You say Ex-seat and I say Ex-set . . .

It was in these books that she kept a wealth of information about the family, her life and the area.

Last week I was contacted by a lady from Eastbourne looking for some information on a local church. It was while looking through the Commonplace Books for some information that I found a reference to Exceat and how the name should be pronounced.

I have always pronounced the area 'Ex-seat' but I have heard some people refer to it as 'Ex-set' or even 'Exy-at'.

I remember someone at the museum once telling me that the name was pronounced that way as it came from the Latin 'exeat' literally meaning 'he may go out' This was a term for a school holiday, and that was the name given to the area by the schoolboys of Victorian Seaford.

Unfortunately, that information is wrong as the area is much much older than that '“ indeed Exceat is even mentioned in the Doomsday Book where it is called 'Essete'. (The book says 'Heming holds Essete from the Count. He held it from King Edward. Then and now it answered for four-and-a-half hides. Land for four ploughs'.)

At this date in the 11th century the area was populated by three villagers, six smallholders and a slave. By the way, Seaford does not even get a mention in the Doomsday Book.

Soon afterwards a church was built. It was a simple construction of local flints with a short nave and rounded apse. The church was excavated by the Sussex Archaeological Society in 1913 and afterwards a small tablet was placed on the site to mark it's location.

In medieval times fishing became the main source of income but frequent French raids, a series of poor harvests and the Black Death of 1348 caused the village to become less populated. By 1460 the church was said to be in ruins and in 1528 the parish of Exceat was formally merged with nearby West Dean.

The beautiful scenery here is famous and the winding river provides a sanctuary for many wild birds. The straight 'cut' was constructed as early as 1846 to avoid the meanders in order to improve navigation and lessen flooding.

At one time there was a ferry across the Cuckmere here and the coastguards near the mouth of the river also provided a ferry service up until about 90 years ago. Apparently, the iron post where the ferry was berthed was in place until the 1950s. Exceat Bridge was built in 1876 to carry the Eastbourne to Seaford road (now the A259) over the river. It is 17m long and originally constructed of wrought iron girders.

The bridge was built adjacent to a building shown on the 1874 Ordnance Survey map as a 'shepherd's cottage'. According to my grandmother's diary, this cottage was owned by an old lady who sold sweets and mineral water. However, she writes, even earlier it was owned by a lady who used to sell glasses of smuggled liquor. Apparently, one Sunday two strangers appeared and asked for drinks. They were actually revenue men who were trying to catch the old girl out but she was a bit too savvy for them. Although they said they were on their way to church, she noticed that neither of them were carrying Bibles so she would not oblige. The cottage of course has now been much enlarged and is now known as the Golden Galleon.

My grandmother does not give the date for this interesting little incident but she does say how she thought the name of the village should be pronounced '“ of course different again!

According to her it should be called 'Ack-set'.

KEVIN GORDON