Rother District Council

Rother District is located in the easternmost part of East Sussex and shares a common border with the County of Kent.

The District derives its name from the River Rother which traverses the northern part of the area from Ticehurst through Bodiam and Northiam to reach the English Channel at Rye. The District covers some 200 square miles and serves a population of around 90,000 inhabitants. With the exception of Bexhill with its distinctive town centre and seaside character and the historic towns of Battle and Rye the area is mainly rural. The majority of the countryside located within the district falls within the High Weald Area of Outstanding Natural Beauty.

Heritage, and the beauty of the rural and coastal landscape combine to provide the underlying quality environment that attracts both visitors and residents to Rother District. The area is steeped in history and is also known as '1066 Country' which stems from the last invasion of England by William Duke of Normandy following the Battle of Hastings on 14 October 1066. The battlefield site lies in Rother District and is located within the grounds of Battle Abbey. Rye is one of the Cinque Ports and is an historic town of international architectural importance with its citadel comprising a mixture of Medieval and Georgian houses, cobbled streets and fine public buildings.

Bexhill-on-Sea is the administrative centre of the District and has a population of 42,500 inhabitants. The town is a residential seaside resort with a Victorian/Edwardian town centre. The internationally renowned modernist De La Warr Pavilion constructed in 1935 is a Grade 1 listed building located on the seafront and has been recently restored . The building is a major cultural centre with a theatre, art gallery and conference and meeting facilities.

In rural Rother the small 'bastide' town of Winchelsea, and the picturesque villages of Burwash, Northiam and Sedlescombe, amongst many, contributes to the character of the rolling Kent & Sussex Weald. The castles of Bodiam and Camber, Batemans, the former home of Rudyard Kipling and the gardens of Great Dixter and Pashley Manor contribute to the underlying heritage which creates the character of Rother District.

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