A Brief History
“Many people imagine a village as a charming, old-fashioned picture postcard of village green, church, manor house and perhaps a bridge over a trickling stream. The quiet ‘village’ of Warningcamp once had a few of these, but villages evolve. Villages are never uniform; they are built and rebuilt, roads are re-aligned, the centre of settlements may move and the land is used for different purposes.
People often miss Warningcamp, on the east bank of the River Arun opposite Arundel, on their way to Burpham. It is a very linear development stretched out mainly along the east-west road from the River Arun. It has altered its boundaries over the centuries to include Calceto Priory and Clay Lane; hence they are included where relevant.
At this present time they come under Lyminster Parish, with the southern boundary of Warningcamp stretching through the woods to the Dover. An ancient boundry bank can still be seen near the ditch. The highest point near the north-east boundary is at 58m. The underlaying geology of alluvial flood plain, chalk, head, Reading beds, and clay with flints…”
“Views of the Castle remind us that much of the land has been in the ownership of its occupiers, especially whenWarningcamp was a Manor.
Warningcamp’s facilities consist of two post boxes and a bus shelter. This lends to it officially being a hamlet (no church, no school, pub or shop).
Walkers can frequently be seen passing through the village, especially those following the Monarch’s Way which takes visitors past the telephone box.
“The oldest surviving buildings are timber-framed from the 16th century.
There was a village school from the 19th century until it closed in 1926. Warningcamp chapel dated from the 12th century, until the late 18th century. In the 19th century the village school building was used as a chapel which finally was closed in the 1960’s.Warningcamp has even been called a ‘township’. The population once reached 200, but now is about 156 (2011 sensus). The Former Arundel Youth Hostel, actually in Warningcamp, brought in some 7,000 visitors a year.
The community spirit at present, although not necessarily visible to the passing motorist, has once again brought the village to life. A completion of our village map decided that the village should be summed up as ‘A tranquil corner of England where the villagers are able to live in harmony with nature.’ “
Above excerpts taken with thanks, from the book
‘Warningcamp: The History of a Sussex Community’ by Mary Barber. (2002)
Importance of the river Arun
“The River probably attracted the early settlers to Warningcamp as a natural routeway. Waterways were important, and roads were built to the ford and later wharves. Warningcamp had a wharf marked on early maps next to the River Arun near the present railway crossing, as did Buprham and Bury..”
We are looking for information and history about the village, plus seasonal pictures.
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