The Weald of Kent, Surrey and Sussex
Searles    Sheffield Forest  Fletching  

Books and other documents
PublishedTitle, author and references
1997The Ashdown Forest Dispute 1876-1882 by Professor Brian Short ⇒ Notebook extract

Historical records

1597FreeholderMighell HawkinsSearlesBuckhurst Terrier
Michaell Hawkins holds by deed Searles, 56 acres, bounds:
  • Thomas Frankwell to the South
  • Queens highway Fletching to East Grinsted to the West
  • his own Whelesborough to the North
  • Seth Alcock and John Cade to the East
also Quinsfeild 4 acres, bounds:
  • John Atheroll to the North
  • Richard Michelborne, gent, to the South and East
  • land Sheffield to Nutley to the West
also Sinnfeild, 4 acres, bounds:
  • John Atheroll to the North
  • Richard Michelborne to the South and East
  • land Sheffield to Nutley to the West
Rent 8s. 8d.

c 1795Nutley, Sussex - c 1795Part of the 1 inch to 1 mile map of Sussex produced in 1795 by William Gardner and Thomas GreamSale Farm

1828Wilson, Sir Thos.Sir Thomas Maryon Wilson, BaronetSearlsPigot's Directory

6th Jun 1841CensusThomas Wilson, M, Head, age 41; occupation IndependentSir Thomas Maryon Wilson, BaronetSearls1841 Census
Fletching, Sussex
William Hornby, M, age 44; occupation: independentWilliam Hornby
Thomas Lighborea, M, age 26; occupation: servantThomas Lighborea
James Here, M, age 32; occupation: servantJames Here
Thomas Mitchel, M, age 72, born Sussex; occupation: servantThomas Mitchel
Elizabeth Thorp, F, age 41, born Sussex; occupation ServantElizabeth Thorp
Anne Allen, F, age 15 to 19, born Sussex; occupation: servantAnne Allen

1851Wilson, Sir Thos. Maryon, bartSir Thomas Maryon Wilson, BaronetSearlesPost Office Directory

30th Mar 1851CensusLodger; occupation: farm labourerWilliam KingSearls House1851 Census
Fletching, Sussex
Servant; occupation HOUSEKEEPERSophia Warnett

1867Directory entryWilson Sir Thomas Maryon, bart., SearlesSearlesPost Office Directory
Searles is the seat of Sir Thomas Maryon Wilson, Bart.

1874Directory entryWilson Lieut. Spenser, R.N., SearlesSearlesPost Office Directory

c 1875RecollectionsWilliam GibbonsSearles HouseAshdown Forest dispute

During The Ashdown Forest Dispute 1876-1882 commoners and land owners were interviewed by the solicitor William Raper. Their comments were recorded in a series of notebooks:

Gibbons, William. Steward to Sir Spencer Maryon Wilson for past 21 1/2 years, previous to which he lived in Kent. During the whole 21 1/2 years has taken from the Forest gravel and stone which right he used for buildings, for the repair of the roads and once or twice for foundations of buildings [and] also sand for repairs on Sir Spencer's estate. Has never asked anyone's leave and has never made any payment or given any acknowledgement for same and none has objected to his taking the same.

The stone in respect of which Lord De La Warr claims was taken for building Searles. In 1870 Sir S. M. Wilson commenced building Searles House and in that year took about 574 waggon loads of stone from the Forest and in 1871 36 loads, and in 1872 120 loads and about 4 or 5 since.

...............


c 1875Searles, Black Ven & Cackle Street, North West of Maresfield - c 1875Part of the 6 inch to 1 mile map of Sussex produced in 1875 by Ordnance SurveySearles

3rd Apr 1881CensusJames Richardson, M, Head, married, age 50, born Washington; occupation GardenerJames RichardsonSearles Lodge North1881 Census
Fletching, Sussex
Mary Richardson, F, Wife, married, age 60, born HartfieldMary Richardson
Alice Wood, F, Granddaughter, single, age 8, born Fletching; occupation ScholarAlice Wood
James Spier, M, Lodger, age 27, born Buckinghamshire; occupation GroomJames Spier

3rd Apr 1881CensusRobert Hunter, M, Head, married, age 52, born Ireland; occupation: domestic servantRobert Hunter, domestic servantSearles Lodge South1881 Census
Fletching, Sussex
Mary Hunter, F, Wife, married, age 51, born HampshireMary Hunter
Caroline Hunter, F, Daughter, single, age 13, born Northamptonshire; occupation: scholarCaroline Hunter

3rd Apr 1881CensusSpencer M. (Sir Bart) Wilson, M, Head, married, age 51, born Kent; occupation BaronetSir Spencer Maryon Wilson, 10th BaronetSearles House1881 Census
Fletching, Sussex
Lady M. Wilson, F, Wife, married, age 50, born LancashireLady Maryon Wilson
George M. Wilson, M, Son, single, age 20, born Isle of WightGeorge Maryon Wilson
Annie Emily M. Wilson, F, Daughter, single, age 19, born Isle of WightAnnie Emily Maryon Taylor [Wilson]
Rosie Amanda M. Wilson, F, Daughter, single, age 9, born BarnhamRosie Amanda Maryon Wilson
Eva Kathleen M. Wilson, F, Daughter, single, age 6, born FletchingEva Kathleen Maryon Wilson
Elizabeth Caroline Simpson, F, Governess, single, age 34, born Yorkshire; occupation GovernessElizabeth Caroline Simpson
Ann Figgs, F, Servant, single, age 42, born Middlesex; occupation: ladies maidAnn Figgs
Jessie West, F, Servant, single, age 24, born Wiltshire; occupation Stillroom maidJessie West
Susan Barker, F, Servant, single, age 33, born Kent, occupation: housemaidSusan Barker
Mary A. Bunn, F, Servant, single, age 20, born Essex, occupation: kitchenmaidMary A. Bunn
Elizabeth Western, F, Servant, single, age 19, born Somerset; occupation HousemaidElizabeth Western
Martha Goodall, F, Servant, single, age 25, born Norfolk; occupation: housemaidMartha Goodall
Louisa Doney, F, Servant, single, age 32, born Worcestershire; occupation: cookLouisa Doney
Sussanah Cullan, F, Servant, single, age 45, born Kent, occupation: nurseSussanah Cullan
Alexander MAC Donald, M, Footman, single, age 27, born Scotland; occupation: footmanAlexander MacDonald
George Piper, M, Butler, single, age 39, born Yorkshire; occupation BakerGeorge Piper, baker
John Kinsman, M, Footman, single, age 22, born Devon; occupation: footmanJohn Kinsman
Elizabeth Paine, F, Housekeeper, single, age 40, born Hertfordshire; occupation: housekeeperElizabeth Paine

3rd Apr 1881CensusEdwin Turner, M, Head, married, age 33, born West Hoathly; occupation: coachmanEdwin Turner, coachmanSearles Over The Stables1881 Census
Fletching, Sussex
Catherine Turner, F, Wife, married, age 30, born WorthCatherine Turner [Brooker]
Frederick Turner, M, Son, single, age 3, born IsfieldFrederick Turner
Edwin Turner, M, Son, single, age 2, born CrawleyEdwin Turner
Edith Turner, F, Daughter, single, age 7 m, born BalcombeEdith Turner

3rd Apr 1881CensusElisha Jones, M, Head, married, age 37, born Wiltshire; occupation: gardenerElisha Jones, gardenerSearles Garden1881 Census
Fletching, Sussex
Elizabeth Jones, F, Wife, married, age 43, born GloucestershireElizabeth Jones

3rd Apr 1881CensusGeorge Isaac, M, Head, married, age 24, born Gloucestershire; occupation: gardenerGeorge Isaac, gardenerSearles Garden1881 Census
Fletching, Sussex
Charlotte Isaac, F, Wife, married, age 24, born GloucestershireCharlotte Isaac

1882Directory entryWilson Sir Spencer Maryon Maryon-Wilson, bart. J.P., SearlesSearlesKelly's Directory
Searles is the seat of Sir Spencer Maryon Maryon-Wilson bart

1888Directory entryWilson, Sir Spencer M. Maryon, Bart, SearlesSearlesBrooker's Guide

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