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Cuckfield Connections
A personal journey of discovery





1841: First leg of Brighton Line opens
The London to Brighton line was completed between London Bridge Station and Haywards Heath and opened on 12 July 1841. A connecting coach...
Jan 12, 20242 min read
269 views


1937: Haywards Heath's pioneers. ARP Talk part 4
Mid Sussex Times - Tuesday 26 October 1937 Mr A. R. Pannett, affectionately known to locals as 'ARP' gave many delightful insights into...
Nov 26, 20234 min read
282 views

1937: How the Heath changed with the Railway in 1841 - Part 3
Mid Sussex Times - Tuesday 26 October 1937 Mr A.R Pannett, affectionately known to locals as 'ARP' gave many delightful insights into...
Nov 24, 20234 min read
297 views

1937: 'ARP' History of Haywards Heath - Part 2
Mr A. R. Pannett, affectionately known to locals as 'ARP' gave many delightful insights into earliest Haywards Heath days; in 1937 at the...
Nov 22, 20234 min read
288 views

1937: Local historian 'A. R. P' Haywards Heath - Part 1
Mr A. R. Pannett, affectionately known to locals as 'ARP' gave many delightful insights into earliest Haywards Heath days; in 1937 at the...
Nov 20, 20233 min read
236 views

1925: 15 Broadway shops thwarted by covenants
Sussex Agricultural Express - Friday 28 August 1925 A FATAL HlTCH Great interest was taken in the rumour that 15 shops were going to be...
Nov 14, 20231 min read
102 views

1935: Haywards Heath 50 years ago and now!
Interesting addresses at the Chambers of Commerce Meeting Mid Sussex Times Tuesday March 5 1935 A number of facts of local interest were...
Nov 6, 20233 min read
295 views


1909: Collision on the Cuckfield Road
The other week, two traps, one travelling to, and the other from the Station, collided near Butler's Green, and a lady occupying the one...
Sep 1, 20231 min read
43 views


1938: Ghostly midnight troop of riderless horses
At midnight on New Year’s Eve almost on the last stroke of the old year, Butlers Green is visited by a ghostly troop of grey riderless...
Jun 23, 20232 min read
151 views

1889: Haywards Heath better location for County court
Sussex Agricultural Express - Tuesday 09 April 1889 CUCKFIELD. THE COUNTY COURT.- Mr. Trevor Pollard and Mr J. C. Buckwell, of Brighton,...
May 27, 20231 min read
104 views

1912: Thomas Bannister 'left nothing undone'
Brighton Gazette - Wednesday 03 July 1912 LATE MR. T. BANNISTER. Well-Known Mid-Sussex Auctioneer. A notable Mid-Sussex figure has been...
May 21, 20234 min read
127 views


1927: They said we wouldn't believe it - but we do
Dear Sirs, Upwards of two years ago the Cuckfield Urban Council proposed a scheme for the reconstruction and widening of the main road...
May 14, 20232 min read
163 views

1848: Railway porter and ex slave was 'highly respected' in Haywards Heath
Many thanks to Mike Anton for researching and providing this fascinating story about the earliest days of the Railways at Haywards...
Apr 14, 20233 min read
892 views


1835: 'Utterly impracticable' Brighton line
I was recently shown a collection of researched material and came across a cutting of this uncredited article, which today will raise a...
May 1, 20223 min read
109 views


1871: Mud ankle deep and ice accidents
Since 9 o'clock on Saturday night rapid changes in the weather, together with a variation in the wind, has been apparent in this...
May 30, 20211 min read
43 views


1415: Was Sergison Arms a gun depot?
Sussex author Thurston Hopkins in his book 'The Lure of Sussex', makes some observations about the Sergison Arms and Muster Green which...
May 23, 20212 min read
238 views


1934: Heath Town Prize Band leads Spectacular Ceremony as 300 march down Cuckfield High Street
Mid Sussex Times - Tuesday 05 June 1934 CUCKFIELD BRANCH OF THE BRITISH LEGION NEW STANDARD DEDICATED AT THE PARISH CHURCH CANON WILSON’S...
Dec 6, 20207 min read
222 views


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,...
Oct 26, 20205 min read
297 views


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...
Oct 5, 20206 min read
2,494 views


1951: Demonstration of trick riding draws the crowds at Victoria Park; guides and scouts parade
Please click link below https://screenarchive.brighton.ac.uk/detail/9940/
Aug 4, 20201 min read
125 views
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