Cottages, The Causeway, Billingshurst

I had to go out to the local shops and went after lunch when the rain had stopped. I have lived in Billingshurst for 40 years next year which seems incredible. During that time it has grown in size relentlessly and with another 495 homes planned on the eastern side, it is now more like a town rather than the village it once was. As a consequence it has become a dormitory for Horsham and London and I feel is no longer a pleasant place to live. Despite the rampant building, there are pockets of old buildings to be seen and the first two cottages in this picture were orginally one house and it is timber framed and dates from the 15th Century. It is a type of house known as a Wealden which had a central hall as living space in the middle, flanked by two rooms including one each upstairs and reached by two separate stairs. I believe this house had connections with the church behind as part was used for meetings etc.