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Cuckfield Connections
A personal journey of discovery





40s-60s: Jack Norris Jnr's Tale
Jack Norris who is now 85 and lives in Burgess Hill has many happy memories of his time living in Cuckfield for some 20 years (until...
Aug 11, 20215 min read
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1873: Bear's bullocks and fair pleasure
The Pleasure Fair on Tuesday was but the ghost of former days, the visitors and amusements being equally scanty. Cheap Jack, with his...
Jun 13, 20211 min read
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1871: Mud ankle deep and ice accidents
Since 9 o'clock on Saturday night rapid changes in the weather, together with a variation in the wind, has been apparent in this...
May 30, 20211 min read
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1800s: The great stink of Cuckfield
Some people must relocate to the rural idyll of Cuckfield, with its delightful and quaint village centre, perhaps imagining that, long...
Apr 21, 20215 min read
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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...
Apr 4, 20218 min read
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1850s: Fascinating Cuckfield recollections
We believe* that these are the recollections of Thomas Norris born 1849, son of Thomas Snr who was schoolmaster of the National School...
Mar 24, 20214 min read
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1843: The Womens' lot on our farms
The 1834 Poor Law Act resulted in the setting up of an enquiry into the conditions of employment of women and children in agriculture....
Mar 2, 20213 min read
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1843: Eight shillings a week
The 1834 Poor Law Act resulted in the setting up of an enquiry into the conditions of employment of women and children in agriculture....
Feb 24, 20213 min read
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1843: Eight year old farmworkers
The 1834 Poor Law Act resulted in the setting up of an enquiry into the conditions of employment of women and children in agriculture....
Feb 22, 20214 min read
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1674: How we make iron in Cuckfield
It seems extraordinary that a seventeenth century account of what was involved in making iron in Cuckfield should still exist in the 21st...
Feb 15, 20216 min read
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1992: Four Cuckfieldians remember childhood experiences in the old town
Ron Knight remembers… I can remember as a small child Saturday night being rather special. All through the summer the Cuckfield town band...
Feb 12, 20213 min read
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A Bowyer's widow abducted in ironmasters' feud
This is taken from an article by Margaret Holt, taken from the Spring 1993, Bulletin of the Wealden Iron Research Group Newsletter, ...
Feb 7, 20214 min read
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19th century: All the shops you need
In this article by Margaret Holt, she looks back at how people fared in Cuckfield and the local area two centuries ago. Local history can...
Jan 28, 20213 min read
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1967: Cuckfield recalled by a 75 year old Cuckfieldian - Four butchers, five bakers, four shoe shops
My earliest recollections In a short account written in 1967, Olive (Mabel) Askew of Glebe Road, Cuckfield recalled Cuckfield from...
Jan 15, 20213 min read
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1864: Wonderful fare and 12th night cakes on offer
Christmas Fare Our tradesman's shops begin to put on the show for Christmas. Among the butchers, Mr Thomas Jenner has a splendid show of...
Jan 2, 20212 min read
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Order early for Christmas
£1 in 1883 = £70 today I shilling = £3.30 today 1 penny = 28p today £1 was 3 days wages for skilled tradesman From Mid Sussex Times...
Dec 19, 20201 min read
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1926: Haines and Sharp Tailors and Outfitters opens in South Road Haywards Heath
Mid Sussex Times - Tuesday 29 June 1926 HAINES & SHARP, Tailors and Outfitters, Beg to announce they have opened New Premises in South...
Jul 27, 20201 min read
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1938: Celebrating Cuckfield teacher, clockmaker and local historian Hubert Bates
Mid Sussex Times - Tuesday 29 March 1938 UP AND DOWN THE COUNTY By ‘The Roamer’ Mr. Hubert Bates, of Cuckfield, looked me up few days ago...
Jul 24, 20202 min read
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1911: Many rare and magnificent things on view at the Cuckfield Industrial and Art Exhibition
Mid Sussex Times - Tuesday 21 February 1911 CUCKFIELD INDUSTRIAL EXHIBITION There is every prospect of the Cuckfield lndustrial and Art...
Jul 22, 20209 min read
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1929: How the Gatland Clock came to The Queens Hall ...
Mid Sussex Times - Tuesday 16 July 1929 THE CUCKFIELD CLOCK. We are pleased to be able to announce that the inhabitants and friends of...
Jun 29, 20203 min read
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