Saxon in origin, its name was then Aelfsige; it is mentioned in the Domesday Book. The present 14th-century church, of unknown dedication, is built of chalk from the nearby South Downs.[1] There is a large medieval tithe barn in the village. It is Шаблон:Convert long and is the largest in Sussex.
Every Good Friday, the road outside the Rose Cottage Inn is closed for the villagers to take part in a traditional skipping contest.[2]
The historian C.V. Wedgwood is buried in the church graveyard.
The lowest tier of government for Alciston is a parish meeting.[3] Instead of voting for representatives, a small parish may hold a community meeting twice a year to which all the electors may attend and vote on issues.
Wealden District Council is the next tier of government, for which Alciston is part of the Alfriston ward,[4] along with Alfriston, Berwick, Chalvington & Ripe and Selmeston. The ward returns one councillor, who was David Watts in the 2019 election.[4]
Alciston is represented at the East SussexCounty Council as part of the East Hoathly & Hellingly Division. The May 2017 election returned the Conservative councillor Nick Bennett.[5]
The parliamentary constituency for Alciston is Lewes. The general election in May 2015 returned Maria Caulfield as MP.
