All about Hollingbury, a city suburb with ancient roots
Hollingbury, a city suburb with Iron Age roots
Hollingbury sits on a steep hill north of the city, above Patcham in the valley to the west.
Coldean sits to the east, also nestled in its own dry chalk valley, and the area’s northernmost boundary is the A26 bypass, a practical but ugly scar on the downland landscape.
Posh and leafy Surrenden is to the south, as is the bustling Fiveways junction and local shopping area.
Trig points and Iron Age forts
The area covers most of an ancient Iron Age fort and camp called Hollingbury Camp or Hollingbury Castle. It’s pretty high above sea level at 584 feet, dating back to the 6th century BC, featuring spectacular views.
The hill is also home to a triangulation station, also known as a trig point, a fixed surveying station used for determining the distances and relative positions of other points in the city for building and other infrastructure projects.
The hill fort itself is in Hollingbury Park, once known as the Rocket Park by locals because of the shape of the original climbing frame that stood there until the early ‘80s.
If you want to explore the Hill Fort, go to the top of Ditchling road and head for the mobile phone mast on the golf course. Look carefully and you can still see the ancient ditches, barrows and defensive ramparts.
Better still, you can pick out the camp’s gateway, marked by concrete posts that show where the 2,600 year old postholes were found by archaeologists.
Hollingbury Park
In total, Hollingbury Park covers 240 acres, which is mostly taken up by the municipal golf course.
The course was created in 1907 and remodelled in 1936, and is still run by the council open to anyone who fancies a game with a splendid sea view backdrop provided by the English Channel.
The park is also home to several football pitches, some tennis courts, a bowling green and a children’s playground.
Look north and you’ll also see a weather station, fenced off for safety, plus one of the city’s many underground reservoirs.
Woodland strolls
Next to the park there are woods, planted in the 1800s. Not too long ago is was magnificent, but many of the biggest trees were flattened in the Great Storm of October 1987, AKA The Hurricane.
But you can still wander through the woodland on council-maintained trails.
The slopes on the north west side of the hill are covered with houses dating from the 1940s onwards.
And there’s Carden Park to the north east, between the school and industrial estate, dating from the 1950s and containing a football pitch and play area.
Community fun
The area’s popular community centre, in Carden Park, was created when the Asda development took place, in the mid ‘80s.
It’s called the Old Boat Corner Community Centre and hosts all sorts of events, a members Social Club, Sports Clubs, Over 60s Clubs, Toddler Groups, Drama Classes and lots more.
There’s also a popular car boot fair on Sundays, held in the school grounds.
What’s your favourite aspect of Hollingbury?
If you live in Hollingbury, what do you love best about it?
