Berwick (pronounced/ˈbɜːrwɪk/BUR-wik^[3] or, more recently,/ˈbɛrɪk/BERR-ik) is a village andcivil parish in theWealden district ofEast Sussex in England. The village lies immediately to the south of theA27 road betweenLewes andPolegate, about three miles (4.8 km) west of the latter. The parish is located in theRiver Cuckmerefloodplain, north of theSouth Downs.

Berwick
St Michael & All Angels' Church, Berwick
Berwick Location withinEast Sussex
Area	5.0 km2 (1.9 sq mi) [1]
Population	380 (Parish-2011)[2]
• Density	149/sq mi (58/km2)
OS grid reference	TQ518051
• London	48 miles (77 km)NNW
District	Wealden
Shire county	East Sussex
Region	South East
Country	England
Sovereign state	United Kingdom
Post town	POLEGATE
Postcode district	BN26
Dialling code	01323
Police	Sussex
Fire	East Sussex
Ambulance	South East Coast
UK Parliament	Lewes
List of places UK England East Sussex 50°50′N0°09′E / 50.83°N 0.15°E /50.83; 0.15

The place-name 'Berwick' is here first attested in theDomesday Book of 1086, where it appears asBerewice.^[4] The name means 'corn farm'.^[5]

There are twopublic houses in the parish: theBerwick Inn near the railway station, andThe Cricketers, in the village itself. The village also has an example of a "K6"red telephone box.

Part of the UnitedBenefice of Arlington, Berwick,Selmeston-with-Alciston and Wilmington, the church dedicated to St Michael and All Angels, is a Grade 1listed building.^[6] Built on what may be a pre-Christian sacred site, the church dates back at least to the 12th century, although theSaxon frontage appears to be earlier.^[7] Additions were made in the 14th century, and a tower built in 1603, originally with a spire. The building suffered in the 18th century, losing its spire to lightning on 8 August 1773.

SeveralVictorian leaded windows were damaged byWorld War II bombs on 17 October 1944. They were replaced by clear glass, unusual in churches, for fear of further damage. However, some of the church's stained-glass windows survived.

The clear-glass windows help to illuminate the church's unique murals. Partly inspired by the pre-Reformation practice of decorating churches with murals, these were painted in 1941 byDuncan Grant,Vanessa Bell, andQuentin Bell, of theBloomsbury Group. The murals depict local people, sometimes in period clothes, but set in biblical scenes.

Berwick Station is a small settlement that has grown up aroundBerwick railway station. Located about two miles (3.2 km) north of the main village of Berwick, Berwick Station includes a garage and a pub called the Berwick Inn (previously The Fullers' Arms). TheVanguard Way, which linksCroydon andNewhaven, runs through the village.

Berwick railway station lies on theEast Coastway Line betweenGlynde andPolegate railway stations.

The Ludlay Brick and Tile Company comprised a clay pit and a brick-works. The works were established by 1880 and were close to Berwick Church. The two were linked by a 2' gauge tramway. Until about 1950 bricks were only made during the summer because it was not possible to dry them in winter. Some work was done during winter, digging clay and piling it up to 'weather'. The works closed in 1965, remaining derelict for 54 years and a dense forest grew around it, until Firle Estate blocked off the path through the derelict building and cut down all the trees.^[8][9]

TheVanguard Way, a long-distance walk, goes through the village, and theSouth Downs Way passes along theDowns just above it. Walkers often stop and travel down into the village. A common walk in this area is to start at the village car park, walk down the road known as The Village, past Church Farm and the tyre heap, and on to the dilapidated New Barn, just a few years ago an important store for hay from the surrounding fields, but now falling apart. This building is made of attractive red-rusting iron and next to it is an old stone farmhouse - currently unused and overgrown with plants, but in good condition, it is home towood warblers in the summer andgrey wagtails often feed by it. The hedgerows in this area are excellent for bird life and a lot ofrabbits can be seen hopping around. Walks can continue from the New Barn up along a shaded avenue to a large hedgerow full ofblackberries in autumn. From here there is a winding path up onto the Downs and this is where the walker meets the South Downs Way. One can then continue intoAlfriston. The area at the end of this walk is home tored foxes.

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