HAILSHAM SUSSEX TOWNS AND VILLAGES

Sussex is a glorious county, the so-called garden of England and for very good reason. I've lived in Sussex most of my life, including: Brighton, Eastbourne, Seaford, Newhaven, Hadlow Down, and of course Herstmonceux.

There is so much of interest to see and do in the United Kingdom, and I hope to expand the local geography section as time allows, to cover the most interesting aspects of this wonderful country.

Hailsham is a town in the Wealden district of East Sussex, England. It has a population of over 18,000.

The name Hailsham is thought to come from the Saxon 'Haegels Ham' meaning the clearing of Haegel. Its name has changed through the ages to Hamelsham in the Domesday book, Aylesham in the 13th century, to its present spelling in the late 1600's.

The Domesday book records that William holds 2 hides from the Count of Mortain, that the land supports 6 ploughs, and 5 villeins. There were also 17 salt workings nearby. This area was badly affected by the Norman invasion, and was valued at 125 shillings before 1066 and 50 after.

Hailsham is now a bastion of the dreaded Wealden District Council. One of the main reasons this region is not good for business, is that you will have to deal with a corrupt council. There are many independent reports to support this view and a series of cases featured on this site and others.

The core problem is obtaining planning permission. Invariably, you will eventually come across this as a business or home owner. You will then have to deal with planning officers that are led by corrupt heads of departments. The other problem is benign councillors, content to sit and watch as their region is drained of talent and entrepreneurs by the malignancy that is their executive management. All the while local towns and villages lose out.

If you are concerned about the decline in services and growth in your area, you can email all your MPs via this website quite simply:-

The town originally grew as an agricultural centre but is now mostly a commuter town. There is currently much controversy over the sale of Hailsham Cattle Market and its redevelopment into a supermarket. Hailsham was originally granted it's charter for a market in 1252 by Henry III. The market is one of few remaining cattle markets along the south coast, and if closed, would probably be a great loss to the town. The local MP, Charles Hendry, has got involved and is fighting to keep the market open.

Local Public Houses and Inns that have vanished over the years are: The Good Intent, The Fox, The Black Horse Inn, The Swan Inn, The Market House, The Cow, and The Brewers Arms (formerly the Railway Arms).

The Quintins shopping centre was opened in the late 1980s and was named after Quintin Hogg, Baron Hailsham of St Marylebone. At the centre of the centre is the Co-op (supermarket). There is a Waitrose supermarket nearby in Vicarage Fields, which was previously Somerfield.

The town has several primary schools. It has one secondary comprehensive school, Hailsham Community College.

Hailsham used to have a railway station on the Cuckoo line, running from Polegate to Tunbridge Wells. The line from Polegate was opened in May 1849 and closed as part of the Beeching cuts in 1968. The southern 12 miles of disused line is now a valued cycleway and footpath between Polegate and Heathfield.

In 1252, Henry III granted the right to hold a market. Some of the tolls taken during the Hundred Years War with France were used to pay for the garrison at Pevensey. This market continued until 1639, when it was discontinued, but re-started in the late 1700's. The market changed its focus to livestock and it is known that welsh farmers brought their cattle for selling at Hailsham.

The numbers of livestock in Hailsham together with the number of local oak trees(tannin from the bark is used in the process) provided tanners and leather workers with a great deal of wealth The population increased to the 300 mark by the mid 1600's but increased significantly from about 1000 in the early 1800's to 3500 by the 1890's. This was mostly due to the manufacture of rope which was started in 1780 by Thomas Burfield . The term rope walk comes from the spinning process used in rope manufacture, where by Spinners would walk down a straight path letting out hemp, which was spun by wheelboys turning a wheel.

In 1803 Hailsham Barracks were built to quarter troops intended to man the Martello towers which defend the Pevensey area from Napoleon. The Barracks were closed after the defeat of Napoleon at Waterloo in 1815.

During the 1800's a wide range of rope related goods were manufactured in the vicinity, including Hop Pockets for the brewing industry, cloths, twine, mill sails and whip cord, and ropes for the navy.

One example of the work of Jonathan Harmer of Heathfield can be found in the churchyard, a large stone chest type grave with a terracotta plaque attached. This example of his craft comes from the early 1800's.

In 1849 a branch train line was built from Polegate to Hailsham, then extended on to Eridge via Heathfield in the 1880's, and was known as the Cuckoo Line from the legend . The line was closed in 1965, and is now the Cuckoo Trail , a footpath and bridleway running from Polegate to Heathfield .

Hailsham also used to produce Sussex Trugs, now only manufactured at nearby Herstmonceux .

Contacts:

Principal: Mrs Lesley Farmer

Free Information and Advice to find the right course for you
A group of Community Colleges, which includes Hailsham Community
College, has recently been awarded Matrix Accreditation. This kitemark
recognises that the Colleges meet the national quality standard for
education information and advice.

Hailsham Christian Fellowship

Hailsham Pavilion Cinema was erected as a purpose built 'picture palace' in 1921 on land previously owned by a Dr. Nicholson and Dr. Gould.

Prior to this, films had been shown at 'The Corn Exchange' behind the Crown Inn (now renamed the Corn Exchange) in the High Street. Some residents at the time regarded the Pavilion as a 'new fangled upstart of a cinema'.

The Pavilion was officially opened on Monday 28th November 1921 by A.K. Burtenshaw JP. The Hailsham Town Band had earlier played around the town and at the cinema entrance where a large number had assembled. As a special attraction, for the opening performance "The Kid" starring Charlie Chaplin had been booked, and the first house was crowded.

The Hailsham Pavilion is situated on George Street in Hailsham. Ample free parking is available in Hailsham. A free car park is also located in Victoria Road opposite to the Police Station approximately 250 yards from the Pavilion. Other free parking facilities are available at The Quintins Shopping Centre and at the Leisure Centre.

Sussex County League, Division One

Nickname: The Stringers
2004/05 season: 12th (20)
2004/05 average League attendance: 99 (-11.11%)

Highest league attendance: vs Eastbourne Town (291)
Lowest league attendance: vs East Grinstead Town (63)

Club colours: Yellow shirts, green shorts

Hailsham Town F.C. is a football club based in Hailsham, England. They were established in 1885 and joined the Sussex County Football League Division Two in 1955. In 1970, they changed their name from Hailsham F.C. to their present name. In the 1988-89 season, they reached the 5th round of the FA Vase. For the 2005-06 season, they are members of the

Hailsham Town FC was founded in 1885, and was briefly known as “Hailsham Butchers” in the period just before the 1914-18 Great War. The new club joined the East Sussex League, winning the Sussex Junior Cup in 1896, and reached the final of the Sussex Senior Cup in 1902.

In 1955/56 the club joined the Sussex County League, but left to join the Eastbourne League in 1963, before rejoining the East Sussex League three years later.

Hailsham joined the Southern Counties Combination League in 1972, which was a feeder for the County League. In 1975/76 the club won promotion to Division Two of the County League as champions, and finished a creditable sixth in their first season. After six seasons, during which they were one of the leading clubs in Division Two, Hailsham finally won promotion to Division One, as runners-up to Whitehawk in 1980/81.

In 1988/89, under the guidance of Trevor Wood Hailsham finished fourth in Division One, their best ever placing, and also reached the last sixteen of the FA Vase, losing at home to Hungerford Town in front of a crowd of 1,100. In the early 1990s, the club proved itself as one of the best in the County League and, although never finishing higher than fifth, lifted the League Challenge Cup in 1995/95.

The end of the 1990s however, saw a decline in the club’s fortunes, and they were relegated to Division Two at the end of the 1998/99 season. After just two seasons however, Hailsham returned to Division One, after finishing in third place behind Southwick and Peacehaven & Telscombe.

2004/05 saw the club in danger of relegation early in 2005, but they rallied to finish in 12th place for the second season in succession.

Heading towards Eastbourne on the A22, turn off at Diplocks Roundabout
(signposed Industrial Estate). Passage way to ground (signposted) is on the left
just before the BP garage on the corner of South Street.

Alternatively, the ground can be accessed by parking in Western Road and walking across the recreation ground.

Nearest railway station: Polegate (5 miles, bus service available).

Contacts:

Principal: Mrs Lesley Farmer

Hailsham Christian Fellowship

Hailsham Hockey Club