The Weald of Kent, Surrey and Sussex
Riverhall      Wadhurst  
This Riverhall mansion shows signs of former magnificence, but the greater part now remaining has been modernised; the front entirely plain tiled, and ancient windows replaced by modern casements - on the south side there is a very perfect Gothic doorway, in the upper part of which are two ornamental shields, one bearing the initial N. the other the year 1591, supposed to be the date of the old building. The back still shows in its windows stone mullions, remnants of old days, and one gable end. In the Hall some stained glass has the initial F. and the iron chimney back has on it the arms of Queen Elizabeth. The oak panelled room on right of the entrance has a stained glass window with W.F. 1618 on it.
extract from Wace's Wadhurst


Books and other documents
PublishedTitle, author and references
1835The History, Antiquities and Topography of the County of Sussex by Thomas Walker Horsfield, F.S.A.p. 406
1870A Compendious History of Sussex - Volume I. by Mark Antony Lower, M.A.p. 192
1923The Story of Wadhurst by Alfred A. Wace ⇒ p. 72; p. 97
1931Wealden Iron by Ernest Straker ⇒ p. 275
1947Frant - A Parish History by Henry S. Eeles ⇒ p. 184
2017The Fowle Family of Riverhall by William R. Greenpage

Historical records

c 1505BirthWilliam FowleRiverhallIGI - Family Search
Film 962426

c 1550HistoryRiverhallWace's Wadhurst
Riverhall was held from the middle of the 16th Century, with an estate partly in Wadhurst and partly in Frant, by the old family of Fowle

1604BirthWilliam FowleRiverhallIGI - Family Search
Film 1903782

1606BirthFrances FowleRiverhallIGI - Family Search
Film 1760751

1608BirthElinor Barham [Fowle]RiverhallIGI - Family Search
Film 1760751

1610BirthBridget FowleRiverhallIGI - Family Search
Film 1760751

1612BirthAnn FowleRiverhallIGI - Family Search
Film 1760751

1614BirthBarbara FowleRiverhallIGI - Family Search
Film 1760751

1630BirthNicholas FowleRiverhallIGI - Family Search
Film 1903782

1632BirthWilliam FowleRiverhallIGI - Family Search
Film 1903782

1634HistoryRiverhallWace's Wadhurst
The Nicholas Fowle of those good days died in 1634. His son William died in 1660, and was followed by another Nicholas, who married a daughter of John Barham of Shoesmith.

1634BirthJohn FowleRiverhallIGI - Family Search
Film 1903782

c 1724Eridge Park, Sussex - c 1724Part of the 1 inch to 1 mile map of Sussex produced in 1724 by Richard BudgenRiverhall
seat of Nicholas Fowle, Esq.

1726HistoryRiverhallWace's Wadhurst
One more Nicholas Fowle, who married a Barham cousin of Scragoak, lived at Riverhall in 1726.

c 1785West front, RiverhallWest front, Riverhall, Wadhurst by Samuel Hieronymus GrimmSamuel Hieronymus Grimm, topographical artistThe Burrell Collection

1825HistoryRiverhallWace's Wadhurst
The house was bought by William Randall of Battersea, who married an heiress named Suter. He died in 1825 and his will resulted in long litigation which was still going on, with the widow still in possession

c 1825Eridge Park, Sussex - c 1825Part of the 1 inch to 1 mile map of Sussex produced in 1825 by Christopher and John GreenwoodRiverhall

6th Jun 1841CensusJames Page, M, Head, age 65 to 69, born Sussex; occupation: bailiffJames Page, bailiffLittle River Hall1841 Census
Frant, Sussex
James Page, M, [Son], age 20 to 24, born Sussex; occupation: farm labourerJames Page

6th Jun 1841CensusWilliam Waghorn, M, Head, age 20 to 24, born Sussex; occupation Farm labourerWilliam Waghorn, sergeant of policeLittle River Hall1841 Census
Frant, Sussex
Lidia Waghorn, F, [Wife], age 25 to 29, born SussexLydia Waghorn
William Waghorn, M, [Son], age 2, born SussexWilliam Waghorn
James Waghorn, M, [Son], age 4 months, born SussexJames Waghorn
Ellen Humphry, F, age 10, born SussexEllen Humphry
Fanny Smith, F, age 1, born SussexFanny Smith

6th Jun 1841CensusJno Clark, M, Head, age 30 to 34, born Sussex, occupation: farm labourerJohn Clark, farm labourerLittle River Hall1841 Census
Frant, Sussex
Harriott Clark, F, [Wife], age 30 to 34, born SussexHarriett Clark [Tickner]
Elizabeth Clark, F, [Daughter], age 2, born SussexElizabeth Clark
Jesse Couchman, M, age 50 to 54, born Sussex; occupation: farm labourerJesse Couchman

30th Mar 1851CensusHead; occupation: farm bailiffCharles J. Macklin, farm bailiffRiverhall1851 Census
Wadhurst, Sussex
Visitor; occupation: surveyorJoseph Lattimer
Servant; occupation GARDENERRichard Purser
Servant's daughterJulia Ann Springett
Servant's wifeRhoda Springett [Comber]
Servant's daughter; occupation SCHOLARElizabeth Springett
Servant; occupation Farm labourerRichard Springett
Servant's daughter; occupation SCHOLARFanny Springett

c 1875North East of Mark Cross, Sussex - c 1875Part of the 6 inch to 1 mile map of Sussex produced in 1875 by Ordnance SurveyRiverhall

3rd Apr 1881CensusLeah Piper, F, Head, widowed, age 66, born WadhurstLeah Piper [Latter]Riverhall Farm1881 Census
Wadhurst, Sussex
Georgena R. Piper, F, Daughter, single, age 34, born MayfieldGeorgina R. Piper

3rd Apr 1881CensusLuther E. Piper, M, Head, married, age 31, born Wadhurst, employs 8 men and 2 boys; occupation FarmerLuther Ebenezer Piper, farmerRiverhall Farm1881 Census
Wadhurst, Sussex
Mary Jane Piper, F, Wife, married, age 33, born MayfieldMary Jane Piper [Piper]
Ada Mary Piper, F, Daughter, age 4, born Wadhurst; occupation scholarAda Mary Piper
Anna Piper, F, Daughter, age 2, born Wadhurst; occupation scholarAnna Piper
Berman T. Piper, M, Son, age 5, born Wadhurst; occupation scholarBerman T. Piper
Marian G. Piper, F, Daughter, age 10 m, born WadhurstMarian G. Piper
Emily Newington, F, Servant, single, age 17, born West ChiltingtonEmily Newington

3rd Apr 1881CensusThomas King, M, Head, married, age 49, born Surrey; occupation: farm labourerThomas King, farm labourerRiverhall Cottage1881 Census
Wadhurst, Sussex
Mary King, F, Wife, married, age 48, born SurreyMary King
Albert King, M, Son, age 14, born Surrey; occupation: farm labourerAlbert King

3rd Apr 1881CensusWilliam Pratt, M, Head, married, age 42, born Rotherfield; occupation: farm labourerWilliam Pratt, farm labourerRiverhall Cottage1881 Census
Wadhurst, Sussex
Sarah Ann Pratt, F, Wife, married, age 38, born WadhurstSarah Ann Pratt [Stevens]
William Pratt, M, Son, single, age 19, born Rotherfield; occupation: farm labourerWilliam Pratt
Henry Pratt, M, Son, age 12, born Surrey; occupation: farm labourerHenry Pratt
Alice Pratt, F, Daughter, age 10, born Surrey; occupation: scholarAlice Pratt
Albert Pratt, M, Son, age 8, born Wadhurst; occupation: scholarAlbert Pratt
Sarah Pratt, F, Daughter, age 6, born Wadhurst; occupation: scholarSarah Pratt

3rd Apr 1881CensusSimon Blackman, M, Head, married, age 41, born Mayfield, occupation: farm labourerSimon Blackman, farm labourerRiverhall Cottage1881 Census
Wadhurst, Sussex
Mary Blackman, F, Wife, married, age 45, born MayfieldMary Blackman
Harriett Blackman, F, Daughter, age 13, born Mayfield, occupation: scholarHarriett Blackman
Roseannah Blackman, F, Daughter, age 11, born Mayfield, occupation: scholarRoseannah Blackman
Eliza Blackman, F, Daughter, age 9, born Mayfield, occupation: scholarEliza Blackman
Mary Ann Blackman, F, Daughter, age 7, born Mayfield, occupation: scholarMary Ann Blackman
Emma E. Blackman, F, Daughter, age 5, born Mayfield, occupation: scholarEmma E. Blackman
Whinefret A. Blackman, F, Daughter, age 2, born MayfieldWhinefret A. Blackman
Ellen Blackman, F, Daughter, age 7 m, born WadhurstEllen Blackman
John Smith, M, Stepson, single, age 18, born Rotherfield; occupation: farm labourerJohn Smith

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