 |
|
|
Haywards Heath - West Sussex
|
|
|
|
Surrounding Area
Lindfield
Just north of Haywards Heath, Lindfield (the name means ‘open land with lime trees’) gained national notoriety when it had to withdraw from the Best Kept Village in West Sussex competition in order to give other villages a chance! Described today as being a ‘centre of retired affluence’ it is, nevertheless, a genuinely pretty village with several dozen fine old houses, some dating back to the 14th century when weekly markets and annual fairs were held here. Before the redrawing of the boundaries, Pevsner described Lindfeld as having ‘ the finest village street in East Sussex’
|
|
|
|
|
The Old Place, Lindfield
|
|
|
|
The oldest house in the village is Church House, now known as The Tiger. Arguably the finest house is the Old Place, a timber-framed, late 16th century gabled building. Lindfield High Street runs about half a mile up a gentle slope. Passing various shops and pubs up to All Saints Church, which can be traced back to 1098, at the top of the village. The slender church spire is 116 feet high. Today cricket and football are played on the village common, in medieval days this was the goose green.
|
|
|
|
The main focus of Lindfield village life centres on the King Edward Hall, built opposite the pond in 1911. Activities as diverse as book and jumble sales through to the local amateur dramatics are held here. During the lst World War it was used as a military hospital and the 2nd War saw the Canadian troops using it for recreational and educational purposes.
|
|
|
Lindfield is one of the Sussex villages which still holds annual Bonfire Processions with the Guy and lighted torches being paraded through the streets of the village prior to the lighting of the bonfire itself. Literally thousands of people come to wonder - last year over 6000 people attended.
|
|
|
|
The village holds annual Village Days on the common in the summer and, in December each year, the first Friday night sees the closure of the High Street for a Village Night where stands line the High Street
Lindfield is a draw for artists from miles around, with its pictureque pond full of fish, swans and ducks, especially in the spring when crocii pop through the grass verges and much of the common. The village has an air of bustle and the High Street is little more than a mile from Haywards Heath main line rail station.
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Abutting Haywards Heath to the west, Cuckfield was once a market town holding charters from Henry III and Charles II, and on the London to Brighton coaching routes in pre-rail days, by the 1820's 50 coaches a day were passing through this village. The reluctance of local landowners to have the railway running through their village led to the line running through Haywards Heath instead and led to decades of unemployment and distress in the late 19th century.
|
|
|
|
Now a desirable area in which to live, Cuckfield has a pretty centre with its old church having a vault roof, constructed of traditional Horsham stone, which can be illuminated on payment of a small fee.
|
|
|
|
|
The paintings on the ceiling of the Holy Trinity church were done in the late 19th century by C. E. Kempe. The lychgates are listed buildings. The churchyard is surrounded by a row of pretty cottages and the village also boasts a 17th century school and an interesting local museum.
|
|
|
|
Cuckfield Park is an Elizabethan mansion approached by a long avenue of lime trees. It is said that that a ghost, known as the Grey Lady, resides here.
|
|
Another ghost can be found at the Kings Head. She is known as ‘Geranium Jane’, allegedly a young servant at the hostelry was seduced by her employer and became pregnant. Legend has it that he then killed her by dropping a pot of geraniums on her head and she now takes her revenge by shaking the bed of any resident employee who is engaged in similar activites!
Ardingly
Four miles north of Haywards Heath lies Ardingly. Home to the famous boys' public school, Ardingly College, which was built about 1860. Ardingly village lies in an area of outstanding natural beauty, has a pretty, if busy, High Street with delightful cottages lining the road.
|
|
|
St. Peter’s Church
|
|
The interior
|
|
St. Peter’s, the parish church, was built in the early 14th century and boasts a very large tower. Inside the rood screen has recently been removed from in front of the altar to enable church services to be more in line with 21st century standards. The screen is now at the back of the church.
North of the village is the South of England Showground where numerous varied events are held throughout the year. These range from the South of England Show, held in June each year and one of the finest agricultural shows in the country, through Steam Shows, dog shows, craft fairs, boot fairs and much in between.
Next to the college lies the mid-Sussex, Ardingly Reservoir where there are sailing, canoeing, windsurfing and fishing facilities. This is a conservation area and a large variety of birds can be viewed from the hide. There are also nature walks around the reservoir and dedicated picnic areas and a resonably sized car park.
Ardingly has old pubs in the village, including the Gardeners Arms and The Oak. The Oak is alleged to have a resident ghost, this time of a young lady who was reputed to have been abducted and killed by a former resident. It is said she sits in the inglenook fireplace from time to time.
Wakehurst Place lies a mile or so north of Ardingly village. Home to the Millenium Seed Bank and the very pretty 1590 mansion built by Sir Edward Culpepper. This National Trust property, which is managed by the Royal Botanical Gardens, Kew, is a delight all year round.
South Downs |
|
|
|
|
|
Just a few miles down the road from Haywards Heath lies one of the most beautiful areas in the country, the South Downs. These run for about 120 miles, just north of the south coast and the soft, rolling, chalk hills are home to much wildlife and interesting flora. Apart from the natural beauty, it is a natural venue for many aerial sports such as hangliding, paragliding, gliding etc.. These activities can be enjoyed at many places along the downs. It is much used by walkers, ramblers, cyclists and horseriders
|
|
|
|
|
|
Copyright Local Webs UK ©
|
|
|
