Harting 4487799 220099499 2008-06-18T07:55:41Z 89.168.188.70 /* External links */ [[Image:South Harting, 1.5.06.jpg|thumb|right|300px|South Harting, from Harting Down]] '''Harting''' is a [[civil parish]] in the [[Chichester District]] of [[West Sussex]], [[England]], situated on northern flank of the [[South Downs]]. It comprises four settlements namely [[South Harting|South]], [[East Harting|East]] & [[West Harting]] and Nyewood. In the 2001 [[census]] the parish covered 3,216 [[hectares]] (7,944 [[acres]]) and had 616 households with a total population of 1,407. 646 residents were economically active. The village of '''South Harting''' is the largest settlement having two churches, one [[Anglicanism|Anglican]] and one Congregational. The village also has a school, St Mary & St Paul First School, which takes children from four to ten years old. From 2009, it will accept children up to 11 years old. Alongside the school is the village hall from which a pre-school group operates.{{clear}} == Harting Down == The villages are overlooked by Harting Down, a {{convert|550|acre|km2|sing=on}} common owned by the [[National Trust for Places of Historic Interest or Natural Beauty|National Trust]], and part of the [[Sussex Downs]] [[Area of Outstanding Natural Beauty]]. Rising to 229 metres, it offers panoramic views over the [[Weald]] to the north, to the [[English Channel]] and the [[Isle of Wight]] to the south. Because of its elevation Beacon Hill, just to the east of Harting Down, hosted a station in the [[Semaphore line|shutter telegraph chain]], from 1796 to 1816, which connected the Admiralty in [[London]] to its naval ships in [[Portsmouth]] and [[Plymouth]]. Archaeological evidence has suggested that Harting Down was first occupied around 5000 years ago. Neighbouring Beacon Hill is home to a hillfort from the [[Iron Age]], built around 500BC as an animal enclosure and refuge. In addition Cross Ridge Dyke, built around the same time, may have been used to control movement of people and animals along the ridgeway. A large portion of the down has never been used for modern intensive farming, and is thus an important site representing the [[chalk]] grassland that once covered the downs. Plants found on the site include [[quaking grass]] and the [[common spotted orchid]], and the down supports animals such as [[Vipera berus|adder]]s, [[skylark]]s and several species of [[butterfly]]. == External links == *[http://www.gravelroots.net/harting/harting.html The Harting Parish Guide.] - Includes many photos and local information on the area *[http://www.achurchnearyou.com/venue.php?V=4952&P=1 St Mary and St Gabriel's Church, South Harting] *[http://www.hartingfestivities.org.uk Harting Festivities] Since 1800 [[Harting Old Club]] has celebrated Whit Monday. *[http://www.violetdesigns.co.uk/midhurst.htm Midhurst Pages - Midhurst Town & Community] *[http://www.st-mary-st-paul.w-sussex.sch.uk/ St Mary & St Paul First School] [[Category:Villages in West Sussex]] [[Category:Chichester]] [[Category:Napoleonic Beacons in England]] {{WestSussex-geo-stub}}