |
Ambulance | South East Coast |
EU Parliament | South East England |
UK Parliament | |
Fernhurst is a village and civil parish in the Chichester District of West Sussex, England. It is located on the A286 Guildford to Chichester road, three miles (5 km) south of Haslemere. The parish includes the settlements of Henley Common, Kingsley Green and Bell Vale and is sited within the boundaries of the South Downs National Park.
The area of the parish is 2337 hectares (5772 acres). In the 2001 census there were 1,158 households with a total population of 2,765 of whom 1,244 were economically active. The population had increased to 2,942 at the 2011 Census.
The village is surrounded by hills, including Telegraph Hill 676 feet (206 m), Marley Heights 700 feet (210 m), Bexley Hill 600 feet (180 m), Fridays Hill 675 feet (206 m) and the highest hill in Sussex, Blackdown 919 feet (280 m) to the northeast. It is surrounded by miles of footpaths, the path to the summit of Blackdown commencing at the Red Lion.
The village, on the Weald, originally developed around crossroads (The Cross) and the village green, and ancient remains (Stone Age and Roman) have been found here. Iron working took place in the 17th/18th centuries; and a turnpike ran through the village. The church, dedicated to St Margaret, (c. 1100) and Red Lion pub are located here and several old houses still remain. With the coming of the railway to Haslemere the village developed around and beyond The Cross, and since the 1960s the village has expanded further westwards. The village houses a commuter population, attracted by the proximity of Haslemere railway station.
In November 2006 the Fernhurst Society published a book, "Voices of Fernhurst", comprising edited extracts of oral history interviews with local villagers.
An electoral ward in the same name exists. This ward includes Linchmere and had at the 2011 census a total ward population of 5,334.