In the following article from the Brighton Gazette in 1849 it appears that Staplefield school construction was funded by Cuckfield residents.

The new Schools at Staplefield Common, built by Mr Holloway, architect and builder, of this town, were opened on Tuesday. Divine service was performed at St. Mark's Church in the morning, the Rev. Mr Boyd and the Rev. Mr Hunt, officiating; and an effective sermon was preached, by the Rev. T A Maberley, from Wisdom of Solomon, vii , 20.

After the service the children were regaled with a substantial dinner of roast beef and plum pudding, at the expense of Mrs Harrington; and the gentry, after attending to the wants of the little ones, partook of luncheon at the house of the Rev. Mr Royd, Staplefield Place.

The School-house, which cost £600, is from a very chaste design in the Old English style; and the room set apart for the school is calculated to contain 130 children, being 40.5 feet long by 17.5 wide. The roof is high pitched, and beautifully decorated; the room is well lighted, ventilated, and warmed. The apartments for the master and mistress are also very commodious.

Among those present were N. Borrer, Esq., Rev. Carey Borrer, Lieut. Colonel Elwood, Captain Preston, John Fearon, Esq., and family, O. Harrington, Esq., and Mrs Harrington, W Norman, Esq., and Miss Norman, Rev. W. Sergison and family. Rev. Mr Scott (of lfield), Rev. T.A Maberley, J Maberley. Esq., W Bigg, Esq. (of Hide), and the Misses Bigg, — Browne, Esq., and Mrs Browne, — Oddy, Esq. (of Tilgate), and Mrs Oddy, — Stanford, Esq., Mrs Stanford, and Miss Oakley, Miss Dealtry (of Bolnore), Mrs Loder (of the Beeches), &c., &c.

Brighton Gazette - Thursday 18 October 1849

Contributed by Malcolm Davison.