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Cuckfield Connections
A personal journey of discovery





Oct 3, 20212 min read
1900: Out of work, a final act
Inquest At the Wheatsheaf Inn yesterday (Monday) afternoon Mr G Vere Benson, Coroner for East Sussex, held an inquest on the body of John...
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Sep 13, 20211 min read
1847: Paupers to be catered for
To Builders. Cuckfield Union. The Board of Guardians are desirous to receive Tenders for the immediate erection, at the Union Workhouse...
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Aug 31, 20212 min read
1528: Cuckfield plans for plague
Even back in the C16th century, Cuckfield was prepared for a plague. The Trustees of Cuckfield Free Grammar School in 1 November 1528...
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Jul 27, 20211 min read
1984: A glimpse into the past - Mrs Brigden's High Street shop in the 1880s
Nurse Stoner, writing about Cuckfield in the 1880s when this photo was taken, says that Mrs Brigden kept the shop. This is evidently the...
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Jul 25, 20215 min read
1983: Sir Wilfrid Sheldon doctor to the Royals
Sir Wilfrid Sheldon, formerly physician paediatrician to the Queen’s Household, head of the children's department at King's College...
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Jul 13, 20212 min read
1723: Cuckfield doctor's payment by results
For reasons not difficult to understand, doctors have never favoured payment by results, where the magnitude of their fee, if any,...
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Jul 11, 20212 min read
1530: Andrew Boorde's home medical advice ... III
Boorde and his ‘Breviary’ Andrew Boorde, sometimes written ‘Borde’ or ‘Bored’ (indeed, he used to call himself Andreas Perforatus), was...
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Jul 5, 20211 min read
1986: Wellie Thrower's Finger
No really, this is for real! It wasn't April the 1st! Please take careful not of this before you next throw your wellingtons - get into...
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Jul 1, 20212 min read
1988: Dr Conrad Farr a keen horseman and angler
Conrad James Farr MRCS, LRCP, FRCOG Dr C J Farr, formerly consultant obstetrician and gynaecologist in Cuckfield, Sussex, died suddenly...
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Jun 1, 20211 min read
1871: Unconscious from his own gas at the church
A Serious Position Mr Edwin Steere the superintendent at the Gasworks, has for some days past been engaged with a workman in blocking up...
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May 31, 20215 min read
1930: Celebrating the 'mother to Cuckfield'
Mid Sussex Times - Tuesday 18 March 1930 Something to talk about Reference was made at a Nursing Association meeting in Mid Sussex last...
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Apr 25, 20211 min read
1848: Cuckfield Dr Byass attends arsenic poisoning
Two of Captain Rock’s servants, of Warninglid were in the habit of [unclear: drinking ...?] tea. it appears finding some white powder in...
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Apr 24, 20212 min read
1868: Mystery illness to Cuckfield wife blamed on witchcraft
Belfast Morning News - Wednesday 19 August 1868 Witchcraft Service.—The Sussex Advertiser tells a story of pretended witchcraft, which...
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Apr 4, 20218 min read
1981: A delightful summary of Cuckfield's past and a snapshot of contemporary life in the old town
How Prinny caused a stir in Cuckfield Vida Herbison and photographer Roy Vandyke visit Cuckfield - favoured for Inns by the Prince Regent...
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Mar 10, 20212 min read
1807-1890: Dr Thomas Byass Cuckfield surgeon with a sense of humour
Thomas Spry Byass (1807-90) Thomas Byass was born at Cuckfield, in Sussex, his father having been for many years an inhabitant of the...
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Feb 28, 20212 min read
1843: Dr Lovel Byass - my Cuckfield diagnosis
The 1834 Poor Law Act resulted in the setting up of an enquiry into the conditions of employment of women and children in agriculture....
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Jan 12, 20219 min read
150 years of the Cuckfield Hospital site
"The very first requirement in a hospital is that it should do the sick no harm". Florence Nightingale in 1863 The Union Workhouse...
4,680 views


Jun 30, 202013 min read
1912 and 1914: The story of the Congregational Church in South Road
Mid Sussex Times - Tuesday 17 December 1912 GRAND CHRISTMAS BAZAAR AT HAYWARDS HEATH. CONGREGATIONALISTS’ SUCCESSFUL EFFORT. We doubt if...
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Jun 25, 20203 min read
1917: War wounded treated at Haywards Heath Cottage Hospital
Mid Sussex Times - Tuesday 24 April 1917 The army authorities on Friday sent to the Haywards Heath Cottage Hospital 27 gallant fellows...
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Jun 10, 20203 min read
Haywards Heath labourer makes horrible discovery...
Mid Sussex Times - Tuesday 03 October 1882 HORRIBLE DISCOVERY IN RIVER’S WOOD ARDINGLY. MYSTERIOUS AFFAIR. On Sunday morning, as a man...
1,548 views
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