The Weald of Kent, Surrey and Sussex
Ashdown Forest in 1692


The Weald is "the place where London ends and England can begin"

The extensive information in this website has been gathered and presented by Peter Macleod who has dedicated the last 20 years to furthering our knowledge of the Weald, its history and people.
The Sussex Family History Group (SFHG) is committed to continuing Peter’s excellent work. To find out more about SFHG, click on the logo.

Thirty miles south of London and half way to the South coast of England lies an area of outstanding natural beauty combined with a fascinating history called the Weald.  This was, to the Saxons of 900AD, part of Andredesweald (the forest of Andred the Roman fort at Pevensey), that stretched from the marshes of Kent to the New Forest in Hampshire - 120 miles long and 30 miles wide. The Weald of Kent, Surrey and Sussex encompasses the Lancaster Great Park formed in 1372 and renamed as the Ashdown Forest in 1672.

This site catalogues the people, places, maps, drawings, engravings, books, writings and numerous lists and directories that are over 70 years old into an integrated database of information about one of the most attractive parts of England - The Weald of Kent, Surrey and Sussex. In addition, the site and its many contributors have derived extensive familial relationships and pedigrees which can be of great use for genealogical study and research. Where appropriate, the viewer should verify the information presented by consulting the original sources that are noted at every point on this site.

The navigation bar at the top of this page (and every page on this site) give access to all of this information. Records can also be searched for from this page or from the dedicated search page.

Latest additions to the web site:

Supported by Sussex Family History Group
Corrections, additions and links in many areas
Barfoot family records from Gill Chesney-Green
Barrow/Abarough family records and wills from Geoff Barrow

Genealogical Pedigrees

The surname also includes alternative spelling and the count is the number of people

Adams - 1530
Akehurst - 1114
Alcorn & Alchorne - 1425
Allan - 865
Arnold - 586
Ashby - 2216
Ashdown - 1144
Atheral - 181
Attree - 117
Austin - 2148
Averey - 453
Avis - 896
Bailey - 827
Baker - 4383
Baldwin - 1059
Barber - 398
Barfoot & Burfoot - 446
Barham - 435
Barnes - 486
Barrow - 689
Barton - 1466
Bassett - 863
Bedwell - 136
Beeching - 181
Bellingham - 840
Berry - 382
Berwick - 253
Best - 436
Bish & Bysshe - 489
Bishop - 714
Boarer & Bowrah - 607
Bones - 707
Boorman - 524
Bourner & Bourn - 435
Bowles - 266
Box - 400
Bridgeland - 403
Bridger - 891
Bristow - 268
Bromley - 318
Brook & Brooks - 1089
Brooker - 2423
Brooman - 283
Brown - 2598
Bryant - 377
Budgen - 1097
Burges - 1476
Burr - 338
Callow - 276
Cambridge & Combridge - 223
Card - 1564
Catt - 921
Cheasman & Cheesemer - 459
Chesson - 106
Chewtor & Chuter - 270
Children - 169
Chillman - 105
Clapson - 483
Clout - 306
Cogger - 268
Cole - 1304
Coleman - 739
Cork - 1101
Cornford - 498
Cornwell - 746
Couchman - 534
Coulstock - 208
Cox - 655
Crittall - 311
Crouch - 502
Croucher - 101
Crowhurst - 895
Curd - 506
Dadswell - 1186
Dann - 1012
Daw - 581
Delves - 550
Denman - 231
Devall, Divall & Duvall - 1020
Dibley - 190
Diplock & Duplock - 851
Doust - 192
Dumsday & Doomsday - 65
Eade - 424
Eagle - 124
Eastwood - 583
Edwards - 1872
Eldridge - 1030
Ellis - 1540
Everest - 1222
Fairway - 63
Farmer & Fermor - 1412
Farrant - 392
Fenner - 744
Fever - 144
Field & Field-Buss - 1232
Forward - 326
Fowle - 240
Fowler - 207
Frost - 550
Fry - 1628
Funnel - 1148
Gabriel - 175
Gallard - 124
Gilbert - 840
Godley - 419
Golden & Golding - 324
Goldsmith - 1472
Gorham - 113
Gravat - 105
Gray & Grey - 245
Groombridge - 1061
Grove & Groves - 570
Grover - 378
Gurr - 547
Guy - 563
Haffenden - 660
Hailer & Haylor - 356
Haiselden, Hasleden & Hazledon - 707
Hall - 1801
Hallet - 280
Harden & Harding - 669
Hardwick - 77
Harman - 1383
Harmer - 1429
Hartfield - 503
Hawkins & Hoggins - 484
Head - 615
Heasman - 1730
Heath - 709
Heathfield - 261
Hebden & Hobden - 660
Helmesley - 737
Hendley & Henley - 304
Hider & Hyder - 692
Hilder - 306
Hill - 1356
Histed - 305
Hoadley - 864
Hoath - 645
Hobbs - 1079
Hollamby - 865
Holland - 846
Holmewood - 1302
Hook - 824
Hooker - 461
Hudson & Hutson - 612
Humphrey & Umphrey - 1594
Izzard - 610
Jarratt - 647
Jarvis - 847
Jeffrey - 2244
Jenner - 3461
Jenner-Akehurst - 54
Kidd - 212
Kidder - 231
Killick - 1107
Langridge - 2370
Latter - 1125
Lavender - 536
Le May - 140
Leaves - 346
Leonard & Lennard - 273
Letchford & Lutchford - 101
Leveson & Leveson-Gower - 95
Luck - 1137
Lulham - 210
Mackellow, Mancktelow, Mantelow & McKellow - 996
Mancer - 580
Mann - 165
Marchant - 1324
Markwick - 654
Marten & Martin - 3699
Mascall - 297
Meopham - 1250
Mercer - 1357
Michelborne - 100
Miles, Mills, Millis, Myles & Mighells - 2258
Molineux - 114
Moon - 1778
Morphew - 271
Morris - 896
Muddle - 547
Napp & Knapp - 166
Nash - 319
Neville - 260
Newington - 423
Noakes - 815
Novis & Novice - 526
Obbard - 122
Packham & Peckham - 1710
Page, Page Mitchell & Paige - 2174
Paine & Payne - 1847
Pariss & Parrish - 801
Parker - 1481
Patenden - 604
Peacock - 311
Pearless - 501
Penfold & Pennifold - 621
Pett - 137
Piddlesden - 238
Pilbeam - 854
Piper - 2260
Plain - 70
Pocknell & Pucknell - 298
Pollington - 314
Pratt - 557
Price - 478
Puxty - 336
Quickenden & Quittenden - 298
Ralf, Realf, Relph & Rolfe - 2420
Ranger - 226
Reave - 549
Rebbeck - 73
Ridley - 390
Rivers - 141
Rogers & Rodger - 1359
Rummens & Rumings - 345
Sackville & Sackville-West - 213
Sales - 986
Sandal - 161
Sands - 860
Saunder - 1432
Sawyer - 618
Sellens - 223
Shaw - 376
Shelley - 142
Sherley, Shirley & Shurley - 96
Shoebridge - 590
Spence & Spencer - 328
Spice - 354
Spittal - 193
Stapley - 1090
Stephens & Stevens - 1984
Stephenson & Stevenson - 846
Streater - 796
Streatfeild, Streatfield & Stratfield - 846
Tanner - 233
Tasker - 327
Taylor - 3449
Tester - 1802
Tribe - 58
Turk - 510
Turner - 3167
Twiner - 123
Underwood - 197
Upfield - 102
Verall - 429
Vidler & Vitler - 542
Vigor - 220
Vinall - 410
Vine & Vyne - 402
Waite - 179
Walfare - 454
Wallis - 1035
Walter - 1227
Watson - 707
Weeks & Weakes - 717
Weeding & Weeden - 151
Weller - 1793
Wenham & Whenham - 389
Weston - 1823
Whapham - 69
Wheatley - 1149
Wickenden - 1342
Wickens - 1921
Wicker - 257
Wickerson - 50
Wigmore - 57
Wilmshurst - 678
Woodham - 982
Wren - 605

Submissions by contributors, records from the 1841 through 1911 census and Parish records from 1550 for the selected surnames listed above have been cross referred to establish their genealogical pedigrees.
These are being continually enhanced and expanded as new information and research becomes available.

The records of a further 7,500 surnames are also made available for reference purposes.

Property:
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to search the property database

Surname:

Forename:
between 1 and 5 characters
to search the people database

Keyword:
at least 3 characters
Optional Keyword:
at least 3 characters or none
Optional Keyword:
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to search the document, image and map databases

Boyd Alexander
1873-1910
Explorer and ornithologist

Boyd Alexander
Field Marshall Jeffrey Amherst
1716/7-1797
North America Commander

Jeffrey Amherst
Jane Austen
1775-1817
Author

Jane Austen
Sir John Baker
c1488-1558
Bloody Baker

Sir John Baker
Wilfrid Ball
1853-1917
Painter

Wilfrid Ball

Sir William Burrell
1732-1796
Antiquarian

Sir William Burrell
Anne Boleyn
1501-1536
Queen of England

Anne Boleyn
Decimus Burton
1800-1881
Architect

Decimus Burton
Lt-Col. John By
1779-1836
Military engineer

Lt-Col. John By
Florence Emily Carlyle
1864-1923
Painter

Florence Emily Carlyle

Thomas Downes Wilmot Dearn
1777 - 1853
Author, Artist and Architect

Thomas Downes Wilmot Dearn
Conan Doyle
1859-1930
Author

Arthur Ignatius Conan Doyle
Charles Burgess Fry
1872-1956
Cricketer and journalist

Charles Burgess Fry
John 'Mad Jack' Fuller
1757-1834
Parliamentarian and patron of the arts

Mad Jack Fuller
S.H. Grimm
1733-1794
Topographical artist

S.H. Grimm

Charles Hardinge
1858-1944
Diplomast and Viceroy of India

Charles Hardinge
Frederick Daniel Hardy
1827-1911
Cranbrook Colony Painter

Frederick Daniel Hardy
Minnie Louise Haskins
1875-1957
Poet and welfare worker

Minnie Louise Haskins
Edward Hasted
1732-1812
Historian

Edward Hasted
Henrietta Maria, wife of Charles I
1609-1669
Royal patronage of the 'Wells'

Henrietta Maria

John Baker Holroyd
1st Earl of Sheffield
1735-1821
Politician, writer and owner of Sheffield Park

John Baker Holroyd
John Callcott Horsley
1817-1903
Cranbrook Colony Painter

John Callcott Horsley
Richard Jefferies
1848-1887
Naturallist and author

Richard Jefferies
Sir Andrew Judde
c1492-1558
Founder of Tonbridge School

Sir Andrew Judde
Richard Kidder
1633/4-1703
Bishop of Bath and Wells

Richard Kidder

Rudyard Kipling
1865-1936
Author

Rudyard Kipling
Vicesimus Knox, D.D.
1752-1821
Headmaster of Tonbridge School and writer

Vicesimus Knox
William Lambarde
1536-1601
Antiquarian and lawyer

William Lambarde
Mark Antony Lower
1813-1876
Antiquarian and author

Mark Antony Lower
Ebenezer Littleton
1831-1920
Pastor

Ebenezer Littleton

Louisa Martindale
1839-1914
Liberal and Nonconformist

Louisa Martindale
A.A.Milne
1882-1956
Author

A.A. Milne
Richard "Beau" Nash
1674-1761
Dandy of the Georgian era

Beau Nash
Coventry Patmore
1823-1896
Poet

Coventry Patmore
Charles Leeson Prince
1821-1899
Surgeon and antiquarian

Charles Leeson Prince

Richard Realf
1832-1878
Abolitionist and poet

Richard Realf
Sir Thomas Sackville
1536-1608
Statesman and poet

Sir Thomas Sackville
Vita Sackville-West
1892-1962
Poet, author and gardener

Vita Sackville-West
Dorothy Sidney, Countess of Sunderland
1617-1684
'Sacharissa'

Sacharissa
Siegfried Sassoon
1886-1967
Novelist and poet

Siegfried Sassoon

William Tarbutt
1810-1893
Basket maker and historian

William Tarbutt
William Makepeace Thackeray
1811-1863
Author

William Makepeace Thackeray
Rev Edward Turner
1794-1872
Antiquarian

Reverend Edward Turner
Thomas Webster
1800-1886
Cranbrook Colony Painter

Thomas Webster
Lt.-Gen. James Wolfe
1727-1759
"Liberator of Quebec"

Lt.-Gen. James Wolfe

People of note documents the lives of over ninety individuals who have made significant contributions to the Weald and includes:

Maps of the Weald commence in the 16th century courtesy of the Buckhurst Terrier and other historical sources. The 18th century sees the beginning of detailed 1 inch to 1 mile maps and this site records the Richard Budgen maps of 1724, the William Gardner and Thomas Gream maps of 1795, the Christopher and John Greenwood maps of 1825 and cross refers these to the  6 inch to 1 mile Ordnance Survey maps produced in the 1870s and 1890s.  Over 300 maps are available on this site.

1724

Crowborough - c 1724
1795

Crowborough - c 1795
1825

Crowborough - c 1825
1875

Crowborough - c 1875
1899

Crowborough - c 1899
Over 2,500 Pictures, engravings and photographs of the Weald have been encoded into the database and identifiable locations have been cross-referred with the Weald database.

Rotherfield - 1785

Withyham - 1783

Eridge Castle - 1830

Mayfield - 1892

Wadhurst - 1906


Tonbridge - 1900

Tunbridge Wells - 1718

Speldhurst - 1900

Westerham - 1905

Sevenoaks - 1905

Over 210 Books and documents about the Weald have been encoded into the database and identifiable locations and people have been cross-referred with the Weald database.

The History of Kent - Vol III

The History of Kent - Vol V

Edenbridge

Tunbridge Wells

Cobbett's Rural Rides


Tunbridge Wells and its Neighbourhood

The Ashdown Forest Dispute

Country Houses of Kent

English Homes and Villages (Kent & Sussex)

The Story of Wadhurst


The History of Sussex

The Worthies of Sussex

Highways & Byways in Sussex

Rotherfield

Buxted the Beautiful


The Story of Crowborough

The Buckhurst Terrier

Frant - A Parish history

The History of East Grinstead

Kelly's Directory

To quote Richard Jefferies from his essay on Buckhurst Park -

"This wild tract of Ashdown Forest bears much resemblance to Exmoor; you may walk, or you may ride, for hours and meet no one; and if black game were to start up it would not surprise you in the least. There seems room enough to chase the red stag from Buckhurst Park with horn and hound till, mayhap, he ended in the sea at Pevensey. Buckhurst Park is the centre of this immense manor. ........... Here and there a house stands, as it seems, alone in the world on the Forest ridge, thousands of acres of heather around, the deep weald underneath - as at Duddleswell, a look-out, as it were, over the earth. Forest Row, where they say the courtiers had their booths in ancient hunting days; Forest-Fold, Boar's-head Street, Greenwood Gate - all have a forest sound; and what prettier name could there be than Sweet-Haws? Greybirchet Wood, again; Mossbarn, Highbroom, and so on. Out­lying woods in every direction are fragments of the forest, you cannot get away from it; and look over whatever gate you will, there is always a view. ........ Clouds drift over; it is a wonderful observatory for cloud studies; they seem so close, the light is so strong, and there is nothing to check the sight as far as its powers will reach. Clouds come up no wider than a pasture-field, but in length stretching out to the very horizon, dividing the blue sky into two halves; but then every day has its different clouds - the fleets of heaven that are always sailing on and know no haven"

This site is dedicated to presenting the records of the Weald of Kent, Surrey and Sussex that are more than 70 years old and in the public domain. It was launched in May 2003 and is continually being updated with more information about the Weald as it becomes available from transcriptions of Census data, Parish records, Pictures, Photographs, Maps, Books and many other documents.

Thanks also to over four hundred and seventy people who have kindly contributed much additional information to the site.

Such contributions are welcome from all by email to Weald support. Visitor numbers since 20th December 2021: 113099

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

ODNB  
British Libarary  
High Weald  
Sussex Record Society  
Sussex Archaeological Society  
Kent Archaeological Society  
Mid Kent Marriages  
Ancestry  
Genes Reunited  
International Genealogical Index  
National Archives  

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