Recent posts

May 8, 20229 min read

1935: Cuckfield celebrates Royal Silver Jubilee

Mid Sussex Times - Tuesday 07 May 1935 THE KING’S SILVER JUBILEE CUCKFIELD. Not within the memory of the oldest inhabitant has Cuckfield...

198 views

Dec 15, 20202 min read

Coachman: 'Get out and walk up Clayton Hill'

WCA Blew in 'Brighton and its Coaches' quoted from Samuel Shergold’s ‘Recollections of Brighton in the Olden Time’ published in 1853,...

70 views

Dec 7, 20201 min read

1885: Balcombe villagers desperately try to grow their church spire as high as that of Cuckfield!

According to the 1885 ‘Sussex Place Rhymes and Local Proverbs’, by Frederick Ernest Sawyer, there was an old Sussex proverb: The people...

52 views

Dec 3, 20203 min read

1845: The Cuckfield Workhouse and Christmas

When we think of the connotations of the word ‘workhouse’ we might recall the film Oliver and the grim prison environment and surly staff...

224 views

Dec 1, 20202 min read

1849: Staplefield School construction funded by Cuckfield residents and opened with Plum Pudding!

In the following article from the Brighton Gazette in 1849 it appears that Staplefield school construction was funded by Cuckfield...

125 views

Nov 28, 20202 min read

1797: King's Head Cuckfield 'Tavern Clock' - Penny for the time please

Cuckfield’s King’s Head had a fine ‘Act of Parliament Clock’ (or ‘Tavern Clock’) in the saloon bar. The clock name derives from 1797...

141 views

Nov 25, 20201 min read

1897: Bolting horse causes alarm and damage

On Sunday February 21st there was much excitement outside the parish church just as the congregation was leaving the evening service. A...

62 views

Nov 24, 20201 min read

White Hart 1867: No rush as ham thieves have midnight feast

Cuckfield: Housebreaking On Tuesday night some thieves broke into the White Hart Inn (Mrs Stubberfield's) by forcing open the shutter, a...

91 views

Nov 23, 20206 min read

1881: Murder suspect Percy Lefroy Mapleton appears in Cuckfield Courtroom

Dundee Courier - Saturday 16 July 1881 THE BRIGHTON MURDER. EXAMINATION OF LEFROY. THE JOURNEY TO CUCKFIELD. COOLNESS OF THE PRISONER....

318 views

Nov 20, 20207 min read

When high society stopped overnight in Cuckfield

Towns and villages along the London to Brighton road had more high profile, wealthy and influential dignitaries passing through Cuckfield...

209 views

Nov 20, 202010 min read

Exclusive - The Old King's Head in Cuckfield revealed

My father was host of the King's Head, which stood where Mr Langton's house now is, and many is the royal guest the old inn has welcomed...

1,062 views

Nov 16, 20201 min read

1849: Animal mayhem in Cuckfield street

As Mr and Mrs Borrer, jun., were driving through Cuckfield on Thursday; Mr Borrer’s pointer was attacked by a large dog, and a fight took...

24 views

Nov 15, 20203 min read

1986: Curtain comes down on celebrated Ansty Barn Theatre as James Forsyth bids sad farewell

Scottish playwright James Forsyth, was born on March 3, 1913 in Glasgow and received his training at the Glasgow School of Art. He was...

443 views

Nov 14, 20202 min read

1849: Kids' party at Ockenden House, Cuckfield - then on to the Talbot for magic

On Thursday last, John Fearon, Esq., of Ockenden House [Cuckfield], followed up his liberality, noticed a few weeks since, by giving a...

32 views

Nov 13, 20202 min read

1935: Fatal fall at the Old Mill in Cuckfield

Mid Sussex Times - Tuesday 11 June 1935 CUCKFIELD WOMAN’S FATAL FALL. NEIGHBOUR’S DISCOVERY AT OLD MILL A woman who had lived for nearly...

322 views

Nov 12, 20202 min read

1794: Prince George in Cuckfield coach crash

We learn from The Sussex Weekly Advertiser in 7 July 1794: ‘The lad who drove the Prince [Prince George: future King George IV] on...

204 views

Nov 10, 20202 min read

Cuckfield July 1853: one inch diameter hail stones shatter windows in freak storm

Sussex Advertiser - Tuesday 12 July 1853 CUCKFIELD. The Storm. —About half-past ten on Thursday night, we were visited by a most terrific...

26 views

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’...

156 views

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...

251 views

Nov 5, 20204 min read

1881: How Cuckfield celebrated 'Guy Fawkes Night'

Throughout our country, Bonfire Night 2020 will be a subdued affair. Public firework celebrations have all been cancelled due to social...

63 views

Cuckfield Connections

A personal journey of discovery