A-Z Challenge 2024: April 27. X:- Xmas Tree Festival

 

Little Yellow Duck Tree

The Cuckfield Tree Festival: A Local Tradition

The inaugural Cuckfield Tree Festival was in 2003 and has since become an eagerly anticipated annual event. With the exception of 2020 and 2021 during Covid pandemic years, this festive celebration has been held every year since.  It is an important event in the local calendar.   More about the history of the event, right from its introduction, can be found here https://cuckfieldctf.org.uk/history/

What to Expect at the Cuckfield Christmas Tree Festival

Mark your calendars for the second weekend in December! The Cuckfield Christmas Tree Festival transforms the picturesque Holy Trinity Church into a holiday wonderland. Nestled in the heart of Cuckfield and its surrounding areas, this cherished tradition invites the community to come together.

Dazzling Displays and Creative Themes

Step inside the church, and you’ll be greeted by a breathtaking array of Christmas trees. Each tree, lovingly adorned by local businesses, charities, and organizations, tells a unique story. Prepare to be enchanted by creative themes, sparkling ornaments, and festive lights that infuse the space with holiday magic.

Credited to Holy Trinity Church

More Than Meets the Eye

Beyond the visual spectacle, the festival offers something for every sense. Throughout the weekend, the air resonates with heartwarming live seasonal music, adding an extra layer of enjoyment. And just a quick minute’s walk away, the Tree Festival café awaits in the Old School, providing a spot to recharge.

A Charitable Tradition

The Cuckfield Christmas Tree Festival isn’t merely an attraction—it’s a community-driven endeavour with a purpose. Each year, it raises funds for a worthy local charity. On Friday evenings, the Old School hosts a craft market, while Cuckfield High Street comes alive with stalls supporting local causes. It’s a popular evening in the village, where goodwill and festive spirit abound.

Stay Tuned

Keep an eye on the official website for updates. The Cuckfield Christmas Tree Festival promises joy, tradition, and a chance to give back—all wrapped up in twinkling lights and goodwill.  https://cuckfieldctf.org.uk/

Little Yellow Duck Project

This is a global initiative that aims to raise awareness about the life-saving impact of blood, bone marrow, and organ and tissue donation. I decorated this tree in 2015 to promote the project and its reason.  I and others knit, crochet or sewed over 300 little ducks that could be taken away from under the tree.  Each duck is named and  had a tag round its neck explaining what it was about and encouraging the taker to register the ducks name on their website.  View the map and more on this website https://thelittleyellowduckproject.org/world-map/

Little Yellow Duck Tree

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A-Z Challenge 2024: April 26. W:- Who and What on this Day

 

Baptism

1618
Apr. 26 Richard s. of Thomas Vinall of Collins.
  
1628
Apr. 26
Abigail d. of Thomas Vicars the vicar.
  
1635
Apr. 26
Edward s. of Thomas & Anne Cooter.
 
1682
Apr. 26
Mavil d. of Richard & Constance Miles.

Marriages

1688

Apr. 26

Thomas Merchant & Ann Jarat.

Burials

1605
Apr. 26
Jone fynche A servant of John Ozbones.

1620
Apr. 26
Margert Stephens.

1623
Apr. 26
Thomas Robbarts.

1633
Apr. 26
Thomas s. of Henry Hurst.

1672.
Apr. 26
The widow of Thomas Jup.

1680
Apr. 26
William Ashfold.

1691
Apr. 26
Anne wife of Anthony Briggs.

1692
Apr. 26
A Still born child of Wm Bannister.

1693
Apr. 26
Thomas Sheffield, Almesman.

1694
Apr. 26
Elizabeth Willard d. of Richard Willard, yeoman at
Lullings.

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A-Z Challenge 2024: April 25. V:- Vagrancy

The Mid Sussex Times contains numerous reports detailing the issue of vagrancy in Cuckfield Union area.  Presented here are only a selection of these reports, offering a glimpse into the broader situation.

Unknown (but from circa 1536), Public domain, via Wikimedia Commons

During the Cuckfield Petty Sessions of 1882, William Hughes, a native of Manchester, was charged with destroying his clothes at the Union Workhouse that Tuesday morning. He was sentenced to ten days of hard labour. Furthermore, it was noted that 39 men and women had been admitted to the vagrants’ wards the previous night.

In 1877, a tramp who identified himself as Thomas Hunt from Burton-on-Trent faced charges before Captain Sergison. The accusation stemmed from his act of destroying his own clothes in the casual ward of the Union house. After being admitted on Saturday night, he received his clothes the following Sunday morning, only to tear them into shreds. As a consequence, he was sentenced to ten days in prison.

In 1883, William Hughes was charged with tearing up his clothes in the Workhouse on the previous night.  He pleaded guilty and was sentenced to six weeks’ hard labour.

In 1904, the Master of Cuckfield Workhouse presented a report on vagrancy to the Board of Guardians. He noted a significant reduction in vagrancy, attributing it to effective administration and cooperation among the magistrates, police, and Guardians. The number of vagrants decreased from 12,988 in 1894 to 2,216 in 1903. That year, 48 vagrants were prosecuted for refusal to work or damaging their clothes; all but one received a 28-day sentence.

By October 1908, Mr. E. Gosden, the Master of Cuckfield Workhouse, reported a decline in the number of inmates and vagrants receiving relief compared to the previous year. This contradicted claims of incompetence in managing the East Sussex bread ticket system, as suggested by Mr. Shand.  According to the figures presented, 82 vagrants received relief in the previous two weeks, down from 119 in the same period the previous year. During the Michaelmas quarter, 775 vagrants were relieved, compared to 990 in the previous year.

Despite the positive trend observed under one Workhouse Master in 1904, by 1908, there appeared to be a reversal in the trend.

In 1912, the Cuckfield Guardians passed a resolution advocating for legislation to address the issue of vagrancy comprehensively. They suggested that any amendments to the existing law should involve transferring supervision and control of vagrants to the police authorities and implementing a universal adoption of the bread ticketing system.

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A-Z Challenge 2024: April 24. U:- Unfortunate events

Reports of unfortunate events taken from The Mid Sussex Times.

Accident – head injuries sustained!!
It was reported that Master Max Hobbs, aged eleven, had been taken to Haywards Heath Hospital suffering from head injuries after an accident while riding a bicycle. (1944)

Choked on a fishbone!!!
Mrs Ede fancied a herring for breakfast but was not able to pick out all the bones and one got stuck in her throat.  Before help arrived she had expired.  She was 74 and lived in Cuckfield for the greater part of her life. (1881)

Sudden death of an infant!!
An infant was discovered lifeless in the arms of its mother, Mrs Knight, of Mizbrooks.  An inquest was to be held. (1892)

Sudden death!
Mrs. Elizabeth Gard, the wife of the White Hart Inn landlord, suffered a sudden apoplectic fit while in bed. Despite medical attention, she passed away. Mrs. Gard, aged 54, had been in poor health recently. (1892)

Terrible accident!!
A tragic incident unfolded when a middle-aged laborer employed by Mr. Hudson at Holmstead Farm accidentally discharged an old gun he had hidden in a hedgerow. The gun belonged to his master. The gun blast blew off his knee and injured a hand. He was swiftly found and transported to the Workhouse Infirmary, where the doctor promptly performed a leg amputation. (1887)

Accident!!
Mr. Hobbs, the butcher, faced a terrifying accident while preparing to slaughter a bullock on the Borde Hill estate. A falling bar from a pulley struck him on the head, causing a severe wound. He was promptly attended to by a doctor upon returning home. (1888)

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A-Z Challenge 2024: April 23. T:- Twenty Sussex Puritan Names

Puritan Theologians

Contemporary portraits, Public domain, via Wikimedia Commons

The Puritan names given to their children would often remind them of the hopes and duty before The Lord.  I have not yet found any in the Cuckfied Registers and would love to know if you have.

Twenty examples of these names are:

Be Faithful (Joiner)
Fight the Good Fight of Faith (White)
God Reward (Smart)
Fear Not (Hely)
Kill Sin (Pemble)
Humiliation (Hynde)
Master Performe-thy-vowes (Seers)
Replenished (Pryor)
More-Fruits (Fowler)
Redeemed (Compton)
Weep-not (Billing)
Elected (Mitchell)
Renewed (Wisberry)
Fly-fornication (Richardson)
The-Peace-of-God (Knight)
Kill-sin (Pemble)
Hope (Smith)
Fly-from-Fornication (Bull)
Mercye (Hely)
Make Peace (Heaton)

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