The Weald of Kent, Surrey and Sussex
Newbridge Corn Mill  Newbridge  Ashdown Forest  Hartfield  

Books and other documents
PublishedTitle, author and references
1902Historical Notes of Withyham, Hartfield and Ashdown Forest by C. N. Suttonp. 350
1931Wealden Iron by Ernest Straker ⇒ p. 248

Historical records

1497HistoryNewbridge Corn MillWealden Iron
In 1497 Simon Ballarde was casting large quantities of iron shot here.

1523HistoryNewbridge Corn MillWealden Iron
In 1523 the steward of the Duchy of Lancaster reported that £14 3s. 4d. was not received because no one would take the iron mills in Ashdown Forest until Lord Wiltshire took them. This refers to Newbridge.

1539HistoryNewbridge Corn MillWealden Iron
In the Forest Proceedings, 1539 (Henry VIII.), mentioned under Steel Forge, there is a series of memoranda relating to Newbridge which give us the earliest accounts of a blast furnace and its forges. ............... It reads thus :"The yron mylles called Newebridge in the Nether ende of the fforest of Ashdowne. Oone Nysell hath assignement of this mill of my lord Wiltesher and yeris yet to come vij or thereabouts. The Myll well repaired in all thyngs...............

1574HistoryNewbridge Corn MillWealden Iron
Newbridge in 1574, when Henry Bowyer of Tinsley held a double furnace there, apparently his private possession, although he acted for Queen Elizabeth elsewhere in the Forest

21st Nov 1597Leaseholder (21 yrs)Thomas TailorNewbridge HouseBuckhurst Terrier
Thomas Tailor, clothier, holds by indenture the tenement called Newbridge House, and two watermills under one roof, also 6 acres of pasture, and 40 acres of pasture lying within the Forest adjoining the 6 acres, sometime enclosed with a pale.
Rent £10 and 2 fat capons alive on 20th November

1650HistoryNewbridge Corn MillWealden Iron
By 1650 the works had been abandoned ; the Parliamentary Survey of June 5th in that year says that the Earl of Dorcett claimed, inter alia, " the ffish ponds and all the wast ground whereon the forges and ffurnaces and workmens howses were seated."

c 1724Comans Hatch, Sussex - c 1724Part of the 1 inch to 1 mile map of Sussex produced in 1724 by Richard BudgenNew Furnace

c 1795Colemans Hatch, Sussex - c 1795Part of the 1 inch to 1 mile map of Sussex produced in 1795 by William Gardner and Thomas GreamMill

6th Jun 1841CensusJames Fillery, M, Head, age 50 to 54, born Sussex; occupation MillerJames Fillery, miller and farmerNewbridge Mill1841 Census
Hartfield, Sussex
Leatitia Fillery, F, [Wife], age 45 to 49, born SussexLetitia Fillery [Combridge]
George Fillery, M, [Son], age 15 to 19, born SussexGeorge Fillery
James Fillery, M, [Son], age 13, born SussexJames Fillery
John Streatfield, M, age 20 to 24, born Sussex; occupation: servantJohn Streatfield, farmer
Ann Dannell, F, age 15 to 19, born Sussex; occupation: servantAnn Dannell

30th Mar 1851CensusHead, employs 1 person; occupation: miller and farmerJames Fillery, miller and farmerNewbridge Mill1851 Census
Hartfield, Sussex
WifeLetitia Fillery [Combridge]
Son; occupation: butcherJames Fillery
Servant; occupation: labourerJames Brooker, labourer

1867Directory entryFillery Mary, (Mrs), (exors. of), miller, Newbridge millNewbridge millPost Office Directory

1874Directory entryBellingham Wm., miller, Newbridge millNewbridge millPost Office Directory

c 1875Gills Lap, Newbridge & Chuck Hatch, South West of Hartfield - c 1875Part of the 6 inch to 1 mile map of Sussex produced in 1875 by Ordnance SurveyNewbridge Mill

3rd Apr 1881CensusWilliam Fairall, M, Head, married, age 35, born Westfield; occupation: millerWilliam Fairall, millerNewbridge Mill1881 Census
Hartfield, Sussex
Eliza Fairall, F, Wife, married, age 32, born HellinglyEliza Fairall
Elizabeth Fairall, F, Daughter, age 9, born BrightonElizabeth Fairall
Harry Langridge, M, Servant, age 16, born Hartfield; occupation: apprenticeHarry George Langridge, farm labourer

1882Directory entryBellingham Wm., miller, Newbridge millNewbridge millKelly's Directory

5th Apr 1891CensusGeorge Betchley, M, Head, married, age 32, born Sedlescombe, Sussex, occupation: miller and corn dealerGeorge Betchley, miller and corn dealerWater Mill, Newbridge1891 Census
Hartfield, Sussex
Amy F Betchley, F, Wife, married, age 24, born Berwick, SussexAmy F Betchley

c 1899Newbridge, Sussex - c 1899Part of the 6 inch to 1 mile map of Sussex produced in 1899 by Ordnance SurveyCorn Mill

c 1920Newbridge Mill, Colemans Hatch and Gills LapNewbridge Mill, Colemans Hatch and Gills Lap, Ashdown Forest photographed by Francis FrithPrivate collection

c 1945Newbridge MillNewbridge Mill, Ashdown ForestNewbridge Corn MillPrivate collection

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