The Weald of Kent, Surrey and Sussex
Leigh
This Parish is about three miles and an half in length from north to south, and somewhat less than two and a half in breadth, it lies below the sand hills, in the district of' the Weald. The northern part of it lies more above ground, and consequently more dry than the parishes last described; the soil is mostly a stiff loam; the lower parts, next the river, are much subject to be overflowed. The village is in the southern part of the parish, having the church on the north side of it, and a small distance from it the seat of Hall-place, situated within the large district called Hallenden, which stretches two miles and an half north-eastward, the extremity of which, though now separated from this part of it, by the parish of Tunbridge intervening, yet by the best accounts has ever been supposed to be within this of Lyghe. The river Medway runs along the southern part of this parish, at a small distance southward from which is Endsfield. Another stream, which rises at the foot of the land-hills, bounds the eastern side of this parish, and meets the river at Tunbridge; between these is the estate and mill of Ramhurst, close to the boundary of it next to Tunbridge; about half a mile westward from the village is the ground, late the upper part of Penshurst-park, called Lyghe, alias North Park, now the property of Mr. Alnutt. Above it is Lyghe-green, between which and Hall-place there is much coppice wood, as there is in the northern part of this parish, called Westwood, near Halls and Fletchers green. A fair is held here on July 25, for pedlary ware, &c.
extract from Hasted's History of Kent published in 1797

Parish & other records Before
1500
1500
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1550
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1600
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1650
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1700
1700
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1725
1725
to
1750
1750
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1775
1775
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1800
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1825
1825
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1850
1850
to
1875
1875
to
1900
1900
to
1925
1925
to
1950
1950
to
1975
1975
to
2000
After
2000

1887Births8146345335887236402644297
600Christenings81462463354681041058521
92Marriages1331075121319136
52Deaths3564656544211
60Burials35755510552323
 
Books and other documents
Published Title, author and references
1797The History and Topographical Survey of the County of Kent - Volume III by Edward Hastedp. 258
1814An Historical, Topographical and Descriptive Account of the Weald of Kent by T. D. W. Dearnp. 151
1839Directory of Kent, Surrey & Sussex ⇒ entry
1840New Guide for Tunbridge Wells by John Colbran and edited by James Phippen ⇒ p. 257
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.p. 16; p. 714
1882Kelly's Directory of Kent by E. R. Kelly, M.A., F.S.S. ⇒ entry
1909English Homes and Villages (Kent & Sussex)
also published as
Tunbridge Wells and its Neighbourhood by Lady Hope ⇒ p. 155
1914Highways and Byways in Kent by Walter Jerrold with Illustrations by Hugh Thomson ⇒ p. 335

Pictures 

Leigh Village - 1904

Parish Church - 1908

The Green - 1909

Leigh - 1910

Leigh - c 1920

The Forge - 1965
 

Places and properties in Leigh - a directory of homes, farms, churches, schools, inns, and other places of interest that existed prior to 1900 has been compiled from Post Office directories, Kelly's directories, Trade directories, Census data, Ordnance survey maps and books of the period
Churches, Inns,
Schools, Shops
and other places of interest
Bat & Ball Tavern, The Village
Beer House, Charcott
Blue Anchor, Wickhurst
Duckmakers Arms, The Village
Fleur De Lys Inn, The Village
Leigh School, The Village
Leigh Vicarage, The Village
St. Mary's Church, The Village
The Parsonage, The Village
 
Roads and Streets
Charcott
Cinder Hill
Egg Pie Lane
The Village
Wickhurst
 
Homes and Farms
A-L
Ashover Farm
Black Hoath
Blackheath Cottage, Cinder Hill
Blue House
Brook Cottages, Wickhurst
Charcott Farm, Charcott
Church Walk, The Village
Cinder Hill Farm, Cinder Hill
Compasses Cottages
Cooks Pits
Coppins [a.k.a. Coppings] Brook Cottages, Wickhurst
Coppins [a.k.a. Coppings] Farm, Wickhurst
Eynsfield Farm
Forge Row, The Village
Gate House, The Village
Great Barnett Farm
Great Haysden [a.k.a. Hayesden] Farm
Hall Place, The Village
Home Farm
Kennard Cottage, The Village
Kennards House, The Village
Kettles Cottage
Killicks Bank
Knotley Hall
Leigh Park Farm, Wickhurst
Lightfoots Cottages
Little Barnett Farm
Little Haysden [a.k.a. Hayesden] Farm
Lodge Gate, The Village
Lower Park Cottage, The Village
 
Homes and Farms
M-Z
Moreden [a.k.a. Moorden] Farm, Cinder Hill
Old Nells
Park Cottage, The Village
Park Farm
Paulie [a.k.a. Pauls] Farm
Powder Mill Cottages
Prices Farm
Quarry Cottage
Ramhurst Manor
Redleaf Lodge, Cinder Hill
Ridleaf
Southwood Farm
Tapners Cottage
The Alders
The Cottages, The Village
The Limes, The Village
The Priory Farm
White Post
Wickhurst Cottages, Wickhurst
Wickhurst Farm, Wickhurst

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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