Blackdown, Sussex
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| Black Down | |
|---|---|
 View of Black Down, painted by Helen Allingham, 1902 |
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| Elevation | 280 metres (919 feet) |
| Location | Sussex, England |
| Prominence | 191 m |
| Topo map | OS Landranger 197 |
| OS grid reference | SU919296 |
| Listing | Marilyn |
Blackdown is the highest hill in the county of West Sussex, at 280 meters (918 feet), and is second only to Leith Hill (295 meters, 968 feet) in southeast England. The pine and heather-covered slopes are owned by the National Trust, and are a favourite walking spot. Blackdown has strong literary associations with the poet Alfred, Lord Tennyson.
Blackdown should not be confused with the Blackdown Hills of Somerset, or Blackdown village in Warwickshire.
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[edit] Location
The great black mass of Blackdown looms over much of the Weald of West Sussex, and southwest Surrey. The hill lies about 2 km south of Haslemere, and its northern slopes in fact lie within the county of Surrey. There are no villages on Blackdown, but Fernhurst is just to the southwest, and Lurgashall to the southeast. There are National Trust car parks on Tennyson's Lane, which runs up Haste Hill from Haslemere,and a footpath from the town centre. It is also possible to walk to Blackdown from Lurgashall, although this means walking up the steep southern escarpment. Blackdown is crossed by the Sussex Border Path.
The secluded sunken lane that runs from Haslemere past Aldworth is named Tennyson's Lane in memory of the poet. It is little changed from Arthur Paterson's description in 1905:
Trees meet overhead, copsewood surrounds it, and later, it is hedged by high sandy banks thickly overgrown with plant and scrub; squirrels and rabbits, and all other small woodland creatures, disport themselves over it. It twists and turns, and to the stranger appears to lead nowhere in particular.
[edit] Natural history
The acid sandstone of Blackdown limits the range of plants. Until the beginning of the 20th century, Blackdown was a grazed common. Trees were kept down by sheep, and heather dominated. Since the end of regular grazing, Scots Pine has become the dominant plant. The National Trust carries out a programme of tree-felling and controlled burning to maintain some areas of open heath. Blackdown is an important habitat for insects and birds.
A geological relief model of Blackdown, and much information on its natural history, can be found in the Haslemere Educational Museum.
[edit] History
Although common land, Blackdown was the property of various landowners until W. E. Hunter donated it to the National Trust in 1948, as a memorial to his wife. The Hunters are remembered by an inscribed stone seat at the Temple of the Winds. Flint artefacts, and the name of an ancient track, Pen-y-bos, are evidence of prehistoric occupation. Blackdown is managed by the National Trust, with guidance and financial assistance from the Blackdown Committee of the National Trust.
As well as Aldworth (just visible from the footpath leading down to Roundhurst), a number of other interesting private houses will be passed by walkers. These include Blackdown House, to the west, surrounded by daffodils in the spring, and Old Manor Farm (previously Upper Roundhurst Farm) on Tennyson's Lane.
Because of its elevation, from 1796 to 1816 Blackdown hosted a station in the shutter telegraph chain which connected the Admiralty in London to its naval ships in Portsmouth.
[edit] Lord Tennyson
Aside from its height and its wild beauty, Blackdown is best known as the site of the poet's house, Aldworth. Keen to escape the summer 'trippers' who came to his Isle of Wight home, Faringford, Tennyson purchased Blackdown, and built Aldworth in 1869. The French-style Gothic house was designed by Sir James Knowles and is built of local sandstone. It stands on a ridge overlooking the Weald, with magnificent views. Lord Tennyson used Aldworth as his summer residence, taking long walks over Blackdown. He died in the house on 6 October 1892.
Helen Allingham was a frequent visitor to Aldworth in Tennyson's time, and her charming illustrations to The homes of Tennyson vividly capture the landscape of Blackdown.
[edit] Attractions
Despite some air noise from (high) Gatwick-bound planes, Blackdown is an exceptionally tranquil, wild and beautiful place. There are superb views (said to reach as far as the sea) over the Weald from the Temple of the Winds, at the southern end of Blackdown. The dry, sandy paths of Blackdown are ideal for children. In the autumn bilberries and blackberries can be picked.
[edit] References
- Paterson, Arthur and Helen Allingham (1905). The homes of Tennyson. London: A&C Black.
- Blackdown Committee, National Trust (n.d. (1980s)). Blackdown and Marley Common.
[edit] Further reading
- Trotter, Wilfred Robert (2003). The hilltop writers, Second edition, Grayshott: John Owen Smith. ISBN 1-873855-31-1. Well-written book on the many writers (including Tennyson) who settled around Haslemere after the coming of the railway in 1859.
[edit] External links
- Lurgashall circular walk. The Argus. Retrieved on January 05, 2006.
- Walk #609: Haslemere to Liphook. British walks. Retrieved on January 07, 2006.
- Haslemere Educational Museum
- Freemap has maps of footpaths in the Blackdown area, including routes from Haslemere and Fernhurst.
- Blackdown Mountain Bike Route Also routes from Blackdown to Fernhurst and Linchmere
