Editing Brighton and Hove (section)

=== Aldrington, Hangleton and West Blatchington ===
{{Main|Aldrington|Hangleton|West Blatchington}}
[[File:Hangleton_-_geograph.org.uk_-_1655538.jpg|thumb|left|Hangleton in the snow]]
'''[[Aldrington]]''' sits between [[Portslade|Portslade-by-Sea]] to its west and [[Hove]] to its east. For centuries Aldrington was largely countryside, with very few people living there for most of the Middle Ages, but it is now a residential area.<ref>[https://www.british-history.ac.uk/vch/sussex/vol7/pp275-276 A History of the County of Sussex]: Volume 7, the Rape of Lewes. Originally published by Victoria County History, London, 1940.</ref>

Like Aldrington, '''[[West Blatchington]]''' was once primarily down and sheep grazing area, but is now built up. West Blatchington manor had various lords over the centuries, but unlike Adrington and Hangleton, it was always associated with lords in the east such [[Lewes]], [[Falmer]], and [[Patcham]].<ref>'Parishes: West Blatchington', in ''A History of the County of Sussex: Volume 7, the Rape of Lewes'', ed. L F Salzman (London, 1940), pp. 242–244. ''British History Online'' http://www.british-history.ac.uk/vch/sussex/vol7/pp242-244  [accessed 1 October 2021].</ref> It is now known for its [[West Blatchington Windmill|windmill]] and secondary school. To the east of West Blatchington is [[Westdene]].

'''Hangleton''' is to the north of Aldrington and sits between Portslade Village and West Blatchington. The manors of Hangleton and Aldrington formed part of the Fishersgate [[hundred (county division)|Half Hundred]], together with the neighbouring manor of Portslade.<ref>{{Cite web|title=Medieval Building Hangleton – Weald & Downland Museum|url=https://www.wealddown.co.uk/buildings/medieval-building-hangleton/|access-date=30 September 2021|website=Weald & Downland Living Museum|language=en-GB}}</ref> The lords of the Hangleton manor from 1291 to 1446 were the de Poynings, a Sussex gentry family that gave their name to the present parish of [[Poynings]].<ref>A P Baggs, C R J Currie, C R Elrington, S M Keeling and A M Rowland, 'Fishersgate Half-Hundred', in ''A History of the County of Sussex: Volume 6 Part 1, Bramber Rape (Southern Part)'', ed. T P Hudson (London, 1980), pp. 130–131. ''British History Online'' http://www.british-history.ac.uk/vch/sussex/vol6/pt1/pp130-131  [accessed 30 September 2021].</ref>

Hangeton was a medieval downland village in the 13th century, and by the early 14th century it had a population of about 200. Later, the village was abandoned for around six hundred years.<ref>{{Cite web|last1=Syed|first1=Yasmin|last2=Burton|first2=Martin|date=24 March 2021|title=The medieval Hove suburb once abandoned for 600 years|url=https://www.sussexlive.co.uk/news/history/hangleton-medieval-hove-suburb-abandoned-5217291|access-date=30 September 2021|website=sussexlive|language=en}}</ref> It started to grow again in the 1950s with other areas of Brighton and is now popular for its views of the sea and green spaces.

==== Hangleton and West Blatchingham downland ====
{{Main|Benfield Hill}}
[[File:West_Blatchington_windmill,_Hove_-_geograph.org.uk_-_2117496.jpg|thumb|left|West Blatchington windmill]]
Between [[Hangleton]] and [[Westdene]], south of the A27, is '''Toads Hole Valley'''. Its west slope, below Downland Drive, was once an unspoilt place for wildlife and still home to threatened species such as [[Dormouse|dormice]], [[hedgehog]]s, and [[Vipera berus|adders]]. The valley has been unmanaged for many years and the area has turned to scrub. It has now been designated for development and up to three hundred homes are planned to be built on the site.<ref>{{Cite web|date=8 January 2021|title=Toads Hole Valley plans remain a cause for concern|url=https://www.brightonandhovenews.org/2021/01/08/toads-hole-valley-plans-remain-a-cause-for-concern/|access-date=17 October 2021|website=Brighton and Hove News|language=en-US}}</ref>

To the north of the A27 are two golf courses, the West Hove and Brighton and Hove Golf courses. The two are divided by the '''Old Dyke Railway Trail''' which follows part of the route taken by the old Dyke Railway Branch Line. The line opened in September 1887 and took people from [[Hove]] to the popular downland beauty spot of [[Devil's Dyke, Sussex|Devil's Dyke]]. When the railway closed in December 1938, the line lay unused until the Dyke Railway Trail was created in 1988. There are a number of ways through Hangleton to a bridge over the A27 bypass where the trail begins, but the original route took you from [[Aldrington railway station]] and above the Hove cemetery. Much of the trail across the Downs is on a hard surface.<ref>[https://fulking.net/wp-content/uploads/2012/07/Dyke_Railway_Trail.pdf Dyke Railway Trail.] Easy Access Trails. South Downs Join Committee. ''Accessed on 21 October 2021''</ref>

There are many archaic Down pastures in the area. To the west is '''[[Benfield Hill]]''' ({{Gbmappingsmall|TQ 261 078}}), a [[Local nature reserve|Local Nature Reserve]] which is famous for its [[glowworm]] displays on midsummer evenings. On the steep east side of the hill there is [[Large Thyme|large thyme]], [[autumn gentian]] and many butterflies. [[Bee orchid]]s can be also found in some years.<ref name=":2" /> To the north of this area is the [[Poynings]] parish and the impressive geography of [[Devil's Dyke, Sussex|Devil's Dyke]].

To the east is '''Round Hill''' where there are many signs of the past from different periods of human history. There are several old [[Tumulus|barrows]] in the area. There is an old flint barn ({{Gbmappingsmall|TQ 269 090}}) called the  '''Skeleton Hovel''' which is thought to commemorate a prehistoric burial site. '''Round Hill's''' eastern slope ({{Gbmappingsmall|TQ 269 085}}) is the richest chalk grassland site in Hangleton, though it desperately needs grazing management for its many downland flowers such as [[field fleawort]], [[chalk milkwort]], orchids, cowslips, [[hairy violet]], rockrose, [[crested hair-grass]], and [[devil's bit scabious]].  There are two rare Forester moth species, [[Fox Moth|fox moth]] and heath moth, [[purse-web spider]], moss, and pygmy snails.<ref name=":2" /> To the north of Round Hill is the [[Newtimber]] parish.