Instead they are the three villages of an enchanting, sprawling parish made up of winding lanes, breathtaking views and magnificent houses dotted across the landscape.

But as parish council chairman Andrew Shaxson – whose name has been synonymous with Elsed for generations – was quick to point out: “The name is the title of the ecclesiastical parish. A civil parish is allowed to carry only two names and so we are Elsted with Treyford parish council.”

Its tiny population is largely made up of higher-income families who might also have a home in London and those who have retired to this fine corner of West Sussex.

Gone are the school, the post office, the village stores and the railway station from where trains would take passengers to Midhurst or to Petersfield.

But strangely this tiny community off the beaten track still supports two churches and three pubs.

“The population has dwindled in recent times,” said Mr Shaxson. “More than 100 years ago it was about 450. There were labourers and their families living in two-up, two-down homes which have since been ‘gentrified’ by knocking two or more homes into one.

“There is a relatively small number of second homes in Elsted, with perhaps more in Treyford and Didling. We had younger families moving in about 20 years ago, some working in London and living part of the time there and the rest here.”

But they are not necessarily coming forward to help keep the community alive.

“There is only a relatively small number of people who have the time, energy and inclination to do things for the parish,” said Mr Shaxson. “Too many expect the parish to provide a ‘sense of place’ on a plate for them. It’s always a relief when somebody comes along and takes part in the running of the community, giving something back rather than just taking advantage of the place.

“I am aware it would take only two or three people to say they could not carry on to lose that sense of community.”

The answer lay in the building of new houses which, he said, would bring forward more people and ‘an injection of vigour’.

But Mr Shaxson is all too aware this solution is only a pipe dream.

And so parish life continues. The seven councillors spend much of their time looking at planning applications.

“Elsted has few responsibilities,” he said. “Unusually we do not have any input with the village hall, we have no allotments and by the time we have dealt with the clerk’s salary and insurances, we have used well over half our precept.

“We are here as the parish spokesman if anything controversial comes up, but usually our time is spent trying to fend off consultation documents.”

Currently the vexed question of the national park boundary is much on their minds.