Characters / people 8/9

Feb 10, 20212 min read

1875: The last of the Cuckfield Postboys

Hampshire Telegraph - Saturday 27 February 1875 CUCKFIELD. Death of an Old Roadster at Cuckfield. — Almost the last of the old race of...

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Feb 7, 20214 min read

A Bowyer's widow abducted in ironmasters' feud

This is taken from an article by Margaret Holt, taken from the Spring 1993, Bulletin of the Wealden Iron Research Group Newsletter, ...

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Jan 31, 20213 min read

1992: Local Historian Shirley Bond looks back on her Cuckfield childhood

A Cuckfield Childhood by Shirley Bond My family moved to Cuckfield in 1940 and lived in the same house in Broad Street until my parents...

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Jan 7, 20213 min read

1778: Author and satirist Fanny Burney describes Cuckfield

In 1778 famous novelist, playright and satirist Frances (Fanny) Burney (1752-1840) stopped (most probably in the Kings Head) overnight in...

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Dec 12, 20203 min read

1756: Diarist Thomas Turner pops into the King's Head

Thomas Turner (1729-93) was an important ﬁgure in the village of East Hoathly, East Sussex, nine miles north east of Lewes, where he was...

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Nov 10, 20203 min read

Cuckfield life from 1850: Emily Wells' recollections

Here is a selection of memories Mrs Emily Wells born c1850, and latterly lived in Broad Street from an interview conducted by the Womens’...

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Nov 6, 20205 min read

Reginald Tree: Cuckfield baker for 50 years

Reginald Tree was the village baker from the 1940s through the 1980s. This intriguing account of his life that must have been written in...

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Nov 4, 20208 min read

Basil Boothroyd, Cuckfield's comic genius

Those who were living in the village in the 1960s to 80s will fondly remember Cuckfield’s famous resident humorist Basil Boothroyd who...

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Nov 1, 20203 min read

One of Cuckfield's most famous former residents, Lord Denning (1899-1999)

Lord Denning is described as ‘the law student’s favourite’ judge - a model of clarity. He was on the side of the ‘underdog’ and was known...

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Oct 30, 20205 min read

1902: Cuckfield Baker Samuel Willett - music, smugglers and dishonest nightwatchmen

This item appeared in Mid Sussex Times on 10 June 1902, and gives an interesting snapshot of the village life in both Cuckfield and...

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Oct 26, 20205 min read

1797: Our local and national hero - Admiral Sir John Wells of Bolnore

We learn from the Gentleman’s Magazine, dated May 1842, that Admiral Sir John Wells, GCB after 65 years in the navy died at his home,...

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Oct 20, 20204 min read

1700s: Dining like the Burrells

Timothy Burrell kept a set of account diaries which give a fascinating insight into the daily life of a wealthy land-owning Sussex squire...

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Oct 16, 20203 min read

The absurdities of a Victorian archery party at Cuckfield Park

Although this is not an easy read, due to its archaic eccentric wording, this chapter from one of Twynihoe William Erle’s books ‘The...

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Oct 12, 20202 min read

1804: Jilted Cuckfield corporal takes his own life

The Lady's Magazine relates in its 8 June 1804 edition a tragic story that occurred in Cuckfield to a member of the well known High...

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Oct 9, 20204 min read

1937: Winston Churchill visits Cuckfield

Almost three years before the start of World War II Winston Churchill attended a funeral at the Holy Trinity Church, Cuckfield on 4...

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Oct 5, 20206 min read

As Haywards Heath College reopens, an affectionate spotlight on the career of its first Principal...

Mid Sussex Times February 5 1982 End of an era for head When a school master is invited out for a drink by ex-pupils he has caned, it...

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Oct 4, 20203 min read

1939: Cuckfield Cobbler reflects in verse on Victorian village life.....

Mid Sussex Times - Tuesday 28 February 1939 Cobbler turns poet Charlie Newnham of Cuckfield glances back For fifty years I've served this...

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Jul 24, 20202 min read

1938: Celebrating Cuckfield teacher, clockmaker and local historian Hubert Bates

Mid Sussex Times - Tuesday 29 March 1938 UP AND DOWN THE COUNTY By ‘The Roamer’ Mr. Hubert Bates, of Cuckfield, looked me up few days ago...

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Jul 21, 202010 min read

July 22 1913: Suffragist Pilgrims march through Mid Sussex to Hyde Park

WOMEN AND THE VOTE. PILGRIMAGE MARCH TO LONDON. THE JOURNEY THROUGH MID-SUSSEX Where is the man who has the power or skill To stem the...

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Jul 13, 20206 min read

1891: Celebration of the life of Haywards Heath's first vicar

Mid Sussex Times - Tuesday 03 March 1891 DEATH OF THE REV. R.E. WYATT Scarcely had daybreak dawned at Haywards Heath on Friday when the...

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