Boxgrove between Priory, Archaeology and the Windmill Trail

Boxgrove combines an impressive ecclesiastical history with an exceptional archaeological site and a specific trail idea. Anyone looking for a holiday apartment in Boxgrove can therefore organise their stay in very different ways: by focusing on medieval history, exploring the story of early humankind or taking a walk along the Windmill Trail.

Boxgrove Priory and the Priory Church

Boxgrove Priory was founded around 1107 as a small Benedictine priory, originally for three monks. However, the history of the site goes back even further: Boxgrove already had a church before the Norman Conquest, and the place had parish status at that time. For visitors who enjoy tracing historical developments through a specific building, this background offers a special way to engage with the history of the area.

The church, dedicated to Saint Mary and Saint Blaise, dates from the early 12th century. Following the Dissolution of the Monasteries, the eastern parts of the priory church became Boxgrove parish church. Thus, monastic history and the later ecclesiastical use of the building are directly connected at this site. The priory church is open daily for Mass and private prayer. This also makes it interesting for travel planning in which a quiet cultural visit can be combined with other discoveries.

Archaeology at the Boxgrove Horse Butchery Site

A completely different layer of history leads to the Boxgrove Horse Butchery Site. There, a rare, sealed prehistoric surface with flint artefacts and a butchered horse has been preserved. The site preserves the butchered remains of a large female horse, providing an unusually tangible picture of human activity in the past.

It is particularly notable that the Boxgrove Horse Butchery Site produced the first well-preserved combined assemblage of artefacts and animal remains from Boxgrove. For families and other travellers who want to understand history not only through dates but also through tangible traces, this site offers a distinct thematic perspective. The prehistoric site and the medieval priory history create different points of focus, without Boxgrove having to be associated with just one period.

A Trail Idea with the Windmill Trail

The Windmill Trail starts at the car park of Boxgrove Village Hall. It then continues along an unpaved footpath, with Boxgrove Quarry on the left. This information helps with planning the day because the starting point is clearly identified and the nature of the trail is already apparent from the surface underfoot. When planning, bear in mind that the trail follows an unpaved footpath.

This allows you to structure your stay in Boxgrove according to your personal interests: you can focus on the priory church, explore the Horse Butchery Site or put the Windmill Trail on your itinerary as a separate activity. This combination is especially suitable for trips involving different interests, offering conversation topics and several ways to get to know the area without prescribing a particular order.

Which Accommodation Suits Your Travel Plans?

When looking for a holiday apartment or other accommodation in Boxgrove, it is worth first deciding what kind of stay you want. Travellers who mainly want to discover church and local history will consider the priory church an important part of their plans. For those interested in archaeology, the Boxgrove Horse Butchery Site is the main attraction, while the Windmill Trail offers an additional way to combine the day with a walk.

This also means deciding whether cultural impressions, prehistoric history or a walk will form the central theme of your stay. Boxgrove offers clearly identifiable points of interest for each option, without requiring you to commit to just one way of travelling.

More Places for Your Travel Plans

If you would like to visit other places in addition to Boxgrove, you will find Ardingly, Petworth, Fernhurst, East Grinstead, Wiston, Merston, Hurstpierpoint and Madehurst here.

For the higher-level travel overview: West Sussex.