The Weald of Kent, Surrey and Sussex
Chuck Hatch    Ashdown Forest  Hartfield  

Books and other documents
PublishedTitle, author and references
1933The Story of Crowbrough ⇒ p. 24

Places in Chuck Hatch
500 House
500 Rough
Chuck Hatch Farm
Golden Castle
Jenners Street
Little Bassetts
Loneoak [a.k.a. Alone Oak] Hall
Neaves Farm
Pesthouse [a.k.a. Hurstlands] Farm
Plantation House
Posingford [a.k.a. Postingford, Possingford] Farm
Reids Farm
Roberts Chapel
Roberts Corner House
Spring Cottage
Stone House
Trespass Lodge
White House Bank
Wrens Warren
Historical records

c 1693Ashdown ForestAshdown Forest by Barry Lucas after KeltonChuckhatch GateStraker's Ashdown Forest

c 1825Colemans Hatch, Sussex - c 1825Part of the 1 inch to 1 mile map of Sussex produced in 1825 by Christopher and John GreenwoodChuck Hatch

6th Jun 1841CensusWilliam Mitchell, M, Head, age 25 to 29, born Sussex; occupation: farm labourerWilliam MitchellChuckhatch1841 Census
Hartfield, Sussex
Eliza Mitchell, F, [Wife], age 20 to 24, born SussexEliza Mitchell
George Mitchell, M, [Son], age 1, born SussexGeorge Mitchell

30th Mar 1851CensusHead; occupation: labourerJohn Crowhurst, farm labourerAshdown Forest1851 Census
Hartfield, Sussex
WifeSarah Brooker
Daughter; occupation: scholarSarah Edwards [Crowhurst]
Son; occupation: scholarJames Crowhurst, farm labourer
SonJohn Crowhurst, farm labourer
Saml Brooker, M, Son, age 7, born East Grinstead; occupation: scholarSamuel Brooker
Lodger; occupation: labourerWilliam Brooker

30th Mar 1851CensusHead; occupation: labourerStephen Huggett, farmerAshdown Forest1851 Census
Hartfield, Sussex
WifeElizabeth Huggett
Grand-sonRichard Huggett

30th Mar 1851CensusHead; occupation: farmerThomas Divell, farmerAshdown Forest1851 Census
Hartfield, Sussex
WifeElizabeth Divell [Mitchell]
SonJames Divall
Daughter-in-lawFrances Divall [Todman]
GranddaughterHarriet Divall

30th Mar 1851CensusHead; occupation: farm labourerJohn Jenner, farm labourerChuck Hatch1851 Census
Hartfield, Sussex
WifeAnn Jenner [Young]
Son; occupation: farm labourerStephen Jenner, labourer
Son; occupation: shoe makerPeter Jenner
Nephew; occupation: scholarGeorge James

30th Mar 1851CensusHead; occupation LabourerWilliam Hudson, labourerChuck Hatch1851 Census
Hartfield, Sussex
WifeEliza Hudson [Card]
SonGeorge Hudson
DaughterEmily Hudson

30th Mar 1851CensusHead; occupation CarpenterEdmund HudsonChuck Hatch1851 Census
Hartfield, Sussex
Sister; occupation HousekeeperAbigail Edwards [Hudson]
Sister; occupation TeacherMary Hudson
Sister; occupation ScholarHarriott Hudson

30th Mar 1851CensusHead; occupation: shoe makerJames MitchellChuck Hatch1851 Census
Hartfield, Sussex

30th Mar 1851CensusHead; occupation: carpenterGeorge Edwards, carpenterChuck Hatch1851 Census
Hartfield, Sussex
WifeElizabeth Edwards [Best]
Son; occupation: scholarEdwin Edwards, groom
Daughter; occupation: scholarEleanor Jane Edwards
Son; occupation: scholarGeorge Edwards
Son; occupation: scholarHenry Edwards
Lodger, widowed, occupation: labourerJohn Buckman

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 SurveyChuck Hatch

16th Oct 1879RecollectionsJohn Jenner, farm labourerChuck HatchAshdown 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:

Jenner, John. Good health and full possession of faculties living at Chuck Hatch, Hartfield. 86. Born at the Gallipot in Hartfield, 5th February 1793. Baptised at Hartfield. My Father was a laborer. When I was 7 or 8 years old I just recollect my Father moving up to Chuck Hatch to the house I now live in which he had built on the Forest. My father when he first came here was working for Mr. Everest, tenant at Cotchford Farm. His team brought our things up from Gallipot here. My Father continued in regular work for Mr. Everest for over 40 years till the latter gave up farming and then he went to work for Mr. Hartipole of Stairs Farm, Hartfield, till he was worn out. He died the year of the Queen's accession at the age of 90.

Before I was 11 years old I went to service to Mr. Streatfield at Possingford for 3 years, then I went to Mr. Everest at Cotchford for 2 years, then I went to Mr. Garretts at Fisher's Gate 2 years, then to Mr. Bishop at Pensrooks, Withyham, 3 years. Then I married about 22 years old and jobbed about for a year or two and then went to work at Fisher's Gate Farm for Lord Whitworth who had it in hand and I worked from that time for 50 years on the Buckhurst Estate. I worked a short time for the late Earl but have never worked for the present Earl. After I was married I lived at Withyham till my Father died and then I moved up to this house where I have remained ever since.

.......


16th Oct 1879RecollectionsJames YoungChuck HatchAshdown 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:

Young, James. Chuck Hatch, Hartfield. Born 8 May 1837. Baptised at Hartfield. Is son of Henry Young. Was born at Fincham and lived there till June 1862 when I went away to Kent for 4 years then I returned and was 11 years bailiff for Mr. Harvey at Cowden and then came here 1 1/2 [years] ago.

.......


16th Oct 1879RecollectionsThomas Divall, labourerChuck HatchAshdown 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:

16.10.79

Dival, Thomas. This witness cannot fix dates at all and will probably not be worth calling. He works at present for Lord De La Warr. [Lives at] Chuck Hatch, Hartfield. Born at the brickyard close by and baptised at Hartfield 24 July 1814. My father was foreman at the Chuck Hatch brickyard belonging to the Buckhurst Estate. As soon as I was old enough I helped my Father and cut litter on the Forest for anyone who wanted it from the time I was a nipper, 12 or 13, and I have cut every year till the last 10 or 12 years when I had other work to do.

.......


3rd Apr 1881CensusThomas Miles, M, Head, married, age 36, born Hartfield; occupation: farm labourerThomas Miles, farm labourer and woodreeveChuck Hatch1881 Census
Hartfield, Sussex
Mildred Miles, F, Wife, married, age 34, born HartfieldMildred Miles [Edwards]
Thomas Miles, M, Son, single, age 13, born Hartfield; occupation: scholarThomas Miles
Emma Miles, F, Daughter, age 11, born Hartfield; occupation: scholarEmma Miles
Mary Ann Miles, F, Daughter, age 9, born Hartfield; occupation: scholarMary Ann Miles
Luke Miles, M, Son, age 4, born HartfieldLuke Miles
Fanny Miles, F, Daughter, age 2, born HartfieldFanny Miles
William Miles, M, Son, age 8 m, born HartfieldWilliam Miles

3rd Apr 1881CensusWilliam Edwards, M, Head, single, age 48, born Hartfield; occupation: gardenerWilliam EdwardsChuck Hatch1881 Census
Hartfield, Sussex
Fanny Edwards, F, Mother, widowed, age 77, born HartfieldFrances Edwards [Murrell]
John Edwards, M, Brother, single, age 55, born Hartfield; occupation: labourerJohn Edwards
Mary Edwards, F, Sister, single, age 37, born Hartfield; occupation: housekeeperMary Edwards

3rd Apr 1881CensusRichard Miles, M, Head, married, age 80, born Lingfield; occupation: annuitantRichard Miles, carpenterChuck Hatch1881 Census
Hartfield, Sussex
Jane Miles, F, Wife, married, age 70, born HartfieldJane Miles [Hounstead]

3rd Apr 1881CensusWilliam Hudson, M, Head, married, age 55, born Hartfield; occupation CarpenterWilliam Hudson, labourerChuck Hatch Shop1881 Census
Hartfield, Sussex
George Hudson, M, Son, married, age 32, born Hartfield; occupation GrocerGeorge Hudson
Mary Hudson, F, Daughter, single, age 26, born HartfieldMary Hudson
Frank Hudson, M, Son, single, age 17, born Hartfield; occupation CarpenterFrank Hudson
Walter Hudson, M, Son, single, age 12, born Hartfield; occupation ScholarWalter Hudson
Hanah Huggett, F, Sister, married, age 33, born HartfieldHanah Huggett

3rd Apr 1881CensusJohn Crowhurst, M, Head, widowed, age 69, born Hartfield; occupation: farm labourerJohn Crowhurst, farm labourerChuck Hatch1881 Census
Hartfield, Sussex
John Crowhurst, M, Son, married, age 31, born Hartfield; occupation: farm labourerJohn Crowhurst, farm labourer
Mary Crowhurst, F, Sons Wife, married, age 31, born HartfieldMary Crowhurst [Divall]
John Crowhurst, M, Grandson, age 12, born Hartfield; occupation: scholarJohn Crowhurst, general labourer
William Crowhurst, M, Grandson, age 10, born Hartfield; occupation: scholarWilliam Henry Crowhurst, foreman of brickyard
Ann Crowhurst, F, Granddaughter, age 8, born Hartfield; occupation: scholarAnn Crowhurst
Emily Crowhurst, F, Granddaughter, age 6, born HartfieldEmily Crowhurst
Minny Crowhurst, F, Granddaughter, age 4, born HartfieldMinny Crowhurst
Jane Crowhurst, F, Granddaughter, age 1, born HartfieldJane Crowhurst

3rd Apr 1881CensusGeorge Adams, M, Head, married, age 59, born Salehurst; occupation: gardenerGeorge Adams, gardenerChuck Hatch1881 Census
Hartfield, Sussex
Elizabeth Adams, F, Wife, married, age 57, born WithyhamElizabeth Adams [Barton]
William Adams, M, Son, single, age 31, born Tunbridge Wells; occupation: labourerWilliam Adams, grocer
Thomas Adams, M, Son, single, age 23, born Speldhurst; occupation: brick makerFrancis Thomas Adams
Walter Adams, M, Son, single, age 21, born Tunbridge Wells; occupation: labourerWalter Adams
Charles Adams, M, Son, single, age 17, born East Grinstead; occupation: labourerCharles Adams, labourer
James Adams, M, Son, single, age 14, born Hartfield; occupation: labourerJames Adams, farm labourer

3rd Apr 1881CensusElizabeth Heasman, F, Head, widowed, age 74, born HampshireElizabeth HeasmanChuck Hatch1881 Census
Hartfield, Sussex
Frederick Edwards, M, Grandson, single, age 18, born East Grinstead; occupation: labourerFrederick Edward, stockman
Eliza Berry, F, Granddaughter, age 11, born MiddlesexEliza Berry

3rd Apr 1881CensusJohn Jonner, M, Head, married, age 88, born Hartfield; occupation: labourerJohn Jenner, farm labourerChuck Hatch1881 Census
Hartfield, Sussex
Sarah Jonner, F, Wife, married, age 69, born HartfieldSarah Jenner [Heasman]

3rd Apr 1881CensusTom Divall, M, Head, married, age 66, born Hartfield; occupation: tile makerThomas Divall, labourerChuck Hatch1881 Census
Hartfield, Sussex
Sarah Divall, F, Wife, married, age 60, born HartfieldSarah Divall [Ounstead]
William Divall, M, Son, single, age 26, born Hartfield; occupation: labourerWilliam Divall
Henry Divall, M, Son, single, age 17, born Hartfield; occupation: labourerHenry Divall
Caroline Divall, F, Granddaughter, age 7, born HartfieldCaroline Divall

3rd Apr 1881CensusBenjamin Gorringe, M, Head, single, age 65, born Hartfield; occupation: labourerBenjamin Gorringe, labourerChuck Hatch1881 Census
Hartfield, Sussex
Mary Ann Rye, F, Housekeeper, widowed, age 64, born Hartfield; occupation HousekeeperMary Ann Rye

3rd Apr 1881CensusJesse Divall, M, Head, married, age 32, born Hartfield; occupation: farm labourerJesse Divall, farm labourerChuck Hatch1881 Census
Hartfield, Sussex
Sarah Ann Divall, F, Wife, married, age 25, born HartfieldSarah Ann Divall [Rye]
Benjamin Divall, M, Son, age 6, born HartfieldBenjamin Divall
Mary Divall, F, Daughter, age 5, born HartfieldMary Divall
Emily Divall, F, Daughter, age 3, born HartfieldEmily Divall
Jessie Divall, M, Son, age 1, born HartfieldJesse Divall

3rd Apr 1881CensusJoseph Sherbourne, M, Head, married, age 25, born Hartfield; occupation Farm LabourerJoseph SherbourneChuck Hatch1881 Census
Hartfield, Sussex
Susan Sherbourne, F, Wife, married, age 23, born East GrinsteadSusan Sherbourne
Harriott Sherbourne, F, Daughter, age 4, born HartfieldHarriott Sherbourne
Henry Sherbourne, M, Son, age 2, born HartfieldHenry Sherbourne
Joseph Sherbourne, M, Son, age 9 m, born HartfieldJoseph Sherbourne

3rd Apr 1881CensusThomas Divall, M, Head, married, age 31, born Hartfield; occupation: road manThomas Divall, road manChuck Hatch1881 Census
Hartfield, Sussex
Hannah Divall, F, Wife, married, age 34, born WalesHannah Divall [Davies]
Edward Divall, M, Son, age 4, born HartfieldEdward Divall
Thomas W. Divall, M, Son, age 2, born HartfieldThomas William Divall

3rd Apr 1881CensusHannah Penticost, F, Head, widowed, age 78, born WithyhamHannah PenticostChuck Hatch1881 Census
Hartfield, Sussex
Sarah Ann Divall, F, Visitor, age 6, born Withyham; occupation: scholarSarah Anne Divall

3rd Apr 1881CensusJohn Divall, M, Head, married, age 38, born Withyham; occupation: brick makerJohn Divell, brick makerChuck Hatch1881 Census
Hartfield, Sussex
Elizabeth Divall, F, Wife, married, age 38, born WithyhamElizabeth Divall [Hall]
William Divall, M, Son, single, age 15, born Hartfield; occupation: farm servantWilliam Hall Divall
Alfred E. Divall, M, Son, age 12, born Hartfield; occupation: scholarAlfred Arthur Edward Divall
Nelson Divall, M, Son, age 7, born Hartfield; occupation: scholarNelson Divall
Sophia E. Divall, F, Daughter, age 3, born HartfieldSophia Elizabeth Divall

3rd Apr 1881CensusPhilly Crowhurst, F, Head, widowed, age 75, born HartfieldPhiladelphia Crowhurst [Baldwin]Chuck Hatch1881 Census
Hartfield, Sussex
William Crowhurst, M, Son, single, age 55, born Hartfield; occupation: farm labourerWilliam Crowhurst

c 1899Chuck Hatch, Sussex - c 1899Part of the 6 inch to 1 mile map of Sussex produced in 1899 by Ordnance SurveyChuck Hatch

1904ReflectionsChuck HatchHighways & Byways

Between Withyham and Hartfield in the north, and Crowborough Beacon and Wytch Cross in the south, is some of the finest open country in Sussex, where one may walk for hours and meet no human creature. Here are silent desolate woods - the Five Hundred Acre Wood, under Crowborough, chief of them - and vast wastes of undulating heath, rising here and there to great heights crowned with fir trees, as at Gill's Lap. A few enclosed estates interrupt the forest's open freedom, but nothing can tame it. Sombre dark heather gives the prevailing note, but between Old Lodge and Pippinford Park I once came upon a green and luxuriant valley that would not have been out of place in Tyrol; while there is a field near Chuck Hatch where in April one may see more dancing daffodils than ever Wordsworth did.

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