Fletching, East Sussex

Fletching is a village[3] and civil parish in the Wealden District of East Sussex, England. It is located three miles (4.8 km) to the north-west of Uckfield, near one of the entrances to Sheffield Park. The A272 road crosses the parish. The settlement of Piltdown is part of the parish. The Piltdown Man discovery in 1912 was thought to be the 'missing-link' between humans and apes. The significance of the specimen remained controversial until, amidst great publicity, and much embarrassment in scientific circles, it was exposed as a forgery in 1953.

Fletching
Fletching village
Fletching Location within East Sussex
Area	25.7 km2 (9.9 sq mi) [1]
Population	1,064 (2011)[2]
• Density	105/sq mi (41/km2)
OS grid reference	TQ428234
• London	36 miles (58 km) N
Civil parish	Fletching
District	Wealden
Shire county	East Sussex
Region	South East
Country	England
Sovereign state	United Kingdom
Post town	UCKFIELD
Postcode district	TN22
Dialling code	01825
Police	Sussex
Fire	East Sussex
Ambulance	South East Coast
UK Parliament	Wealden

The hamlet of Sharpsbridge lies in the south of the parish.

Church of St. Andrew and St. Mary the Virgin with Church Farm House

It has an historic church of St. Andrew and St. Mary the Virgin dating from the twelfth century.[4] Simon de Montfort prayed there before the Battle of Lewes. Historian Edward Gibbon (1737–1794) is interred in the Sheffield Mausoleum attached to the north transept of the church,[5] having died in Fletching while staying with his great friend, John Baker-Holroyd, 1st Earl of Sheffield.

In medieval times Fletching was a major producer of bows and arrows, many of which were used at the Battle of Agincourt in 1415.

The school is Fletching CE Primary school.[6] There are two public houses in Fletching: The Griffin Inn (which calls itself a gastropub) and The Rose and Crown. Nearby is The Piltdown Man at Piltdown (now called The Lamb).

The village was once the home of the comedian Jimmy Edwards (1920–1988).

Fletching is home to Fletching Football Club also known as The Archers. Fletching 1st team play in the Mid-Sussex Football League division 2 - South with the 2nd team playing in Division 5 - South.