Cuckfield - Location
Abuts Haywards Heath to the west
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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.
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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.
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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. |
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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. |
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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! The history of the village can be examined in the museum which is in the Queen's Hall in the High Street. The views from the ridge in Cuckfield down to the South Downs are beautiful. |
