Settlement at Exceat

Settlements happened on the Downs between AD 700 to 1000 in the dry valleys at Birling, East Dean, Friston, West Dean and Exceat. There are at least 15 different ways in which the name Exceat has been spelt, the present form dating from the late 16th century, and the correct pronunciation of the name is generally held to be Ackset or Eckset. The name probably means "settlers by the Exe" - Exe was probably the old British name for the Cuckmere. Another suggestion is "Ecci's settlement" - Ecci being a prsonal name. The settlement and later village continued to prosper until the early 13th century.

The probably early Norman (1050 - 1080) foundations of Exceat Church were excavated in 1913 showing that local flint and chalk and malmstone from north of the Downs were used in its construction. Its 15 by 5 metres (49 by 16 feet) plan is a simple one consisting of nave and horseshoe-shaped apse and slightly later southern porch. With the exception of a single reference to "the Street of Exet" (1458), there is no indication that there was a nucleated village and it is possible that settlement was dispersed between Exceat, Foxhole (probably Southcourt in medieval documents), New Barn and in the vicinity of the church.

The 60 to 100 inhabitants of the manor suggested by the Domesday Book of 1086 had increased to possibly about 250 in 1296. The 14th and early 15th centuries, however, were marked by a series of bad harvests resulting from a deterioration in the climate, which with the destruction caused by French raids, and perhaps the Black Death of 1348 and later plagues, led to the virtual desertion of the parish in the early 15th century. In 1428 the only resident was a Henrius Chesman, the church was reported to be in ruins 32 years later and in 1528 Exceat was formally united with Westdean parish. When population began to increase again in the 16th century, the opening up of other land in the Weald and opportunities for non-agricultural employment did not give rise to the pressure on the Downs as it had in the 13th century and except for sites of houses now existing and one beneath Haven Brow, Exceat was not re-populated.

There is a group of flint and moss covered tile buildings at Exceat. On the site of this largely 18th century former farm, there was a manor house in 1527 and in 1614 20,000 tiles were to be "imployed (sic) upon the mansion house at Exceat". Beyond is Friston Forest where the Forestry Commission manage nearly 800 hectares (2,000 acres) of woodland. Beech is the most important tree, although there are other hardwoods like sycamore; the remaining conifers which were planted to provide shelter are being removed as the hardwoods mature.

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