Upper Dicker is a small picturesque village north west of Eastbourne, situated on the River Cuckmere in the Wealden District of East Sussex. The village is home to the famous Michelham Priory, founded in 1229 and set on a private island with England’s longest surviving medieval water filled moat. The Priory has strong associations with the Tudors and was used in the Second World War to house evacuees and the Canadian army. The Priory is now owned and cared for by the Sussex Archaeological Society, as is The Long Man of Wilmington.

The current Bede’s School, formally named The Dicker, was built for Sir Horatio Bottomley, the local Member of Parliament in the early 1900’s and founder of the Financial Times. He was responsible for the building of Berwick Station to provide him with easy access to London. The station was originally known as Dicker Halt. He was described as one of the most colourful characters of his era being
remembered with affection as Upper Dickers squire, Bottomley the MP, the financial wizard and brilliant orator, womaniser and mammoth swindler. He was convicted of 24 counts of fraud and jailed in 1922 for seven years.

Tawny Place can be found off Coldharbour Road almost opposite the Village Hall. The Village shop and Holy Trinity Church are also close by, as is the 17th Century pub, The Plough.

Just over 3 miles distance, is the lively market town of Hailsham. Its busy high street providing a wide variety of local and national shops including a Waitrose supermarket, cafes and restaurants. There is also an independent cinema and theatre and a leisure centre providing many facilities including a gym and swimming pool. The historic town of Lewes can be found approximately 11 miles to the west and to the south, the sunny seaside town of Eastbourne.

A short walk from Tawny Place is Upper Dicker Recreation Ground, home to Dicker Cricket Club. Cricket has been played at Dicker since 1677, thereby making it one of the oldest grounds in history. In 1880 Luther Page was captain of the side and his dependants have played for the village ever since.

Bede’s Senior School is an independent co-educational day and boarding school for girls and boys aged 13-18. The school has a zoo and since 2011 Bede’s has boasted an Animal Management Unit. It is the only senior school in the UK to offer BTec Animal Management.

The zoo is home to 70 species and incorporates a successful dormouse breeding programme. Also in the village is Park Mead Primary School for girls and boys aged 5–11. The school is part of the Pioneer Federation of four local schools who have a shared vision and set of values that focus on creative, innovative and engaging teaching. The teachers work collaboratively across all schools to design lessons and activities