Upper Beeding is a West Sussex village on the River Adur, opposite Bramber and close to Steyning, which is just within the South Downs National Park Boundary. ‘Beeding’ (locals drop the ‘Upper’ part of the name) first enters the history books in AD 858 when Aethelwulf, father of Alfred the Great died there and was buried in Steyning. There was a priory in the village during the 11th century, but no trace of it now remains. In the Norman Conquest the manor was granted by William the Conqueror to William De Braose who also rebuilt the Saxon Church in 1073, giving us the present St Peter’s Church. De Braose also founded Sele Priory for a small group of French monks which still stands close by. The older part of the village houses two pubs, a newsagent, a pharmacy, and a hair and beauty salon. The newer part houses an excellent Primary School, plus Hyde Square which includes a large convenience store, hairdresser, dog groomer and a fish and chip shop.