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Cuckfield Connections
A personal journey of discovery




1855: Young thief caught out
Sussex Advertiser - Tuesday 12 June 1855 CUCKFIELD. Magisterial Business, Thursday, June 7th.— William Wood, aged 12, was tried under the...
Feb 28, 20241 min read
231 views


1888: Absconding in swapped clothes
At the Horsham Police Court on Saturday, John Grinstead, a tramp, was charged with absconding from the Workhouse on September 5th, 1807,...
Jan 31, 20241 min read
61 views


1875: Runaway boy in trouble
On Saturday, Albert Martin, 14 years of age, was brought before WW Burrell, Esq, at Cuckfield, charged with begging at Hurst on the...
Jan 27, 20241 min read
57 views


1806: Punishment for man who deserts wife
The Sessions for the Eastern Division of this County, ended on Saturday at Lewes. The prisoners for trial were not numerous, and their...
Jan 25, 20241 min read
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1841: Highway robbery story
Cuckfield Bench Wednesday William White and Henry Oram were brought up charged with highway robbery. Henry Kenward, of Isfield, huckster,...
Jan 9, 20242 min read
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1881: Savage attack by robber
On Monday before the Hon. Admiral Pakenham and Mr TTC Lister, Frank Yorke was brought up on remand Friday last to answer the charge of...
Nov 11, 20231 min read
28 views


1856: Ratcatcher charged with trespassing
Sussex Advertiser - Tuesday 02 December 1856 CUCKFIELD. Petty Sessions, Monday, (yesterday).—Present: J. M. Norman, Esq., in the chair,...
Nov 4, 20231 min read
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1889: Intoxicated wife attempts suicide
Mid Sussex Times - Tuesday 22 January 1889 ATTEMPTED SUICIDE-CUCKFIELD. Mary Costigan, a respectably-dressed woman, residing at...
Oct 26, 20232 min read
78 views

1850: Murderous attack on a policeman
Morning Chronicle - Friday 09 August 1850 MURDEROUS ATTACK ON A POLICEMAN AND RESCUE OF PRISONERS. Police-constable Pocock, a most active...
Oct 24, 20233 min read
39 views

1841: Man stoned to death by navvies?
Old England - Saturday 24 April 1841 CUCKFIELD A rumour has prevailed in the town for several days that a man was stoned to death on...
Oct 10, 20231 min read
201 views

1896: Brutal attack on train near Haywards Heath
Morning Leader - Friday 17 July 1896 Railway crime Brighton line mystery: a young lady attacked near Hayward's Heath, her story and her...
Sep 23, 20234 min read
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1867: Vicar calls for censure of church window vandals
Sussex Advertiser - Saturday 25 May 1867 BREAKING the CHURCH WINDOWS. The Rev. T. A. Maberly, vicar of Cuckfield, laid complaint against...
Sep 12, 20231 min read
35 views

1864: Two charges of stealing heard in Court
Brighton Gazette - Thursday 27 October 1864 CUCKFIELD. Special Bench Magistrates, Wednesday, Oct. 19. Present—Capt. Sergison, and W....
Sep 8, 20231 min read
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1851: Sheep thief caught after 40 mile chase
Brighton Gazette - Thursday 16 January 1851 CUCKFIELD. Charge or Sheep Stealing.-A person, named William Haylar, a native of this place,...
Sep 4, 20232 min read
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1843: Daring robbery in Bolney
Brighton Gazette - Thursday 08 June 1843 BOLNEY Daring Robbery On Thursday evening last a daring robbery was committed at Old Malthouse...
Aug 11, 20231 min read
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1864: Unfortunate embrace
Two tramps, who gave the names of George Legg and Catherine Longate, and stated that they had been cohabiting as man and wife, were...
Jul 31, 20232 min read
132 views

1836: Cuckfield pickpocket jailed
Brighton Gazette - Thursday 20 October 1836 Jane Barrett, 39, married woman, charged with stealing at Cuckfield, from the person of John...
Jul 28, 20231 min read
33 views

1837: Thief knew Whiteman's Green premises
Brighton Gazette - Thursday 25 May 1837 CUCKFIELD. May 23.—0n Wednesday evening the house of a labourer, at Whiteman’s Green, named...
Jul 26, 20231 min read
38 views

1884: Fleeing Cuckfield thief bites police constable
West Sussex County Times - Saturday 21 June 1884 Cuckfield Petty Sessions. On Monday, at these Sessions, before Mr. J.M.Norman (in the...
Jul 16, 20231 min read
46 views


1870: Attempted murder(?) and suicide of Cuckfield man
The late attempted murder and suicide at Portsea. The sitting magistrates at the Portsea police court, were engaged for some hours on...
Jul 13, 20233 min read
84 views
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