Leper's Path

The Leper's Path, or Lepers' Way, ran from the water-meadows at the bottom of Burpham village towards Lee Farm, traversing Perry Hill on the way. The present path still follows the ancient route, but it now starts at Coombe Lane and a section at its highest point has been ploughed over and the path diverted around a field.

'North-East of the village a very ancient chalk-path - probably mediaeval, for it is called the Leper's Path and there is a Leper's Window in the church - leads over the bare open hills to a little remote hamlet...'

It is traditionally believed that the path led to a leper colony at Coombe Log, just before Lee Farm. But there is little evidence for this and the path has also been linked to the Leper Hospital known to have existed in Arundel Park. Other sources suggest that the path is much older and may be linked to Roman settlements on the downs towards Storrington.

The composer John Ireland, who lived nearby towards the end of his life, found inspiration in the Leper's Path and the surrounding landscape for his Legend for piano and orchestra (details here).

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