Explore East Hoathly via walking paths and tangible traces of history: the East Hoathly Walk begins in the village centre, the moated site in Moat Wood lies on the south-western edge of the village, and the Weald Way passes through the historic village centre and churchyard. Also of note are the church, with its several building phases, and the Foresters Arms, whose history is linked to two 18th-century cottages and their later conversion. For your planning, you can distinguish between walking, settlement history and architectural history.
Paths through East Hoathly
The East Hoathly Walk is 3.5 miles long, is generally considered easy and begins in the centre of the village. Its length and rating provide a specific framework for planning your day. The Weald Way passes through the historic village centre and churchyard of East Hoathly. The routes have different emphases: the East Hoathly Walk has a specified distance and general difficulty rating, while the Weald Way passes through the village centre and churchyard. So your choice depends on whether the walking route with its specific details or the route through the historic centre matters more to you.
Moat Wood and medieval settlement history
The moated site in Moat Wood lies on the south-western edge of East Hoathly. The earthworks and associated buried remains survive; the site is a Scheduled Monument. It represents the predominant dispersed form of medieval rural settlement in the Eastern Weald sub-province. A dispersed settlement pattern refers to rural settlements that are not concentrated in a single compact village centre. The site therefore has two spatial scales: it is located on the edge of East Hoathly, while its settlement context extends across the Eastern Weald sub-province.
The church and Foresters Arms: different building phases
East Hoathly’s church is largely a 19th-century building. Its tower dates from the 15th to the early 16th century; the rest was rebuilt in 1855–56. The Foresters Arms has a different architectural history: two 18th-century cottages were converted into a pub after 1839. The original layout and the fabric from the second half of the 18th century have largely been preserved. The comparison offers two perspectives on architectural change: at the church, the building phases of the tower and the rest of the church differ; at the Foresters Arms, the conversion and the largely preserved older fabric exist side by side. This makes it possible to consider architectural history through dating, alteration and preservation.
Plan around event dates
“Mid Summer Magic” may also be relevant to your travel plans: the event takes place on East Hoathly’s playing fields. The programme and dates may vary from year to year; check the latest information before making firm plans to attend.
Discover more destinations: Lewes, Brightling, Bexhill-On-Sea, Ticehurst, Uckfield, Crowborough, Pevensey, Bodiam.
For the broader travel overview: East Sussex.
