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Cuckfield Connections
A personal journey of discovery





1218: Named 'Cuckfield' for 800+ years
Over the years there has been much discussion about the pronunciation and spelling of what we now call Cuckfield . But in fact Cuckfield...
Nov 21, 20233 min read
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1889: Hoppe-o'-my-thumb, the fairy tale
An interesting aside from a letter in the Mid Sussex Times, 19 March 1889 written by well known local barrister Twynihoe William Erle...
Nov 19, 20232 min read
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1930: Tragic act at Ashenground Pit
Mid Sussex Times - Tuesday 04 February 1930 HAYWARDS HEATH MYSTERY SOLVED. MR. ARTHUR BOTTING FOUND The mystery surrounding the...
Nov 18, 20232 min read
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1898: Most remarkable coin find
Sussex Agricultural Express - Friday 25 March 1898 The treasure trove at Balcombe. The Reverend Cannon Cooper then read an interesting...
Nov 10, 20232 min read
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1948: Adrian Hill's Cuckfield inspiration
When I was growing up I used to enjoy the BBC children's TV programme about art presented by Adrian Hill in from 1955-1963 called...
Nov 9, 20232 min read
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1856: Ratcatcher charged with trespassing
Sussex Advertiser - Tuesday 02 December 1856 CUCKFIELD. Petty Sessions, Monday, (yesterday).—Present: J. M. Norman, Esq., in the chair,...
Nov 4, 20231 min read
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1938: Not another tunnel!
In an article ’Routes for the rambler - Cuckfield’ in the West Sussex County Times and Standard of 22 July 1938, by AR Hodges we read...
Nov 3, 20231 min read
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1908: Time to call in Hubert Bates
Sussex Agricultural Express - Saturday 15 August 1908 CUCKFIELD. The town clock has not been cleaned or repaired for eight years, and it...
Nov 2, 20231 min read
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1917: Did villagers read burial service backwards at midnight?
Dear Sir, I was very interested in reading your account of Mrs. Sergison. I should like to know if there is any truth in the legend that...
Oct 28, 20231 min read
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1877: Trees laid flat by gale
Southern Weekly News - Saturday 03 February 1877 Cuckfield, The Gale The wind blew very strongly here during Monday night, and several...
Oct 20, 20231 min read
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1851: Post Office Directory of Cuckfield
What is a trade directory? Trade directories are the equivalent of the telephone directory and the Yellow Pages. They were published on a...
Oct 18, 20231 min read
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1931: Tragedy on the roads at night
On Sunday Mr Frederick Goacher brackets (69), of 1 Diamond Cottages, was killed, and Mrs Jemima Ayling, of Kentish Town, London,...
Oct 17, 20231 min read
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1889: Distressing fatality on the Ansty Road
Epsom Journal - Tuesday 10 December 1889 CUCKFIELD. A CHILD CRUSHED TO DEATH. On Saturday afternoon a most distressing fatality happened...
Oct 14, 20231 min read
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1918 Beeny's corner will not be lit
After consideration, the local Governing Authority has declined to entertain a proposition that the public lamps and London Lane, Broad...
Oct 13, 20231 min read
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1991: Jane - locked in a 'greenhouse' for two years
You may have been watching the spectacular short TV series on Channel 5 presented by Tim Peake entitled ‘Secrets of our Universe’ ...
Oct 5, 20234 min read
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1917: Comforting candle kills
At the Cuckfield Infirmary on Friday night the Coroner for East Sussex (Mr G Vere Benson) held an inquiry touching the death of Benjamin...
Oct 4, 20232 min read
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1933: Issues with Blunts Wood Path
Mid Sussex Times - Tuesday 11 April 1933 Footpath in ill repair To the Editor of The Mid-Sussex Times. Dear Sir, Taking a walk through...
Oct 3, 20231 min read
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1945: Happy memories of Cuckfield
Cuckfield An American from the small US town of Cuckfield landed in Britain not long ago and found himself stationed in this, our Sussex...
Sep 30, 20231 min read
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1865: Remedy for the cattle plague
We are glad to be able, on the authority of Mr. Inspector Vine, to again state that the Lewes Division, at present enjoys perfect freedom...
Sep 26, 20231 min read
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1853: Adder infested wood near Cuckfield
Worcestershire Chronicle - Wednesday 28 September 1853 A covey of adders, fifty in number, were found last week in Pickwell wood, near...
Sep 25, 20231 min read
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