Brief details about Heathfield, East Sussex.

Heathfield lies midway along an ancient track called the Ridgeway, that since pre-historic times, has been the link between the South Downs and the Weald.  Legend has it that a quaintly dressed old lady always turns up at the annual April Heffle 'Cuckoo Fair' (Heffle being the old Sussex name for Heathfield), to release from her basket the first Cuckoo of Spring.  Formerly the fair was held behind the 'Half Moon Inn', now known as the 'Jack Cade' in Cade Street.  It now takes place in and around the Community Hall and Health Centre in Sheep Setting Lane.

Between the 1600's and 1800's the Fuller family from Brightling ran an Iron Furnace at Heathfield which produced Canons for the Royal Navy.  The iron ore was mined locally , and the charcoal used to fire the ore was also produced locally, some from nearby Blackboys.

East of the town is the walled Heathfield Park which contains a round castellated folly called the
'Gibralter Tower'.  Built in 1792 by Francis Newbury, a governor of Gibralter, who successfully defended the 'Rock' against the combined French and Spanish forces between 1779 and 1783.

Heathfield used to be called Tower Street and it grew up around the railway station on the old Polegate to Tunbridge Wells line (now closed). This busy single track line built in 1880 was known as the 'Cuckoo Line'.  It was axed in 1965 by Dr. Beeching when the local authorities took this opportunity to use part of it to create a linear Country Park and Nature Reserve.  An appreciation of the 'Cuckoo Trail' grows from year to year, and it is hoped it may eventually be extended.

Among the trees, near the bridge in Ghyll Road, north-west from Sand Cross on the B2203, is an old stand pipe.  This is the last remnant of Heathfield's natural gas industry. In its heyday it produced some 15 million cubic feet a day , and provided the railway station with lighting until the 1930's.  The gas was discovered in 1895 when engineers were actually looking for water! However, the operation  never proved commercially viable.
 A medallion was struck to commemorate the coronation of Edward VII and Queen Alexandra - one side portrayed the Royal Heads, and on the other side was the inscription:-

 "Heathfield, Sussex, 1902. Natural gas first used for light and power".

Old Heathfield is very picturesque and the main village centre is a nice example of late 19th Century Rural Sussex.  In the churchyard lies a good example of a Harmer terracotta decorated gravestone.

Heathfield is a major centre for the surrounding area with a broad range of shops and there are excellent parking facilities.

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