Rodmell is a small, quiet and charming village nestling in some of the finest scenery of the South Downs. It lies in the lower valley of the Ouse some four miles south of Lewes, the County Town of East Sussex, and a similar distance north of the port of Newhaven, home of the Dieppe ferry. There has been a village here since at least the time of William the Conqueror, and our little church, dedicated to St. Peter, dates back to Saxon times.
The name might be derived from “The Mill on the Road”, or from the red mould that gives a warm colouring to the surrounding fields of this rich farming country. Nowadays far fewer of our two hundred or so households are involved in farming, and sadly – here as elsewhere – many traditional countryside crafts are dying out, but we remain a diverse community with a strong sense of the importance of our village life.
Ours is a village of great character with many lovely old buildings. Most people outside of the area probably know Rodmell as the country home of Virginia and Leonard Woolf, scions of the Bloomsbury Group, whose home, Monk’s House, enjoys spectacular views and is now a National Trust property. For walkers Rodmell, with its excellent pub, is a popular watering hole on the South Downs Way. Whatever your motivation, Rodmell will not disappoint.
Rodmell Parish Council
Find out about your Parish Council and the people on it, and check times of our meetings (all virtual at the moment). We are required by law to put parish documents and other statutory information on the site; you can read these and find out the issues the Council is spending its time on.
Accessibility
This site is run by the Parish Council and we have tried to make it as easy as possible to understand. However, if you have a disability and find some parts are not fully accessible you can look at our Accessibility Statement, which gives advice on what to do to get the information that you require.
Latest Village News
As lockdown ended and we looked forward to Christmas and a more normal rhythm, we found ourselves dumped into Tier 4 with more restrictions than ever. The pub will be still be delivering takeaways, but will have to close - temporarily we hope - from Christmas Eve, and the Village Hall isn’t open either, though the library is still operating.
Local Businesses
We have many small businesses operating in our community, including B&B accommodation, local artists, cakemakers, decorators and property maintenance, an award-winning vineyard, and many more. Tell us if you'd like your business included.
Groups and Activities
Rodmell has plenty of groups dedicated to all sorts of things from children's activities to sports and horticulture. Whilst most of them aren't happening at present, the Good Neighbour Scheme has been working hard for anybody needing help
Around Rodmell
Take a tour of the village, old and new, find out about the church and Monks House, and see some of the books that have been written about Rodmell or by Rodmell people. And read about the success of our local vineyard, Breaky Bottom, in this year's wine awards.