South Downs National Park

Hidden gems in South Downs National Park

Explore the archaeological and architectural heritage of the South Downs through these ten historic sites. The collection features Norman fortifications like Bramber Castle and the 12th-century Wolvesey Castle, alongside medieval religious ruins including Boxgrove and Lewes Priories. Prehistoric landscapes are represented by Bronze Age burial mounds at Heyshott Down and the Devil’s Humps. The region's industrial past is preserved in restored 18th and 19th-century windmills at High Salvington and Polegate, offering a quiet perspective on the area's long human history.

Hidden Gems — Map

Beata May / CC BY-SA 4.0

A

Wolvesey Castle

The 12th-century ruins of the palatial residence of the Bishops of Winchester. This medieval site served as a setting for royal weddings and political intrigue before its destruction during the English Civil War.

Phillip Capper / CC BY 2.0

B

Bramber Castle

Remains of a Norman motte-and-bailey castle established shortly after the 1066 conquest. The site features a prominent 14-meter-high gatehouse tower and defensive earthworks overlooking the River Adur.

Top Cat 14 / CC-BY-SA-3.0

C

The Priory of St Pancras

Lewes Priory is a part-demolished medieval Cluniac priory in Lewes, East Sussex in the United Kingdom.

Jim Champion / CC BY-SA 2.0

D

Bishop's Waltham Palace

Bishop's Waltham Palace is a moated Bishop's Palace ruin in Bishop's Waltham, Hampshire, England.

Dick Jones / CC BY-SA 3.0

E

Boxgrove Priory.

Boxgrove Priory is a ruined priory in the village of Boxgrove in Sussex, England. It was founded in the 12th century.

F

The Church of St Mary, Treyford

Known as the "Cathedral of the Downs," these Victorian ruins date to 1849. The church was abandoned in the early 20th century due to structural subsidence, leaving behind an atmospheric stone shell.

G

Heyshott Down Round Barrow Cemetery

A collection of Bronze Age burial mounds situated on a high ridge. The cemetery includes several well-preserved bowl and bell barrows overlooking the surrounding landscape.

H

Devil’s Humps

Four prominent Bronze Age burial mounds located on Bow Hill. These tumuli, consisting of two bell barrows and two pond barrows, date back over 3,000 years.

I

High Salvington Windmill

A restored post mill built around 1750, standing 320 feet above sea level. It remains in working order and occasionally grinds grain using traditional methods during public open days.

J

Polegate Windmill

A brick tower mill constructed in 1817. The site functions as a museum, showcasing original milling machinery across four floors and a collection of local agricultural tools.

Other Lists

South Downs National Park Essentials South Downs Highlights Historic Castles & Manors Museums & Galleries Scenic Viewpoints