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| Historical records |
| | 1296 | History | | | Eridge Park | Eeles' Frant | | …. a list of lands left in 1296 by the 7th Earl of Hertford, which contains the earliest reference to Eridge that can be discovered.
Eregge. A grange pertaining to the Manor aforesaid [Rotherfield] with 100 acres of land worth yearly 25s, 100 acres of heather and fern there worth of the year 9s 2d; also fixed rents worth 8s 9d and a water mill |
| | 1344 | History | | | Eridge Park | Eeles' Frant | | This was the hunting park, for which the Hundred of Rotherfield had been famous for generations and which in 1344, was described as follows:
A chace containing 600 acres of which the pasture is worth by the year 25s … a wood containing above 200 acres … within the said chace is a messuage called Erugge … |
| | 1450 | History | | | Eridge Park | Eeles' Frant | | The next landmark in the history of Eridge was its inheritance in 1450 by the [Nevill] family who have continued to own it in the male line from that date until the present … |
| | 1573 | History | | | Eridge Park | Eeles' Frant | | In 1573 Lord Burgavenny had the honour of entertaining Queen Elizabeth at Eridge Place, and her six day stay there must have caused a great stir in the neighbourhood. |
| | 1574 | History | | | Eridge Park | Eeles' Frant | | In Eridge Park there were in close proximity a furnace and a forge. The earliest evidence of their existence is to be found in a list of owners of ironworks drawn up in 1574 |
| | 1590 | History | | | Eridge Park | Pullein's Rotherfield | | Manor of Eridge with the capital mansion and park there- The farm of divers demesne lands there called Inhams containing by estimation 60 acres, being formerly in the hands and occupation of the lord, now let to Henry Nevill, esq for £11 0s 0d yearly
- The farm of certain meadow there, part of the land Inhams of 6 acres let to Edward Nevill, esq., eldest son of the lord for £1 8s 0d yearly
- The farm of divers demesne land there called Hamsell Woods, Lambe pasture and Horse pastures of 110 acres to Thomas Weston for £13 0s 0d yearly
- The farm of a certain water mill situate within the park of Eridge so let to the said Thomas Weston for £13 0s 0d yearly
- The farm of certain other lands, woods, meadows and pastures called Laggerslande and Highdeane of 50 acres let to Robert Woody for £10 0s 0d yearly
- The farm of certain other lands there called Steelebridge meade and Slaughterhouse field of 16 acres let to Oliver Booby for £4 0s 0d yearly
- The farm of a cottage and two crofts of land of 2 1/2 acres adjacent to Christopher Mudge for £4 0s 0d yearly
- Farm of certain land called Pickstorckes and Hayfield of 10 acres to Nicholas Turner for £2 0s 0d
- Farm of 3 1/2 acres of meadow lying near le horse meadow near le fordge to Oliver Booby for £2 0s 0d
- Price of 1000 loads of marl dug in the wastes of this manor and sold to George Hosmer for 13s 4d
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| | c 1604 | History | | | Eridge Park | Eeles' Frant | | Shortly after Edward Nevill succeeded to the family estates, Eridge was formed into a separate Manor …. since the Lord of the Manor had taken up residence there |
| | 1610 | ![[North] Sussex](images/t/Speed1610E.jpg) | [North] Sussex by John Norden and augmented by John Speed | | Eridge Park | John Speed | | The first engraved maps of the counties of Great Britain were the work of Christopher Saxton who, under the authority of the Privy Council, surveyed the English counties in Elizabethan times, from 1574 to 1578. In 1593 he was followed by John Norden who projected an ambitious scheme for a complete series of county histories. He published before his death a number of counties - Middlesex, Hertfordshire, Essex, Northampton, Cornwall, Sussex and Surrey. John Speed's map of Sussex is based upon Norden's map and was engraved by Jodocus Hondius. It occupies pages nine and ten of John Speed's Atlas entitled "The Theatre of the Empire of Great Britaine", is 20 1/4 inches by 15 1/4 inches in size and shows additionally an interesting plan of Chichester and a spirited representation of the Battle of Hastings. |
| | 1695 | ![[North] Sussex](images/t/Morden1695E.jpg) | [North] Sussex by Robert Morden | | Eridge Park | Robert Morden | | Robert Morden was a London bookseller from 1669 until his death in 1703. He specialised in the geographical field and was himself something of a cartographer and a publisher. Throughout the 17th and most of the 18th centuries, there was little distinction between the activity of book or print-selling and that of publishing: many booksellers were also printers or engravers. They undertook the sale of each others' work and often combined to meet the high cost of publishing a new map or reissue of an old atlas, even if the original plates were still available. This map was published in Brittania: a chorographical description of Great Britain and Ireland by William Camden. |
| | 1724 | History | | | Eridge Park | Eeles' Frant | | William succeeded as 16th Baron in 1724 …… relinquished Eridge as the family seat having acquired Kidbrooke Park at Forest Row, and gradually the former house fell into a state of decay |
| | c 1724 |  | Part of the 1 inch to 1 mile map of Sussex produced in 1724 by Richard Budgen | | Eridge Park | |
| | 1750 |  | Sussex by Thomas Kitchin | | Eridge Park | Thomas Kitchin | | Thomas Kitchin, an engraver and publisher from c.1738 to 1776, held the appointment of Hydrographer to the King. His output was prolific. He engraved the maps of the British and French dominions in North America by John Mitchell (1755), which was used at the peace coucil at the end of the revolutionary war. In his later years he worked with his son (hence senior after his name in the c.1755 edition of the Small English Atlas). He died in 1784. |
| | 1763 | ![A New Map of [North] Sussex](images/t/Kitchin1763E.jpg) | A New Map of [North] Sussex by Thomas Kitchin | | Eridge Park | Thomas Kitchin | | Thomas Kitchin, an engraver and publisher from c.1738 to 1776, held the appointment of Hydrographer to the King. His output was prolific. He engraved the maps of the British and French dominions in North America by John Mitchell (1755), which was used at the peace coucil at the end of the revolutionary war. In his later years he worked with his son (hence senior after his name in the c.1755 edition of the Small English Atlas). He died in 1784. |
| | 1766 | History | | | Eridge Park | Burr's Tunbridge Wells | | Eridge was then [1606] a hunting seat belonging to Lord Abergavenny, and has ever since continued in the possession of his noble descendants, though it is now reduced to a plain farmhouse. The building is an ancient Gothic structure, that appears, notwithstanding its present ruinous condition, to have been an agreeable retirement from the attendance at court. The situation is in the highest degree romantic, the gardens were elegantly disposed in the taste of that age, the soil is dry, the air pure and healthful, and no country can afford finer riding; so that, on the whole, one can hardly conceive an idea of a place more properly adapted to restore health to a consumptive habit: but then, to couterbalance these advantages, it was situated in one of the most savage parts of the county of Sussex, and, by its distance from all neighbourhood, secluded its inhabitants from all intercourse with the rest of mankind. |
| | 1785 |  | Eridge House, Eridge by Samuel Grimm and James Lambert (The Burrell Collection) | | Eridge Park | The Burrell Collection | | Samuel Hieronymous Grimm (1733-1794), artist, was born in Switzerland, studied in Berne and Paris before moving to Covent Garden, London in 1768. Besides his work as a commercial engraver and watercolour painter he is best known for some 2,500 commissioned watercolurs of antiquities, historic buildings and landscapes in the British Library (MSS 15537-48). Throughout the 1780s he toured Sussex, sketching churches, monuments, castles, abbeys and houses of the gentry
James Lambert, senior, (1725-1788) and his nephew James Lambert, junior, (1744-1799) were both landscape painters living in Lewes, Sussex. Between them they produced over 600 items, ranging from pencil sketches to large oils.
William Burrell (1732-96), antiquary, was born in Leadenhall Street, London, educated at Westminster School and Cambridge University. He became Chancellor of Worcester and Rochester Dioceses, M.P. for Haslemere and a Commissioner of Excise. From 1780 he employed Samuel Grimm and the Lamberts to make drawings of all the notable antiquities and important houses in Sussex, which he bequeathed to the British Museum in his will.
for more information refer to Sussex Views by Walter H. Godfrey and L.F. Salzman and Sussex Depicted by John Farrant, both published by the Sussex Record Society. |
| | 1st Sep 1787 | ![[North] Sussex](images/t/Cary1787E.jpg) | [North] Sussex by John Cary | | Eridge Park | John Cary | | John Cary, apprenticed to William Palmer in 1770, went into business in 1783 as a publisher of maps, plans and road-books. He was highly successful and is referred to as the founder of the modern English School of Cartography by H.G. Fordham |
| | 1790 | History | | | Eridge Park | Eeles' Frant | | Guns were undoubtedly cast at Eridge Furnace and in the 18th century one of these stood outside the Gun Inn at Eridge Green and … in a journal in 1790 the following account appears
"(it) now lies at Eridge Green and has served for many years for the amusement of the people on a holiday or fair-day, when they collect money to buy gunpowder to threw the shell to a hill about a mile distant. The weight of the shell sinks so deep into the earth, that is costs no little pains to dig it out after each discharge, which is repeated as long as the money lasts." |
| | c 1795 |  | Part of the 1 inch to 1 mile map of Sussex produced in 1795 by William Gardner and Thomas Gream | | Eridge Park | |
| | c 1795 |  | Part of the 1 inch to 1 mile map of Sussex produced in 1795 by William Gardner and Thomas Gream | | Eridge Park | |
| | c 1800 | History | | | Eridge Park | Eeles' Frant | | Henry, the 2nd Earl, who … set on foot plans to erect a new house round the remains of the old. The architect … was James Wyatt … one of the principal creators of the revival of interest in the Gothic form of architecture. In the house he built for Lord Abergavenny he included all the features associated with that style; the towers, the battlements and the pinnacles outside and an infinity of detail in the interior decorations with more than a flavour of ecclesiastical influence. |
| | 1808 | ![[North] Sussex](images/t/Cole1808E.jpg) | [North] Sussex by G.Cole and engraved by J.Roper | | Eridge Park | G. Cole | | The British atlas; comprising a series of county maps…intended to illustrate and accompany 'The beauties of England and Wales' published 1808. |
| | 1809 |  | Eridge Castle, Eridge by Paul Amsinck & engraved by Letitia Byrne | | Eridge Park | Amsinck's Tunbridge Wells |
| | 1809 |  | Eridge Castle, Eridge by Paul Amsinck & engraved by Letitia Byrne | | Eridge Park | Amsinck's Tunbridge Wells |
| | 31st Aug 1823 | Diary entry | | | park | Cobbett's Rural Rides | | Here I am after a most delightful ride of twenty-four miles through Frant, Lamberhurst, Goudhurst, Milkhouse-Street, Benenden, and Rolvenden. By making a great stir in rousing waiters and "boots" and maids, and by leaving behind me the name of "a - noisy, troublesome fellow," I got clear of "the Wells," and out of the contagion of its Wen-engendered inhabitants, time enough to meet the first rays of the sun, on the hill that you come up in order to get to Frant, which is a most beautiful little village at about two miles from "the Wells." Here the land belongs, I suppose, to Lord Abergavenny, who has a mansion and park here. A very pretty place, and kept, seemingly, in very nice order. I saw here what I never saw before : the bloom of the common heath we wholly overlook ; but, it is a very pretty thing; and here, when the plantations were made, and as they grew up, heath was left to grow on the sides of the roads in the plantations. The heath is not so much of a dwarf as we suppose. This is four feet high; and, being in full bloom, it makes the prettiest border that can be imagined. This place of Lord Abergavenny is, altogether, a very pretty place; and, so far from grudging him the possession of it, I should feel pleasure at seeing it in his possession, and should pray God to preserve it to him, and from the unholy and ruthless touch of the Jews and jobbers; but, I cannot forget this Lord's sinecure! |
| | c 1825 |  | Part of the 1 inch to 1 mile map of Sussex produced in 1825 by Christopher and John Greenwood | | Eridge Park | |
| | 1837 | ![[North] Sussex](images/t/Moule1837E.jpg) | [North] Sussex by Thomas Moule | | Eridge Park | Thomas Moule | | Thomas Moule was a bookseller. He published a number of important works on heraldry and antiquities, including Bibliotheca heraldica Brittaniae in 1822. The English Counties delineated; or, a topographical description of England has a complete series of county maps and was published by Thomas Moule in 1837 |
| | 1840 | ![[North] Sussex](images/t/Dugdale1840E.jpg) | [North] Sussex by Joshua Archer, Pentonville, London | | Eridge Park | Dugdale | | Dugdale's England and Wales Delineated |
| | 20th Sep 1849 |  | Eridge Castle, Eridge by Rock & Co., London | | | Private collection |
| | 30th Mar 1851 | Census | Head; occupation: park keeper | Frederic Hickmott, park keeper | Eridge Park | 1851 Census
Frant, Sussex | | | Wife | Mary Hickmott | | | | | Daughter; occupation: scholar | Lois Hickmott | | | | | Daughter; occupation: scholar | Mary Hickmott | | | | | Daughter | J. Hickmott | | |
| | 1867 | Directory entry | | | Eridge Park | Post Office Directory | | On the confines of Eridge Park, in this parish, there are traces of an old English camp called Saxonbury Hill. Eridge Castle, an ancient seat of the Nevills, is in the form of a quadrangle, surrounded by an extensive park, and is one of the seats of the Earl of Abergavenny, who is the present head and representative of that family: Queen Elizabeth was entertained here for six days. |
| | 2nd Apr 1871 | Census | John Adams, M, Head, married, age 34, born Silverstone, Northamptonshire; occupation: charcoal burner | John Adams, charcoal burner | Hut In Eridge Park | 1871 Census
Frant and Tunbridge Wells, Sussex | | | Esther Adams, F, Wife, married, age 30, born Silverstone, Northamptonshire | Esther Adams | | | | | Clara A T Adams, F, Daughter, age 12, born Silverstone, Northamptonshire | Clara A. T. Adams | | | | | Eliza H M Adams, F, Daughter, age 10, born Silverstone, Northamptonshire | Eliza H. M. Adams | | | | | Ada K Adams, F, Daughter, age 7, born Bugbrook, Northamptonshire | Ada K. Adams | | | | | Arthur Adams, M, Son, age 3, born Silverstone, Northamptonshire | Arthur Adams | | | | | Harriett A Adams, F, Daughter, age 10m, born Silverstone, Northamptonshire | Harriett A. Adams | | | | | Thomas Gale, M, Lodger, single, age 19, born Dorking, Surrey; occupation: charcoal burner's labourer | Thomas Gale | | |
| | 2nd Apr 1871 | Census | William Roffey, M, Head, widowed, age 55, born Worth, Sussex; occupation: charcoal burner | William Roffey, charcoal burner | Hut In Eridge Park | 1871 Census
Frant and Tunbridge Wells, Sussex |
| | 2nd Apr 1871 | Census | David Hickmott, M, Head, married, age 72, born Lamberhurst, Kent; occupation: deer keeper | David Hickmott, deer keeper | Park Cottage | 1871 Census
Frant and Tunbridge Wells, Sussex | | | Sarah Ann Hickmott, F, Wife, married, age 63, born Frant, Sussex | Sarah Ann Hickmott | | | | | Hephzibah Hickmott, F, Daughter, single, age 29, born Frant, Sussex | Hephzibah Hickmott | | |
| | 2nd Apr 1871 | Census | David Dawn, M, Head, widowed, age 73, born Mayfield, Sussex; occupation: farm labourer | David Dawn, farm labourer | Park Cottage | 1871 Census
Frant and Tunbridge Wells, Sussex | | | Catherine Woodhams, F, Granddaughter, age 9, born Frant, Sussex; occupation: scholar | Catherine Woodhams | | | | | Ann Gibbs, F, Servant, single, age 38, born Capel, Kent; occupation: housekeeper | Ann Gibbs | | |
| | 2nd Apr 1871 | Census | George Sales, M, Head, married, age 42, born Frant, Sussex; occupation: carpenter | George Sales, carpenter | Frant Lodge | 1871 Census
Frant and Tunbridge Wells, Sussex | | | Elizabeth H Sales, F, Wife, married, age 38, born Mayfield, Sussex; occupation: gate keeper | Elizabeth Huntly Sales [Richardson] | | | | | Mary A Sales, F, Daughter, age 9, born Frant, Sussex; occupation: scholar | Mary Ann Sales | | | | | Helen Sales, F, Daughter, age 7, born Frant, Sussex; occupation: scholar | Helen Sales | | |
| | 2nd Apr 1871 | Census | Alfred Edser, M, Head, single, age 43, born Abinger, Surrey; occupation: charcoal burner | Alfred Edser, charcoal burner | Hut In Eridge Park | 1871 Census
Frant and Tunbridge Wells, Sussex |
| | c 1875 |  | Part of the 6 inch to 1 mile map of Sussex produced in 1875 by Ordnance Survey | | Eridge Park | |
| | 3rd Apr 1881 | Census | Fredrick Hickmott, M, Head, married, age 72, born Lamberhurst; occupation: park keeper | Frederic Hickmott, park keeper | Keepers Cottage, Eridge Park | 1881 Census
Frant, Sussex | | | Mary Hickmott, F, Wife, married, age 67, born Rotherfield | Mary Hickmott | | | | | Mary Hickmott, F, Daughter, single, age 39, born Frant | Mary Hickmott | | | | | Harry Hickmott, M, Son, single, age 29, born Frant; occupation: park keeper | Harry Hickmott | | |
| | 3rd Apr 1881 | Census | George Batchelor, M, Head, married, age 36, born Hartfield, occupation: farm labourer | George Batchelor | No 2 Keepers Cottage, Eridge Park | 1881 Census
Frant, Sussex | | | Sarah Batchelor, F, Wife, married, age 41, born Rotherfield | Sarah Ann Batchelor [Fry] | | | | | George Batchelor, M, Son, age 10, born Frant, occupation: scholar | George Batchelor | | | | | John Batchelor, M, Son, age 7, born Frant, occupation: scholar | John Batchelor | | | | | Harriett Batchelor, F, Daughter, age 3, born Frant | Harriett Batchelor | | |
| | 3rd Apr 1881 | Census | Fredrick Martin, M, Head, married, age 35, born Rotherfield; occupation: farm labourer | Frederick Martin, farm labourer | Birch Pavillion | 1881 Census
Frant, Sussex | | | Harriett Martin, F, Wife, married, age 40, born Rotherfield | Harriett Martin | | | | | Emma Martin, F, Daughter, age 9, born Frant; occupation: scholar | Emma Fanny Martin | | | | | Fredrick Martin, M, Son, age 6, born Frant; occupation: scholar | Frederick Henry Martin | | | | | Henry Martin, M, Son, age 1, born Frant | Henry George Martin | | | | | Elizebeth Moon, F, Niece, age 9, born Rotherfield; occupation: scholar | Elizebeth Moon | | |
| | 1889 |  | Eridge Castle by Charles Reynolds & Co. | | Eridge Park | Private collection |
| | 1896 |  | Eridge Castle | | Eridge Park | Private collection |
| | 1896 |  | Eridge Rocks | | | Private collection |
| | c 1899 |  | Part of the 6 inch to 1 mile map of Sussex produced in 1899 by Ordnance Survey | | Eridge Park | |
| | c 1900 |  | Eridge Castle photographed by Valentine's series | | Eridge Park | Private collection |
| | c 1900 |  | Eridge Castle photographed by Photochrom Co., Ltd | | Eridge Park | Private collection |
| | c 1900 |  | Eridge Castle photographed by J. Frisby, Uckfield | | Eridge Park | Private collection |
| | c 1900 |  | Eridge Castle | | Eridge Park | Private collection |
| | 1905 |  | Eridge Castle | | Eridge Park | Private collection |
| | 1930 |  | Eridge Park & Castle | | Eridge Park | Private collection |
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