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
It's election year, and from May we are about to have a new Parish Council and a new Parish Clerk. Information here about your Council, meetings, current issues, agendas, parish documents and statutory information.
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
After a three-year absence the renowned Rodmell Panto made a welcome return with a performance of Aladdin. Read the review here in the News section, plus information on everything to do with the village.
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. Most of them are back to post-Covid normal, but the Good Neighbour Scheme is still 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 recent wine awards.