Rusper is a quintessential Sussex village situated approximately three miles from Horsham. The village has some beautiful old character cottages, and in the surrounds of the village are some lovely country houses. Rusper very much retains its village atmosphere with its village store/post office, parish church and primary school.
The parish church of St Mary Magdalene in the High Street is famous for having the highest point in any of the West Sussex churches, and an outstanding east window and pre-Reformation brasses adorn the otherwise simple interior. The village Primary School opened on the current site in 1872 with 50 children. It was then and still remains very much a village school serving the local community. The school is housed in a Victorian building, which has had the benefit of some extension work in recent years.
No English village would be complete without Morris dancers and indeed Rusper’s Morris Men and Women are named Broadwood after the local family. May Day celebrations and May pole dancing takes place annually. There are many activities and clubs, which foster village life including the W.I. A flower show takes place in June.
For a small village Rusper has several good pubs, The Star is steeped in history and was originally built in 1486. There is a priest hole in one corner of the pub that leads on to the roof, a large inglenook fireplace and wishing well. The Royal Oak is situated on a quiet country lane (Friday Street) just outside the village, and is surrounded by greenery with a lovely garden. Also situated in the village is the Ghyll Manor Country Hotel, a beautiful 16th century hotel, set in 40 acres of beautiful gardens.
The nearby South Downs provide extensive country walks and horse riding. There are championship golf courses within a short drive of Rusper, and nearby Horsham offers an extensive range of shopping and other amenities including a large leisure swimming complex and Horsham Arts Centre.
As a country village, Rusper is well placed for transport links. The M23 is a short drive away, giving fast access to the motorway network, with Gatwick and Heathrow airports and the coast close by. There is also a main line station in Horsham with services to the coast and Gatwick Airport and London Victoria/London Bridge.
