Folklore

Sussex has both a rich folklore of water dragons, fairies, devil's, ghosts, haunted places, witches and cuckoos and a strong belief in local superstitions.

Did you know:

• that water dragons, otherwise known as Knuckers live in Knuckholes a bottomless pool of water.

• fairies were known as 'pharisees' in Sussex dialect and are fond of dancing.  Two famous writers have written about fairies in Sussex and one of them wrote that fairies came out to play in their rings on Halloween?  These two were Hilaire Belloc and Rudyard Kipling.  Harrow Hill near Worthing is thought to be the last home of the fairies in England.

• geographic feature named after devils include Devil's Dyke.  Legend has it that the Devil, a folk villain and figure of fun, tried to drown all Wealden churches by cutting the dyke through the Downs at night to enable the sea to reach further inland.  The dragon is thought to have confused a candle, lit by an inquisative old lady to see what the noise was about, and the rising sun.  The devil ran off leaving the dyke unfinished.

• black dog ghosts,wish hounds or witch hounds were thought to be omens of death.  In Sussex there is a superstition that only dogs can see the ghosts of dogs walking and one such place is Ditchling Beacon and barking been heard.

• ghosts in Cuckfield include Geranium Jane at the Kings Head, a chambermaid at Ockendon Manor, Wicked Dame Sergison of Cuckfield Park .  See here for more information about them.

• Bevis the giant was associated with Arundel where he lived and sometimes stroode over the sea to the Isle of Wight; the Long Man at Wilmington was a memorial to a giant killed at Firle; Gill's Grave on Mount Caburn was a memorial to a giant called Gill.

• superstitions include looking for the lucky nine peas in thefirst pod that was gathered, listening ot for cuckoos of which every cuckoo in Sussex was thought to be female and a bringer of good tidings and told no lies and you cut your nails on a Monday without thinking about a fox's tale so that you received a present. A falling branch from a particular lime tree in Cuckfield Park foretold the death od one of the family living there.

• the scene of the worst train crash recorded in 1832 was in Clayton Tunnel.  23 lives were lost and 176 injured.   Bodies were carried out and laid in a field nearby; the field is thought to be haunted.

More information can be found here.

More burials 1857 - Holy Trinity Church

 More burials from 1857; so again, are you searching for these names:

BEARD

BENNETT

GALLARD

HAYLER

KNIGHT

MOBBS

REEVES

You can find the entries here in the pre 1880 burials

Website: Cuckfield Compendium

Burials 1857 - Holy Trinity Church

 

The focus changes from the baptisms I entered during August to burials that I have uploaded today.

Do you have any ancestors that might have been buried in 1857 in Cuckfield?  Take a look at these names and if they sound familiar then head on over to the website to see them and other entries.

AGATE

HOLDEN

ANSCOMBE

HOBBS

ATTREE

FALKNER

BACHELOR

BROOMFIELD

Cuckfield Compendium website can be found here and use this link for the 1857 burials 

Death in the water

 Yet another unfortunate event happened in Cuckfield, this time in the grounds of the Cuckfield Workhouse.

This event in 1891 was reported in the various local papers

STRANGE DEATH OF A PAUPER 

An inquest was held at the Cuckfield Union Workhouse on the body of James Baker, 83, an inmate of the workhouse, who had been found dead in a quarry in the workhouse grounds.  Mr Baker had had recent operations to his eyes and was in the workhouse infirmary on the night in question.  There were 32 inmates in the Infirmary.  The night nurse was ill and the ward was in the charge of two nurses plus a man who sat up each night.  The two day nurses were in bed.  Evidence was given by Mr Howe, Master of the Workhouse, who identified the body; by Mrs Hall, who heard a noise in the quarry about midnight on the night in question, and by Joseph Hall and Joseph King, who got the body out.  The water was about ten feet deep in the quarry due to recent rains.  The body was fully dressed.  There was no direct evidence to show how the deceased got into the water.  It was a moonlit night but clouds were often obscuring the light.  Two inmates of the Infirmary said they had seen the deceased leave the ward in the night, fully dressed, and they told him to return to bed but he told them to mind their own business and .  Now one saw him leave the building.  The inquiry was adjourned until the following week, for the attendance of Dr A E Wells, who saw the body.

After the inquest it was later reported that the Guardians had it brought to their attention a rider attached to the inquest verdict.... "That the attention of the Guardians of Cuckfield Workhouse be called to the carelessness displayed in not having the doors of the Infirmary locked at night, and that the quarry be properly fenced in".  It was resolved that the porter of the Workhouse have strict orders given to him to lock all outer doors and gates every night at nine o'clock, and deliver the keys to the Master every night.  It was resolved that the stone pit be filled up as speedily as possible.

Another unfortunate event in Cuckfield

 During the A-Z Challenge I posted about some unfortunate events which you can find here.  Here is an event that surely should be another in the same series.  This event was reported in the Argus in 1899.

DROWNING FATALITY:  CUCKFIELD

In July 1899 a youth named Everest, a son of an estate labourer in the employment of Mr Sergison, and living in a cottage near a well known picrureque waterfall in the lower part of Cuckfield Park, was bathing with his two brothers in the waterfall pool.  He shouted "Look out" as he slipped into the deeper part of the water and sank.  His father was alarmed and everything was done to recover the lad but was without success.  The water was run off and the body eventually recovered.  

Cuckfield is my One Place Study and our blog prompt for September is Water.

Snippets from Newspapers page updated

 Today sees the updating of the Snippets from Newspaper page with the snippets I found for the Unfortunate Incidents day in the A-Z blog Challenge earlier this year.

Do you have any Newspaper Snippets that you would like to share or ideas for ones you would find interesting?  Do contact me via the link on the Intro page 

Baptisms 1759 and 1760

 A few new baptisms added to the Baptisms 1700s page.  http://cuckfieldcompendium.co.uk/baptisms-1700s/

Are you searching for the surnames Juniper, Johnson, Copper and Taylor?  Check out these for 1759.

Are you searching for the surnames Kennard and Willet?  Look for these in 1760.

Baptisms 1700s

 

I have been adding a few more baptisms in the 1700s.  Family names include:  

Bristow
Uwins
Thomsett
Stedman

Stirley

Huggett

Avery

Eyres

Chatfield

Field

Kennard

Skinner

Wilder

Cheal

Chasemore

A to Z Reflections update: Alphabet

Reading other Reflections on their #AtoZChallenges2024 I saw that some people have listed their topics so I thought I would list them here although they do appear if you click the posts in April in the blog archive.

A = All Saints Mission

B = Brickwills

C = Cottage Homes

D = Dinosaurs

E = Education

F = Facts about Cuckfield

G = Ghosts

H = Hallowed Ground

I = Independent State of Cuckfield

J = Vicars with names beginning J

K = Charles Eamer Kempe

L = Little Domers

M = Macauley House

N = Nuclear War Bunker

O = Ockendon Manor

P = Population of Cuckfield

Q = Questions

R = Rapes of Sussex

S = Sussex Families

T = Twenty Sussex Puritan Names

U = Unfortunate Events

V = Vagrancy

W = Who and What on this Day

X = Xmas Tree Festival

Y = You Tube Videos of Cuckfield

Z = Zero Day

I created all the pages in Blogger in advance and had them scheduled to publish on the right day.

I have also created a spreadsheet with suggested topics for each letter of the Alphabet and as I saw other people's topics I then added them to the list as I read other AtoZChallenge posts.  Also I can add topics to it as whilst doing research throughout the year.

A-Z Challenge 2024: Reflections

 I stumbled across the idea of the At to ZChallenge for bloggers quite by chance and straight away thought it a good idea for giving information about my One Place Study of Cuckfield.  I only discovered to challenge at the beginning of March so I had to get my head down and do some research quickly, having a list of letters and potential topics to hand.

Cuckfield Compendium website was created in the late 1990's/early 2000's but was only registered as a One Place Study in 2023.  This blog was only created in 2023 to accompany the website and to help increase it's media presence.  

Each day I tried to create 2 pages and have them ready to automatically post on the right day on my blog.  Obviously I found more information a few days later and by being ahead of the game I could still amend or add to already prepared blog posts.  Some days, of course, I didn't have a chance to even create one post but they were all there and ready to go with a couple of days to go before the actual challenge started.

I learned a lot of information and useful links whilst I did the research and so consequently have yet another bookmark on my toolbar so I can easily go back to them.

I had to think about where I could widen my link to the public because my blog, being fairly new, doesn't have much footfall at the moment.  I really wanted to get it out there so that it would be seen and people researching Cuckfield for whatever reason would find it and be led to my big website on Cuckfield.  In the end I used the obvious choice of posting to my Facebook profile and also in a local group for Cuckfield. I also posted in the four main "tweeting" apps:  X (formerly known as Twitter), Bluesky, Threads and Mastodon.

It has been interesting to monitor the statistics for the encouraging number of hits (295) the blog has had during April and the winner hands down was Facebook with Twitter not far behind.  I have also had an increased footfall on my website.  I hope you have enjoyed the journey if you have been a follower.

Now I have 26 days worth of topics to add to my website either on pages that are already have some content on the subject or else create some draft pages ready for more information and then upload them.  It might be a busy time.

• This was the start of the journey.
• You can view my website here.
• You can see what the Society of One Place Studies is all about here.

I have created an A to Z spreadsheet with different topics and as I have read other blogs during this challenge I have been able to add other possibilities to the list of topics per letter.

To end.....would I do it again?  Yes I would but maybe not on Cuckfield this time.  I could do it on my own genealogy blog or maybe on a new blog for yet another One Place Study if I get it up and running in time.  

A-Z Challenge 2024: April 30. Z:- Zero Day

Z is Zero day ….. the day to plan and start doing.

 

You have read all my blog posts, or have you?  If not, now is the time to go back and start reading them if you have an interest in Cuckfield. Cuckfield Compendium Blog

 You have an ancestor from Cuckfield and haven’t browsed the website and find what it has to offer!!  If not, now is the time to go and start reading the website. Cuckfield Compendium

You have a brickwall with a Cuckfield connection and haven’t asked for it to be put on the website?   Email me with the details you are looking for. Link is at the bottom of this page. Brickwalls

You would like to get in touch with others researching your ancestor names; what is stopping you? Look at the page on Genealogy Interests to see if you have a similar interest and then email me with the details you would like put up there…name of interest and years.  Link for email is at the bottom of the page.

You have information that would add to what I have already put on the website or you have information you would like to see on there?  Then please do get in touch.  Link at the bottom of the two pages as given above or else there is a link close to the village sign picture on the Intro page.

You have a website with Sussex ancestors on it and haven't been in touch yet to tell me about it!!  All the information you need to get it to me is given in the point above.

 

So, that is it…..the final day, the final letter but do come back tomorrow to read my reflections on taking part in this challenge. 

Visit my website, Cuckfield Compendium

Search on X(Twitter):  #AtoZChallenge2024

A-Z Challenge 2024: April 29. Y:- You Tube videos of Cuckfield

 

Enjoy a few You Tube videos of Cuckfield

1.  Cuckfield Village by Drone   https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=l5zg_l7cBzc

2.  The Cuckfield Mayor's Procession https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=tmmQubCr7gI

3.  The Queen's Platinum Jubilee Street Party https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=pUi5rVrP2TU

4.  Cuckoo Fayre at Cuckfield  https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=iZBg1Q8WIXw

5.  Holy Trinity Church by Drone  https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-piKQTs_03c

6.  The Cold War Bunker, Cuckfield  https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=MxFVFUrL4VM

Visit my website, Cuckfield Compendium

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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

Visit my website, Cuckfield Compendium

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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.

Visit my website, Cuckfield Compendium

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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.

Visit my website, Cuckfield Compendium

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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)

Visit my website, Cuckfield Compendium

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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)

Visit my website, Cuckfield Compendium

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A-Z Challenge 2024: April 22. S:- Sussex families on a website

This is a call out to people who have a website for their Sussex family or who know of a website for a Sussex Family.  Obviously I would be even more pleased if it linked to family from Cuckfield.

I only have one website currently listed on Cuckfield Compendium and am keen to add more.  Can you help?

Visit my website, Cuckfield Compendium

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A-Z Challenge 2024: April 20. R:- Rapes of Sussex

Sussex county flag.Six gold martlets on a Blue field, first recorded in 1611.

A rape is a traditional territorial subdivision of the county of Sussex in England. Although their origin remains unknown, it is possible that the rapes represented the shires of the ancient kingdom of Sussex. They appear to predate the Norman Conquest. Historically, the rapes served as the foundation for local government in Sussex. Each rape was further divided into several hundreds and half-hundreds.

Each of the Sussex rapes had a central headquarters in the developed southern region where, the lord’s hall, court, demesne lands, principal church, and peasant holdings were located. In the northern areas, smaller dependent settlements existed in marshes, woodlands, and heaths, primarily used for summer pasture.

For instance, Cuckfield was part of the Rape of Lewes. To the west lay the Rape of Bramber, while the Rape of Pevensey lay to the east. The northern boundary of the rape was defined by the county of Surrey, and to the south, it extended to the English Channel. During the Norman Conquest in 1066, the Rape of Lewes likely encompassed the land between the Rivers Adur and Ouse, which would have been granted to William de Warenne.

The six martlets featured on the Sussex flag and emblem are believed to symbolize the six rapes—a design that dates back to at least the 17th century."

Visit my website, Cuckfield Compendium

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A-Z Challenge 2024 : April 19. Q:- Questions

The questions are firstly how do you pronounce the name Cuckfield and secondly how did it get it’s name?

Firstly, many people mispronounce the name Cuckfield and pronounce it the same as the town of Uckfield, 12 miles away in East Sussex.  It is actually pronounced as though it was spelled “Cookfield”.

Secondly, there are several interpretations as to how the name Cuckfield was derived and it likely has roots in both personal names and the natural environment.

1. Cuckoo filled clearing. It was first written Kukefeld in 1092, followed by Cucufeld in 1121. Cuckoos were called cuc or cuccu by the Normans so it is thought the name could mean “a clearing full of cuckoos”. An alternative, but less poetic, meaning is “land surrounded by a quickset hedge”.

2. Cucafeld. Another theory suggests that the name Cuckfield is derived from the Saxon personal name Cuca combined with the word “feld”, meaning “field.” Thus, it would be Cucafeld. Over time, the spelling evolved: in 1121, it was recorded as Cucufelda, and by 1633, it had practically arrived at its present form of Cuckfield.

3.      Field of the Cuckoo.  Thomas Barlow, a resident of Holborn, London, published a book in Latin that referenced “Ager Cucula” as the “Field of the Cuckoo,” rather than “Lucus Cucula,” which translates to “Clearing of the Cuckoo.” Barlow’s role was that of a compiler, assembling the book from manuscripts that had come into his possession. The book purported to be the unedited “papera” of Lucius Falvio Sedulus from Roman times. Now, the question arises: Was the clearing within the forest, or did the forest encroach upon the clearing?   

4. Cuckoo Clearing. An intriguing interpretation proposes that Cuckfield was situated in a forested area where cuckoos were frequently heard. According to this view, Cuckfield would be “Kuku-field”, signifying “the clearing of the cuckoo”. In the thirteenth century, the name was even simpler: just “Kuku”, resembling the earliest way of writing the town’s name.

5. Place Names and Forests. Additionally, the name Cuckfield might be related to other place names. The suffix “field” appears in 27 villages and towns in the district. Similarly, “Hurst” is connected to around 40 other places, indicating a dense forest. For example, Hurst-Pierpoint means “the thick forest of the Pierpoints”.

On the outskirts of the village is a sign showing a cuckoo on a tree. 

Visit my website, Cuckfield Compendium

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A-Z Challenge 2024 : April 18. P:- Population

Like any town or village, the population of Cuckfield has been affected by what has gone on around it.  At one point it was a major stopping point for the London to Brighton stage coaches.  However the populace resisted the attempts to bring the railway through in the first half of the 1800s and a town was set up about a mile away called Haywards Heath.  Initially there was an influx of people who were building the railway and then it dropped again when the railway was completed and in use.  It was also the demise of the stage coaches and Cuckfield became of less importance in the area.

Figures from the website Vision of Britain give the population as

1801: 1693 
1811: 2088
1821: 2385
1831: 2586
1841: 3444 
1851: 3196 
1881: 4964
1891: 5730
1901: 1813
1911: 1899
1921: 1928
1931: 2114
1951: 2348
1961: 20134

GB Historical GIS / University of Portsmouth, Cuckfield AP/CP through time | Census tables with data for the Parish-level Unit, A Vision of Britain through Time.

URL: https://www.visionofbritain.org.uk/unit/10285938

Date accessed: 26th March 2024

The data given does seem high for 1961, particularly when compared with the data for later years.  It is possible the data is for the parish/district of Cuckfield rather than the village itself.

Other websites give the later populations as:

2001: 3266 
2011: 3500
2021: 3767

Visit my website, Cuckfield Compendium

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A-Z Challenge 2024: April 17. O:- Ockendon Manor

The first recorded owners of Ockendon Manor were the Michel family in the mid-1500s.  The house burned down in 1608 but Michel escaped safely.  In 1658 John Burrell purchased it.  He extended and enhanced the manor during his ownership.  The Manor predominantly features 16th-century timber-framing but has a short stone wing at the south end, thought likely to have been added after the fire. The layout extends unevenly to the west, behind the east range.  It includes the principal entrance to the north and to the west is the main staircase.  Beyond these areas are the kitchen and offices. Some part of these buildings likely date back to the 17th century, but a fire-place on the first floor indicates that there also may have been some of the earlier 16th-century house. 

16C Ockendon Manor (Copyright CE Cook)

In 1858, the building underwent additions and alterations. The south wing, constructed from ashlar, extends eastward from the main front. It comprises two stories and attics, distinguished by moulded string courses. The gable head features corbelled kneelers and ball finials. The original windows remain, as does the four-centred doorway. On the south side, a projecting chimney-stack supports a row of five detached square brick shafts. The east range, covered in rough-cast cement over timber framing, has a low profile. Its upper windows take the form of semi-dormers in the roof. Within the middle bay is a gable-head, while in front of it, a gabled porch-wing boasts an overhanging upper story supported by moulded bressummers and a decorative barge-board.  

The outer entrance has been filled in, but the old four-centred inner doorway made of oak remains visible within the current library. This library features a stone fireplace with a four-centred head and some plain late 16th-century panelling adorned with fluted pilasters. The room immediately to the south, as well as the rooms above it, receive similar treatment. In the stone-built section of the building, another room boasts a stone fireplace with intricately carved mouldings, foliage spandrels, and a key-block bearing the initial ‘B,’ likely from the 18th century. This room also showcases early 17th-century panelling with fluted pilasters and an exotic plaster ceiling. The rooms on the first and second floors above have similar panelling, and in the westernmost wing, yet another bedroom features a Tudor fireplace and panelling.

It has been operated as a hotel since 1987 and has been used as a location on a tv show.  Recent times have seen the addition of a Spa.

Ockendon Manor as a Hotel

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A-Z Challenge 2024: April 16. N:- Nuclear War Bunker

Nuclear bunkers, also known as Fallout/Cold War bunkers, were enclosed spaces specifically designed to protect occupants from radioactive debris or fallout resulting from a nuclear explosion. These shelters were constructed as civil defense measures during the Cold War. In the United Kingdom, a network of fallout shelters was built across the country, primarily underground.

Throughout their operational existence, these shelters served as regional headquarters and control centers for the Royal Observer Corps (ROC). In Sussex alone, there were 11 such bunkers, including one located in Cuckfield. The ROC, established in 1925, was a civil defense organization in the United Kingdom. Its primary mission was to visually detect, identify, track, and report aircraft movements over Great Britain. Comprising mainly of civilian spare-time volunteers, the ROC wore uniforms similar to the Royal Air Force (RAF). They operated under the administrative control of RAF Strike Command and the operational control of the Home Office. The ROC continued its operations until December 31, 1995, when civilian volunteers were stood down.

If you’re interested in learning more about the Cuckfield Nuclear War Bunker, including its history and viewing pictures, you can explore the details on the Cuckfield Compendium website here.

Cuckfield Nuclear War Bunker

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A-Z Challenge 2024: April 15. M:- Macauley House College

Macauley House College was founded in 1920 by Mr and Mrs Percy Cohen in Cromwell Drive, Hove and in 1924 was transferred to Ockendon Manor in Cuckfield.  The College was reputed to be named after Thomas Babington Macauley (1800-1859) who wrote the History of England, had later become a Member of Parliament, and who had lived at the house.  

During the turbulent period of the Kindertransport,  children found refuge in various places in Sussex. Some were placed with foster families, on farms, or in schools. Among these options, Macaulay House College stood as a destination for some of them. Some children had been arriving privately at the college since 1933 and they found they experienced strict discipline and harsh conditions. Pupils donned a distinctive brown blazer with pink edging.  The college’s former synagogue now serves as the dining room, adorned with beautiful oak panels.

Ockendon Manor (copyright C E Cook)

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A-Z Challenge 2024: April 13. L:- Little Dormers

 Little Dormers (No 26) is a Grade 2 listed building; Historic England listed in 1951.  It is one of a pair of 17C cottages, the other being Tudor Rose (No 25a).  They are on the west side of South Street, Cuckfield and have beautiful west facing gardens.

They are stuccoed on a sandstone plinth with half-hipped tiled roof. They are of 2 storeys and have attics. They have a late C16 panelled brick chimney stack in the centre and have 2 gabled dormers of which one is the original.  There is a 19C addition of a casement each. They now have modern doors with a tiled penticed weather hood. The interior has exposed beams and wide inglenook fireplaces.

In 1921 Mr Matthew and Mrs Cecily Auger lived there together with Mr Auger's brother in law, Ernest Bleach.  Mr Auger was a garden labourer at Borde Hill.  Matthew had retired by 1939 and Ernest was no longer living with them.  

In 1939 

In 2017 the property sold for £290,000

Little Dormers and Tudor Rose are the pair of cottages with dormer windows on the right side of the photo below.

Little Dormers and Tudor Rose

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A-Z Challenge 2024 : April 12. K:- Kempe, Charles Eamer

                            

Charles Eamer Kempe, born in Ovingdean in 1837 and passing away in 1907 in London, was a rather reserved individual who never married. For most of his life, he resided in Sussex. In 1875, he acquired and refurbished an Elizabethan house in Lindfield, near Haywards Heath in West Sussex. From this abode, he entertained clients and professional colleagues, embracing the role of a country squire. His place of worship was initially Lindfield but he later attended Holy Trinity, Cuckfield.

Initially contemplating a vocation in the ministry, Kempe soon realized that his stammer would hinder such a path. Instead, he found inspiration in the designs of William Morris. Consequently, he chose to embellish churches rather than serve as a minister within them.

In 1865, then aged 27, Kempe was employed by George Bodley to paint the chancel wall and ceiling.  He later went to Clayton and Bell where he learned the techniques involved in stained glass window design.

Not only was Kempe a Victorian designer and stained glass manufacturer, but also a creator of designs for altars, altar frontals, furniture, furnishings, lychgates, and memorials. His stained glass windows adorn not only cathedrals like Chester, Gloucester, Hereford, Lichfield, Wells, Winchester, and York, but also many parish churches. Notably, his work at St. Mark’s in Staplefield, near Horsham in West Sussex, dating back to 1869, is considered particularly significant, representing the earliest of three known examples of Kempe’s wall painting.

In 1877 he designed the St Michael Archangel window in the West Tower, the first of four he designed for the church.

During the Victorian restoration of Holy Trinity Church, Kempe was involved in several aspects of design. In 1877 he designed the St Michael Archangel window in the West Tower, the first of four he designed for the church. In the same year he designed the oak inner doors and panelling of the belfry. He designed the wooden pulpit.   In 1886 he added the carved angels to the nave beams, painted renowned church chancel ceiling and the nave and east nave wall.  The ceiling is often mistaken for fabric.

Kempe ceiling

In 1887 he designed the Tree of Jesse window which was set into the west wall of the south wall and had designed the four open winged angels in the chancel ceiling.  The Genesis window was added in 1888 to the north aisle north west and the St Richard window was added to the north tower.  The refurbishment of the south porch was also designed by Kempe.

He further designed the North Lych Gates in the 1893 in mmory of Mrs Maberly. The lychgate is constructed with a timber-framed structure, featuring a pagoda-shaped Horsham stone slab roof adorned with an iron cross finial. It stands on six square piers, forming four arches. The spandrels of these arches are embellished with Tudor roses, other floral motifs, and the JHS mottoes. A frieze facing Church Street bears the inscription: “There remaineth therefore a rest for the people of God.” Inside the lychgate, an additional inscription reads: “To the glory of God and in thanksgiving for the beautiful life of Caroline Emily Maberley, her children dedicate this lychgate, Anno Domini 1893”

North Lych Gate, Church Street.

Additionally, he created the South African War memorial in the churchyard between the Church and The Old School in 1903.

Boer War Memorial by Kempe

I have taken a lot of this information from online sources and from Joyce Donoghue's book, "A History of the Parish Church of Holy Trinity Cuckfield"

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A-Z Challenge 2024: April 11. J:- Vicars with names beginning with a J.

 Joseph Fearon

The Reverend Joseph Fearon served as Vicar from 1801 to 1817, actively engaging in the political and social affairs of the town. He notably acquired high oak pews from Saint James’s, Piccadilly, for the church and oversaw the completion of the peal of eight bells.  He passed away in Cuckfield, Sussex, at the age of 54. 

Alongside his role as Vicar of Cuckfield, he held positions as Rector of Selsey, Rural Dean for the Eastern Division of the Diocese, and one of the prebendaries of Chichester Cathedral. These appointments were bestowed upon him by the Bishop.

You can find information about his son Henry at this blog.

 

James Oliver Smart

The Reverend James Oliver Smart, a former aircraft engineer, was ordained in 1944. He served his living at South Bersted in 1950 before relocating to Holy Trinity, Cuckfield, where he served as vicar from 1957 to 1964. During his time at Holy Trinity, Cuckfield, he initiated one of the country’s first stewardship campaigns. In 1964, he went to Kenya to serve as a vicar and later returned to Shermanbury, Sussex, in 1969. Afterward, he moved to Leicestershire. Upon retirement, he settled in Somerset, where he passed away in 1982 at the age of 77.

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A-Z Challenge 2024: April 10. I:- Independent State of Cuckfield

The Independent State of Cuckfield (ISOC) emerged in response to the annexation of land used for the annual Donkey Grand National at Whiteman’s Green, which had previously served as a source of funds for the local community. When the Donkey Races faced effective prohibition, a group of spirited revolutionaries issued a Unilateral Declaration of Independence (UDI) in 1966. The sovereignty of the ISOC, though whimsical, is held in high regard by locals who support it year-round.

All Cuckfield residents automatically attain citizenship in the ISOC without any formal membership fees. The fundamental objective of the ISOC is to raise funds during the annual Mayor’s Election and support local events. Funds raised by candidates are allocated to various organizations, groups, and charities in Cuckfield and the surrounding area, thereby benefiting the community. The ISOC’s events, including the Mayor’s Election, are covered by funds raised outside the election process.

The ISOC holds an annual Mayor’s Election on the third Friday of October. The election process is transparent: whichever candidate raises the most votes wins and becomes the next Mayor. The candidates engage in friendly vote-buying, adding a touch of delightful corruption to the proceedings.  The current Mayor (as of 2024) is Jem Lee, who was re-elected with an impressive 1.6 million votes in 2023. 

The day after the election, the newly elected Mayor leads a procession through the village and receives the symbolic keys to the village at The Talbot. He is ceremoniously welcomed in full regalia at Holy Trinity during their Sunday morning service on the first Sunday after the election.

ISOC Mayor in regalia

The Independent State of Cuckfield is a blend of whimsy, community spirit, and creative fundraising.

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A-Z Challenge 2024: April 9. H:- Hallowed Ground

 The Churchyard at Holy Trinity, Cuckfield has far reaching views of the South Downs.

Views to the South Downs

There are numerous gravestones from the 17th and 18th centuries, with 22 of them individually protected with Grade II listing. Additionally, a rare 19th-century wooden grave marker elsewhere has been restored to its original condition. 

An exceptionally tall, old tree stands as a dominant feature. Access to the churchyard is through two lychgates, both of which hold Grade II listings. One gate, designed by Charles Eamer Kempe in the late 1800s, is entirely constructed of timber, supporting a "pagoda-shaped" roof of Horsham stone tiles topped with an iron cross. It consists of two arches, with the wider one gated and dedicated to parishioner Caroline Emily Maberley. The other lychgate, added in 1911, stands on a sandstone base with a Horsham stone tiled roof. The sandstone ashlar walls alongside the gate are also part of the listing. This gate bears a dedication to parishioner Laura Maria Bevan, wife of Richard Alexander Bevan, known as "the father of Cuckfield." The presence of a pair of lychgates in a churchyard is rare. Lychgates are roofed gateways to churchyards, traditionally used for sheltering a coffin until the clergyman's arrival for burial services.

The graveyard was expanded in 1855 to accommodate burials from the growing railway town of Haywards Heath, which was then still within Holy Trinity's parish. By this point, the churchyard had transitioned into a cemetery and was no longer under the jurisdiction of the church authorities. Further land was acquired for expansion during the 20th century.

Cuckfield Burial Ground lies to the south of the village and offers far reaching views to the South Downs. The burial ground which is non-denominational, lies adjacent to Holy Trinity Church.  

Facilities include a general burial ground for traditional burials, and a section for the interment of cremated remains where a memorial can be placed; there is also a natural burial facility. All these sections are situated at the south eastern end of the cemetery in the new section.

Access to the graveyard and burial ground is through the two main lychgates of the church or access points in Newbury Lane to the west.

The graveyard and burial grounds serve as a repository of local history and is likely the final resting place for many prominent figures from Cuckfield's past. It also reflects the changing demographics and needs of the community over time.

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A-Z Challenge 2024: April 8. G:- Ghosts

No place would be without their ghost tales and Cuckfield is no exception.

Mrs. Ann Pritchard Sergison, a member of the Cuckfield family, passed away in 1848 at the age of eighty-five. She was known as “Wicked Dame Sergison” due to her notoriously foul temper. Following her demise, eerie tales began to circulate about her restless spirit. Reports suggest that she haunted several locations: the avenue leading to Cuckfield Park, the Elizabethan Manor House owned by the Sergison family, and the corridors and main stairway within.  One notable incident occurred during her daughter’s wedding reception in 1890, where she was allegedly seen as a ghost. Apparently she objected to her daughter's marriage. Locals believed that her wickedness prevented her from finding peace, and her apparition was even witnessed swinging on the oak gates at the entrance to Cuckfield Park.  In an attempt to quell her haunting, three local churchmen supposedly conducted a midnight exorcism service at Cuckfield Church. According to the tale, they managed to subdue the ghost by drowning it in the church font, bringing an end to the manifestations.  Interestingly, an alternative theory attributes the cessation of her hauntings to the replacement of the old oak gates with new spiked ones made of iron by her grandson. It seems that Dame Sergison was not the sole ghost haunting Cuckfield.

Geranium Jane was said to haunt the local pub, The King’s Head. Geranium Jane was a young girl in the 19th century who was having an affair with the licensee. After a lovers’ quarrel when he found out she was pregnant, he killed her by dropping a flowerpot of geraniums on her head as she passed beneath the upper storey windows. Jane was buried in the churchyard but returned as a ghost always accompanied by a strong smell of geraniums and a sudden drop in temperature. Lights have been switched on and off and dogs were said to growl and raise their hackles when she appeared. She stayed away when geraniums were banished from the inn.

At Ockenden Manor Hotel (formerly Ockenden House) a phantom grey lady has been seen by members of staff and guests in one of the corridors and also in the Elizabethan bedroom. It is believed to be that of a chambermaid who was killed when the walls of one of the tunnels leading to the Kings Head Inn in South Street collapsed in the 19th century. She is known to have used that route to meet her lover, but one evening, after the manor “shook as if affected by an earthquake” her crushed and mangled body was discovered in the rubble beneath the building.

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A-Z Challenge 2024: April 6. F:- Facts about Cuckfield

Cuckfield High Street

Cuckfield is a charming village and civil parish nestled in the Mid Sussex District of West Sussex, England. Here are some interesting details about this picturesque village:

Geography and Location:

Cuckfield lies on the southern slopes of the Weald, a beautiful area known for its rolling hills and wooded landscapes.

It is approximately 34 miles (55 km) south of London, making it accessible yet retaining its rural charm.

The village is 13 miles (21 km) north of Brighton and 31 miles (50 km) east-northeast of Chichester.

Nearby towns include Haywards Heath to the southeast and Burgess Hill to the south.

Historical Significance:

Cuckfield has a rich history as a market town and was once an important coaching stop on the route between London and Brighton.

In the early 19th century, 50 coaches a day passed through the village.

However, when the railway line to Brighton was planned in the 1840s, local landowners objected to its route through Cuckfield. As a result, the railway was built through neighboring Haywards Heath instead, leading to a decline in Cuckfield’s importance.

Local Features and Attractions:

• Holy Trinity Church: With Norman foundations dating back centuries, this church is a testament to Cuckfield’s long history.
• Cold War Bunker: Explore the intriguing remnants of the Cold War era.
• Dr. Gideon Mantell Memorial: A stone memorial commemorating the renowned geologist and paleontologist.
• Shops and Cafés: Wander through the village center, where you’ll find charming shops and cozy cafés.
• Cuckfield Museum: Located within the Queen’s Hall, built in 1897 to celebrate Queen Victoria’s Diamond Jubilee.
• Beautiful Countryside: Cuckfield is surrounded by stunning countryside, including famous gardens and National Trust properties.

Mayoral Voting Tradition:

Cuckfield is known for its unique system of mayoral voting. Anyone can purchase unlimited votes for the price of one penny each, with the winner receiving the most votes.

The position of mayor is purely honorary, and the funds raised support local charities.

Twin Towns:

Cuckfield has established twin town relationships with Aumale in Normandy (since 1993) and Karlstadt in Bavaria (since 1998).

Whether you’re interested in history, natural beauty, or quirky traditions, Cuckfield offers a delightful blend of all these elements.

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A-Z Challenge 2024: April 5. E:- Education

Cuckfield Free Grammar School was established by Edmund Flower, a merchant tailor and citizen of London, in about 1512. By his will of 1521 he left lands for the support of the school, which were later  augmented by others.   It was initially established for the benefit of needy children of the parishes of Cuckfield and Balcombe.  Fee paying pupils gradually came to predominate as the income became insufficient to maintain the schoolmaster.

In 1844, due to dissatisfaction with the teaching quality and high fees of the school, an Order was issued by the Court of Chancery to reorganize it along the lines of a National School. A separate National School, which had been established in the parish in 1812, was discontinued during this period. Among other specific changes, Latin and Greek were no longer part of the curriculum, the schoolmaster was no longer required to be a cleric, and fees for each child were capped at 1 shilling per week. Additionally, the vicar of Cuckfield gained financial control.

Between 1854 and 1910 the school acquired two cottages at the back of a house in Church Street in 1854, the house itself in 1872, and two more cottages in Church Street in 1885. In 1886 the National Society donated £15 and the school became a National School.

In 1935, plans emerged to construct a Senior Council School in Cuckfield, serving the surrounding district. However, this proposal faced resistance from those concerned that the church’s control over local education would be significantly diminished. A concession was made by the County Council that if a quarter of the construction cost could be raised through public subscriptions before June 1940, the new school would remain affiliated with the church. An appeal was initiated, but the outbreak of war postponed the plans.Any funds raised between 1946 and 1950 were either returned to contributors or utilized to establish the new Cuckfield Voluntary Primary School as an ‘aided’ institution with some level of church oversight.

In 1964 the school was again reorganised, under the control of the Chichester Diocesan Board of Finance.  In 1991, the Primary school was rebuilt on a new site and the Church took over the buildings as a church hall and administrative offices.

The Old School, Cuckfield (recent)

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A-Z Challenge 2024: April 4. D:- Dinosaurs

 Dinosaurs ...... in Cuckfield?  Yes, dinosaurs were in Cuckfield!!

Iguanodon (source: Pixabay)

The ancient stone quarries to the north of the village, especially Whitemans Green, are renowned as the locations where some of the most significant early dinosaur fossil discoveries in the world were made. 

Gideon Mantell, who had been born in Lewes in 1790, son of a shoemaker,  He became interested in geology in his youth and was often to be found exploring pits and quarries in the surrounding areas.  He made fascinating discoveries: ammonites, sea urchin shells, fish bones, coral, and the remnants of ancient animals.  He had been inspired by Mary Anning, a pioneering palaeontologist and fossil collector, who had made a remarkable discovery in Lyme Regis, Dorset. She unearthed the fossilized remains of an animal that initially resembled a massive crocodile in the early 1800s.

Recognizing the limited knowledge about prehistory, Mantell, who was in the area in 1822, was determined to learn more. Sandstone was being extracted at the quarry for road construction. Mantell persuaded the quarry worker to provide him with all the fossils they discovered.  He made a groundbreaking discovery: fossil teeth that he later identified as belonging to an iguana-like creature. He named this dinosaur Iguanodon. 

Iguanodon, with its massive herbivorous lifestyle, became one of the iconic dinosaurs of the Early Cretaceous period, thanks to the keen observations and persistence of Gideon and his wife, Mary Ann Mantell.

His work on Iguanodon and the eventual identification of its skeleton marked the beginning of scientific dinosaur research.  Mantell went on to discover three more of the dinosaur genera in Cuckfield during his lifetime: hylaeosaurus, pelorosaurus and regnosaurus.  Many of his finds can be seen in the British Museum.

Mantell’s contributions to paleontology helped expand our understanding of prehistory and left a lasting legacy in the scientific community.

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