The Weald of Kent, Surrey and Sussex
Ashdown Forest
The Ashdown Forest in the 1690s
The Ashdown Forest in the 1690s
Ashdown Forest Online Guide Website
Ashdown Forest Online Guide Website
Also known as Lancaster Great Park from 1372 until 1672
Ashdown Forest historical notes has been derived from historical sources to highlight Ashdown Forest's key events in chronological order

Books and other documents
Published Title, author and references
1840New Guide for Tunbridge Wells by John Colbran and edited by James Phippen ⇒ p. 292
1849Historical and Architectural Notices of the Iron Works of the County of Sussex by Mark Antony Lowerp. 206
1862Ashdown Forest by The Rev. Edward Turner, M.A.p. 35
1870A Compendious History of Sussex - Volume I. by Mark Antony Lower, M.A.p. 21
1871A History of The Weald of Kent with an outline of the Early History of the County, Volume I. by Robert Furley, F.S.A.Forest of Andred charters p. 72; p. 142
1871The Parliamentarian Surveys of the County of Sussex by John Robert Daniel-Tyssen, F.S.A. ⇒ p. 219
1874A History of The Weald of Kent with an outline of the History of the County to the present time, Volume II by Robert Furley, F.S.A.Grant to John of Gaunt p. 787
1883Pelton's Illustrated Guide to Tunbridge Wells by J. Radford Thomson, M.A. ⇒ p. 183
1885Cobbett's Rural Rides by William Cobbett ⇒ p. 83
1902Historical Notes of Withyham, Hartfield and Ashdown Forest by C. N. Suttonp. 363
1909English Homes and Villages (Kent & Sussex)
also published as
Tunbridge Wells and its Neighbourhood by Lady Hope ⇒ p. 102
1927The Sussex Highlands ⇒ p. 21
1931Wealden Iron by Ernest Straker ⇒ p. 246
1936William Augustus Raper ⇒ p. 224
1940Ashdown Forest and its inclosures by Ernest Straker ⇒ p. 121
1940The Parliamentarian Surveys of Ashdown Forest - Topographical Details by Ivan D. Margary, F.S.A. ⇒ p. 137
1997The Ashdown Forest Dispute 1876-1882 by Professor Brian Short ⇒ Notebook extract

People of note
Milne, Alan Alexander
(1882 - 1956)
Author
Raper, William Augustus
(1845 - 1940)
Solicitor
Sutton, Rev. Charles Nassau
(1859 - 1916)
Rector of Withyham
     

Picturesmore pictures 

Cottage on the Forest - 1890

The Ashdown Forest - c 1900

View in the Forest - c 1900

Millbrook Hill, Nutley - c 1900

Sussex Hills - 1904

Ladys Wood, Chelwood Gate - 1904

Chelwood Manor - 30th Apr 1904
 

Chelwood Gate - 1907

Army Volunteers, near William IV pub, Nutley - 1907

Wych Cross House - 1908

Littlemead, Nutley - 1908

Wych Cross - 1910

Colin Godmans - 1910

View in the Ashdown Forest - c 1910
 

Ashdown Forest Maps

c 1724

c 1795

c 1825

c 1875

c 1899
 

Sussex Maps

1610

1645

1695

c 1693

1695

1756

1763
 

1st Sept 1787

1808
 

500 House
500 Rough
Almshouse
Ashdown Forest [near Colemans Hatch]
Ashdown Forest [near Duddleswell]
Ashdown Forest [near Fair Warp]
Ashdown Forest [near Forest Row]
Ashdown Forest [near Witch Cross]
Ashdown Park
Bank Cottage
Bank Farm
Barnsden Farm
Basset House
Braziers
Brick Kiln Farm
Brick Works
Brickyard Cottage
Brownsbrook
Camber Walk
Camp Hill
Canfields Lodge
Cave Cottage
Christ Church
Chuck Hatch
Chuck Hatch Farm
Claypit Farm
Clifton Villas
Colemans Hatch
Colemans Hatch Road
Colemans Hatch School
Coleman's Hatch Smithy
Cophall Farm
Cottage Forest House
Crest Cottage
Crows [a.k.a. Doves] Nest
Duddleswell
Duddleswell Gate
Duddleswell House
Eagle Cottage
Edgemount
Fair Warp
Fairplace [a.k.a. Stonemead] Farm
Fairwarp Farm
Forest Cottage
Forest Gate
Forest Gate Farm
Forest House
Foresters Arms
Fox Inn
Frogs Hole Farm
Furnace Farm
Gainsford Cottage
Gate Farm
Gills Lap
Golden Castle
Haland Farm
Hartfield Grove [a.k.a. South Hartfield House, Snow's Hole]
Hatch [a.k.a. The Sign of the Gate] Inn
Heasmans Rough
High Beeches
Hill Side
Hillend [a.k.a. Outback] Farm
Hindleap Lodge
Hindleap Warren Farm
Holly Cottage
Hollyhill [a.k.a. Flocks Farm]
Holy Trinity Church
Jackmans Place
Jenners Street
Jumpers [a.k.a. Chapmans] Town
Keeper's Cottage
Kidd's Hill
Killicks Cottage
King Standing
Lane End Farm
Leapsend [a.k.a. Lapsend]
Little Bassetts
Little Shepherds Cottage
Little Shepherds Farm
Lodge Gate
Lodge House
Londonderry Farm
Loneoak [a.k.a. Alone Oak] Hall
Marl Pits
Marlpit Farm
Marlpits
Marsh Green
Masketts Farm
Mathews [a.k.a. Matthews] Cross
Miles End
Millbrook
Millbrook Farm
Minepits
Moss Cottages
Mount Pleasant Farm
National School
Neaves Farm
New Bridge Cottage
New House
New Lodge Farm
Newbridge
Newbridge Brick Works
Newbridge Corn Mill
Newbridge Water House
Nutley
Nutley Windmill
Old Brick Kiln
Old Lands Farm
Old Lands Hall
Old Lodge
Peculiars
Pesthouse [a.k.a. Hurstlands] Farm
Pinions
Pippingford
Plantation House
Platt Farm
Police Station
Posingford [a.k.a. Postingford, Possingford] Farm
Post Office
Post Office
Pound Lane
Puckstye Farm
Putlands Farm
Ravens Cottage
Reed Cottage
Reids Farm
Roberts Chapel
Roberts Corner House
Roe Buck [a.k.a. Witch Cross] Inn
Rose Cottage
Shawhurst Farm
Shepherds Gate
Shepherds Hill
Shookers Farm
Spring Cottage
Spring Garden
Springhill Cottage
St. Richard De Wych Church
Starrs Cottage
Stone Cottage
Stone House
Stone Quarry House
Streaters Farm
Summerford
Suntings Farm
The Prelude
The Ridge
Thornhill Farm
Tigers Den
Tile Lodge
Trespass Lodge
White Cottage
White House Bank
Whitehouse Farm
Witch Cross Cottage
Workhouse [a.k.a. Paddock] Farm
Wrens Warren
Wych [a.k.a. Wytch] Cross
Wych Cross Vicarage
Yew Tree Cottage
Yew Tree Farm
'
Historical records

731HistoryAshdown ForestTurner's Ashdown Forest
... through the Saxon and Roman aeras the Forest of Anderida remained entire we have the authority of the venerable Bede. He speaks of it as such, A.D. 731, and desribes it as thick and inaccessible; and as a place of retreat for large herds of deer and swine. Wolves also, and wild boars frequented it.

893HistoryAshdown ForestTurner's Ashdown Forest
... from the Saxon chronicle we learn that in the year 893 its length from east to west was 120 miles, and its width from north to south, 30

1268HistoryAshdown ForestTurner's Ashdown Forest
From the time of the Conquest untilthe 53rd of Henry III (1268), at which time the forest was vested in the Crown, in perpetuity, it appears to have followed all the changes and chances to which Pevensey Castle was subject.

1324HistoryAshdown ForestTurner's Ashdown Forest
Connected with this Forest of Ashdowne, was the Royal Palace or Hunting Seat, which stood upon it, and which Edward II is supposed to have built. Its site was on the high ground to the north of, and on the opposite side of the valley to, that on which the chapel stood. Traditionally it is placed in the wood valled the "Vechery". Here this King occasionally resided for the purposes of sport; and from his Palace at Maresfield he executed deeds in 1324

1372HistoryAshdown ForestTurner's Ashdown Forest
Edward III grants to his third son John of Gaunt the "Free-chase of Ashdon"

1418HistoryAshdown ForestTurner's Ashdown Forest
As early as the fifth of Henry V. (1418), this park appears to have been subject to fraudulent usage, for in that year John Pelham ... is charged with waste by sale and destruction of timber, etc, in Ashdown Forest and Maresfield.

1515Occupation Keeper of Ashdown ForestSir George Neville, 3rd Lord AbergavennyAshdown Forestwww.thepeerage.com

1540HistoryAshdown ForestTurner's Ashdown Forest
in the 31st year of Henry VIII's reign (1540), a suit was prosecuted by the King which led to the issuing of a commisssion to inquire into ... the state of the waste of the woods, the destruction of game and deer, and the decay of the park palings, on Ashdowne Forest, and to report thereon, as well as what repairs were needful to the lodges, generally, but particularily to Pypyngworth Lodge and the New Lodge.

14th Apr 1576HistoryAshdown ForestTurner's Ashdown Forest
"An Extant of the Forest of Ashdowne" states that "the Parson of Marsfield ought to have by ancient custome, 16 kine, and one bull, during the whole yeare, and to have 20 hogges acquitt from pannage for the whole year" and that "the Chaplayne of Marsfield ought to have in the fforest, by ancient custome, 15 kine, and one bull on the south side of Leabrooke, during the yeare, and also with custome. And if they transgresse the bownes, pardonable. And 20 hogges by ancient custom, and acquitt of pannage. And shall have Houseboote, Hayeboote, Heathboote, and Wood for the fire, by deliverance of the Master of the fforest"

3rd Mar 1605HistoryAshdown ForestTurner's Ashdown Forest
Thomas, Earl of Dorset, enforced the request of the tenants for a commossion to himself to cut down timber for repairing the pales, to enable him to preserve game in which the king delighted

1610[North] Sussex[North] Sussex by John Norden and augmented by John SpeedAshdown ForestJohn 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.

1645[North] Sussex[North] Sussex by Jan BlaeuAshdown ForestJan Blaeu

1st Jun 1650HistoryAshdown ForestParliamentary Surveys
Parliamentary Survey of Manor of Duddleswell

18th Mar 1657HistoryAshdown ForestParliamentary Surveys
Parlaimentary Survey of Ashdown Forest & Hindleap Lodge

29th Mar 1658HistoryAshdown ForestParliamentary Surveys
Parliamentary Survey of Ashdown Forest, Prestridge & Footbridge Banks

Apr 1658Historythe great ParkTurner's Ashdown Forest
In the Parliamentarian Survey, the great Park, with full particulars of the seven wards into which it was divided, and of the lodges standing upon them, are given with their boundaries in detail. The whole park consisted of 13,991 acres; and the seven walks are thus represented:-
  1. South-ward and West-ward not then divided. Of this no quantities are stated, nor is the name of the keeper given.
  2. Pippinford walk, 704 acres, with the lodge, 21 acres; John Pranke, keeper.
  3. Hindeleape walk, 341 acres, with the lodge, 30 acres; Francis Hesmond, keeper
  4. Broadstone walk, 1108 acres, and lodge, 37 acres; John Norman, keeper.
  5. Coombe Deane walk, 1040 acres, and lodge, 15 acres; James Kingsland, keeper.
  6. Wite Deane walk, 1843 acres, and lodge, 10 acres; John Norman, keeper.
  7. Duddleswell walk, and lodge, 30 acres; Robert Brookes, keeper
There was also
Warren lodge and ground, 100 acres in Broadstone walk, and 744 acres in East Grinstead, Richard Gibson, tenant;
Old Lodge and ground, 9 acres;
In Coombedeane walk, in Hartfield, and waste, 1502 acres, Henry Ford tenant;
Also lands called Prestridge Bank, and Footbridge, 417 acres;
White House, otherwise Chamberlayne's House, in Maresfield, 20 acres.

7th Jul 1658HistoryAshdown ForestParliamentary Surveys
Parliamentary Survey of Duddleswell

12th Nov 1658HistoryAshdown ForestParliamentary Surveys
Parliamentary Survey of Ashdown Forest & Warren Lodge

19th Nov 1658HistoryAshdown ForestParliamentary Surveys
Parliamentary Survey of Ashdown Forest & Come Deane Lodge

19th Nov 1658HistoryAshdown ForestParliamentary Surveys
Parliamentary Survey of Ashdown Forest & Old Lodge

19th Nov 1658HistoryAshdown ForestParliamentary Surveys
Parliamentary Survey of Ashdown Forest & Broadstone Lodge

19th Nov 1658HistoryAshdown ForestParliamentary Surveys
Parliamentary Survey of Ashdown Forest & Pippinford Lodge

19th Nov 1659HistoryAshdown ForestParliamentary Surveys
Parliamentary Survey of Ashdown Forest & White Deane Lodge

1st Apr 1662HistoryAshdown ForestTurner's Ashdown Forest
Subsequent to petitions and legal wranglings, the King grants the Ashdown Forest to the Earl of Bristol, for 99 years, under an annual rent of £99. However the Earls' plans for the park were frustrated "by the crossness of the neighbourhood", and when the Crown Rents fell into arrears the Crown resumed possession of the park.

22nd Oct 1674HistoryAshdown ForestTurner's Ashdown Forest
Ashdown Forest is leased to Sir John Packyngton and others for a term of 31 years, who, similarily find oppsition to their plans.

15th May 1677HistoryAshdown ForestTurner's Ashdown Forest
Ashdown Forest is leased to the Earl of Dorset

22nd Nov 1677HistoryAshdown ForestTurner's Ashdown Forest
Ashdown Forest is leased to Sir Thomas Williams and Joseph Fell who demised the premises, with the full consent of the Crown to Alexander Staples.

1679 to 1693HistoryAshdown ForestStraker's Ashdown Forest
The Ashdown Forest Dispute

1691HistoryAshdown ForestTurner's Ashdown Forest
A Bill was filed in the Court of the Duchy of Lancaster in 1691, which led to a decree, by which all existing difference were adjusted, and the rights of each of the dissatisfied parties settled.

1693HistoryAshdown ForestTurner's Ashdown Forest
Edmund Henslowe, master of the game in their Majesties' Forest of Ashdowne, and keeper of the king's and queen's deer filing a bill against John Erle, Thomas Davy, and others, tenants of the manor of Duddleswell, in reference to a disputed title to timber and wood, with the right of deer-hunting, and strays of cattle which the tenants claimed by the custom of the forest.

c 1693Ashdown ForestAshdown Forest by Barry Lucas after KeltonAshdown ForestStraker's Ashdown Forest

1695[North] Sussex[North] Sussex by Robert MordenAshdown ForestRobert 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.

c 1724Ashdown Forest, Sussex - c 1724Part of the 1 inch to 1 mile map of Sussex produced in 1724 by Richard BudgenAshdown Forest

1756SussexSussex by Emanuel BowenAshdown ForestEmanuel Bowen
Emanuel Bowen was a map- and print- seller, engraver and publisher. Britannia Depicta published (1720 to 1759) was probably his first publication and he must have been gratified at its success. He continued in business until his death in 1767, and at one time help the appointments of engraver to both George II and Louis XV. Nevertheless he died in reduced circumstances. His son Thomas carried on the business until c. 1790 when he died in the Clerkswell workhouse.
In 1756 Benjamin Martin published The Natural History of England which contained the Emanuel Bowen's map of Sussex.

1763A New Map of [North] SussexA New Map of [North] Sussex by Thomas KitchinAshdown ForestThomas 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.

1st Sep 1787[North] Sussex[North] Sussex by John CaryAshdown ForestJohn 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

1808[North] Sussex[North] Sussex by G.Cole and engraved by J.RoperAshdown ForestG. Cole
The British atlas; comprising a series of county maps…intended to illustrate and accompany 'The beauties of England and Wales' published 1808.

8th Jan 1822Diary entryAshurst ForestCobbett's Rural Rides
At about three miles from Grinstead you come to a pretty village, called Forest-Row, and then, on the road to Uckfield, you cross Ashurst Forest, which is a heath, with here and there a few birch scrubs upon it, verily the most villanously ugly spot I ever saw in England. This lasts you for five miles, getting, if possible uglier and uglier all the way till, at last, as if barren soil, nasty spewy gravel, heath and even that stunted, were not enough, you see some rising spots, which instead of trees, present you with black, ragged, hideous rocks.

c 1825Ashdown Forest, Sussex - c 1825Part of the 1 inch to 1 mile map of Sussex produced in 1825 by Christopher and John GreenwoodAshdown Forest

c 1875Ashdown Forest & Kings Standing, West of Crowborough - c 1875Part of the 6 inch to 1 mile map of Sussex produced in 1875 by Ordnance SurveyAshdown Forest

c 1899Ashdown Forest, Sussex - c 1899Part of the 6 inch to 1 mile map of Sussex produced in 1899 by Ordnance SurveyAshdown Forest

c 1900The Ashdown ForestThe Ashdown Forest painted by Charles Essenhigh CorkeCharles Essenhigh Corke, artist and photographerEnglish Homes and Villages

1904Sussex HillsSussex Hills painted by Wilfrid BallWilfrid Williams BallSussex

1925Colin GodmanColin Godman, Ashdown ForestAshdown ForestWolseley's Manor Houses

c 1925Gills LapGills Lap, Ashdown ForestAshdown ForestPrivate collection

1927The Glades of Ashdown ForestThe Glades of Ashdown Forest photographed by A.G. WhellerThe Sussex Highlands

1927Hatch Inn, Colemans HatchHatch Inn, Colemans Hatch, Ashdown Forest photographed by Francis FrithAshdown Forest
The Francis Frith Web Site The Frith archive was founded by Francis Frith, the pioneer Victorian photographer, in 1860 and today contains over 365,000 photographs of some 7,000 towns and villages throughout Britain. Taken between 1860 and 1970 these form a topographical record of Britain without equal and is recognised as probably the only photographic collection of national importance in private hands in Britain today.

The importance of the Frith archive is as a topographical and social record. It provides an amazingly detailed visual record of over 7,000 towns and villages, as well as illustrating the enormous social and structural changes which have taken place in Britain since 1860. Whilst some of the photographs are undoubtedly artistically outstanding, the real value of the archive lies in its scale. There is no other archive which can illustrate this period of British history so extensively or to such a high quality.

1928Post Office, NutleyPost Office, Nutley, Ashdown Forest photographed by Francis Frith
The Francis Frith Web Site The Frith archive was founded by Francis Frith, the pioneer Victorian photographer, in 1860 and today contains over 365,000 photographs of some 7,000 towns and villages throughout Britain. Taken between 1860 and 1970 these form a topographical record of Britain without equal and is recognised as probably the only photographic collection of national importance in private hands in Britain today.

The importance of the Frith archive is as a topographical and social record. It provides an amazingly detailed visual record of over 7,000 towns and villages, as well as illustrating the enormous social and structural changes which have taken place in Britain since 1860. Whilst some of the photographs are undoubtedly artistically outstanding, the real value of the archive lies in its scale. There is no other archive which can illustrate this period of British history so extensively or to such a high quality.

1928The River, Colemans HatchThe River, Colemans Hatch, Ashdown Forest photographed by Francis FrithAshdown Forest
The Francis Frith Web Site The Frith archive was founded by Francis Frith, the pioneer Victorian photographer, in 1860 and today contains over 365,000 photographs of some 7,000 towns and villages throughout Britain. Taken between 1860 and 1970 these form a topographical record of Britain without equal and is recognised as probably the only photographic collection of national importance in private hands in Britain today.

The importance of the Frith archive is as a topographical and social record. It provides an amazingly detailed visual record of over 7,000 towns and villages, as well as illustrating the enormous social and structural changes which have taken place in Britain since 1860. Whilst some of the photographs are undoubtedly artistically outstanding, the real value of the archive lies in its scale. There is no other archive which can illustrate this period of British history so extensively or to such a high quality.

1936Nutley Windmill in SummerNutley Windmill in Summer, Ashdown ForestHemming's Windmills

1938Little Gasson, FairwarpLittle Gasson, Fairwarp, Ashdown ForestPrivate collection

The Weald is at  Database version 14.05 which has ongoing updates to the 395,000 people; 9,000 places; 613 maps; 3,308 pictures, engravings and photographs; and 248 books loaded in the previous version

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