Uckfield & District Preservation Society Reg. Charity No: 1102573 NEWSLETTER Chairman: Bob Bonnett, Tudor Views, Ringles Cross, Uckfield TN22 1HB Tel. 01825 762341 General Secretary: Adrian Pearce, The Spinney, Blackboys TN22 5HD Tel. 01825 890268 e-mail: [email protected] Volume 14 Issue 1 February 2005 Chairman’s Address Bridge Cottage Heritage Centre New Year is a time when we look back at the past and The autumn has been busy trying to put together the forward to the next year. I recently had a look at the Society's pieces of the jigsaw that is becoming the Renovation Project. newsletters for 1969 and 1970 to see how we might have This is now going ahead as one of the projects identified in the changed during this 35-year period. I am very pleased to report Uckfield Regeneration Partnership Action Plan which has in that we haven't. We have grown significantly in most areas, but turn resulted from the Town Health Check. UDPS is continuing the ideals then to preserve and record our local history are to lead the project and the Regeneration Partnership has access maintained today. Here are three examples: - to useful funds and contacts. The Town and District Councils In 1969 we arranged a monthly walk around the Uckfield are also Partnership members and this forum is proving to be area. In 2005 we are publishing a new book detailing all the worthwhile. local footpaths. A meeting was held with the Regional Development In 1970 a survey of all the windpumps in and around the Manager of Heritage Lottery who was extremely helpful and area was made. During 2005/6 an ambitious survey is being identified a bid application route to follow from the many carried out to photograph and record all sites related to the available. We have also agreed timescales for an application manufacturing industries, including workshops, educational and and the preparatory reports and design work required before medical establishments in Uckfield as part of the Sussex such an application can be made. Industrial Archaeology Society's initiative to record all A major preparatory item is the architect's design scheme industrial buildings in the whole of Sussex. In addition we are which will allow us to go to tender for the building works to get extending this survey to include other historical buildings for an accurate figure to put in our lottery bid. At present we are the Town Council and our own records. making grant applications to various funding bodies to raise the In 1970 the Society was seeking financial help to restore funds to employ the architect. We shall have to contribute at Nutley Windmill. Now it is the turn of Bridge Cottage. In 2005, least 10% of the renovation costs ourselves as Heritage Lottery I believe, the pivotal point will be reached to turn Bridge will fund a maximum of 90% and often less. If we follow Cottage into a proper working Heritage Centre. correct procedures then the cost of the architect can be counted With four active sub-committees, investigating, as the majority of our 10% contribution but we have to be monitoring, surveying, recording, advising, informing, careful to do things by the book. preserving and protecting all aspects of our local history and The next item on the agenda is to work with the Town way of life, the Society has grown more than envisaged by Council on preparing the proposed 20 years lease on Bridge those who worked so hard to form it. Cottage which is another requirement for Lottery Funding and The area in which we have not done so well is must be finalised before our lottery application is made in mid membership. In 1969 there were over 60 more members than 2005 today. It should be remembered that the population of Uckfield Adrian Pearce has grown during this time. May I, therefore, ask all members to persuade neighbours and friends to join the Society. It is not only to swell our coffers, very important when trying to obtain Nutley Windmill grants for Bridge Cottage Heritage Centre, but numbers help add weight when making representations to local councils and Over the winter months only general maintenance is statutory bodies. carried out at the mill. A sailcloth from one of the common On a totally different subject, access. I wrote some time sails has been sent off for repairs and we hope it will be back ago how fortunate we are to have so much land around for this year's open days. Uckfield in which to walk. It appears that the new owners of The Wednesday workday has been moved to Thursday to one area, Buxted Park, do not like local walkers, although in a make it more convenient for some of our members who are recent Sussex Life Magazine they write to the contrary. Barbed unable to attend on the Wednesdays. It is expected to revert wire fencing has been put up along the footpaths that pass back when our open days restart though the land. I understand that a deer was reported as being Robert Pike badly injured. Whether this was a coincidence I do not know. To me it's sad that when the Government is promoting a more Sussex Mills Group open countryside, some landowners are trying to do the Visit to Hempstead Watermill opposite. And Meeting at Bridge Cottage Finally, and most importantly, may I wish everyone a Very Happy and Healthy New Year. Members of the Sussex Mills Group visited Hempstead Bob Bonnett Page 2 Uckfield and District Preservation Society Watermill on Sunday afternoon 10th October, prior to a meeting respect to conservation of our older buildings and natural at Bridge Cottage. On arrival, members met Bob Bonnett, who environment, please let me or any UDPS committee member organised the visit, and Adrian Kilby, the owner. As with know. previous visits organised by Bob for the Group, we were given Ted Hardy an information sheet which provided a history of Hempstead Mill as well as two photographs of the outside of the mill and a Outing to Lindfield description of Uckfield Watermill, located near Bridge Cottage. (22 August) Details of Uckfield Watermill were provided for members who wished to visit this mill after the meeting. During a period of over two hours, our amiable guide, Members were free to view Hempstead Mill and inspect Richard Bryant, took us on a comprehensive tour of the High the internal machinery that remains on the four floors of the Street area plus a walk beyond the Pond. Particularly mill. The first known reference to a mill on the site was in noteworthy buildings were the parish church, Thatched Cottage 1543. The mill is not shown on Budgen's large scale map of and Old Place (the 15th and 16th century residences of the 1723, but it is recorded in the Buxted Parish Registers as a Chaloners), Lindfield House (early 18th century), the Bower fulling mill, although corn milling and cotton manufacturing House (the medieval rectory), Humphreys (c. 1350 and a took place at some time during its working life. The main part bakery since 1796), a former candle factory, William Allen (of of the oil dressing process, which made hides or skins into Allen and Hanburys’)’s early 19th century school building and leather, also took place in the fulling mill. The most popular use cottages, Malling Priory (once the home of John Bent the of this leather was for making jerkins. On entering the mill on brewer) and many others. We were also given interesting the ground floor, members were able to see the large undershot details of the history of this ancient market settlement, waterwheel within the building, together with the pit wheel and including its connections with the original Malling Priory from wallower connected to the upright shaft passing through the the 8th century and its position on a London-Brighton stage first floor. Here on the first floor three bedstones could be seen, coach route. When the toll gates outside the (still standing) Toll but there was no sign of any runner stones. Also on this floor House were removed in 1884, they were burnt in the street there was very little milling machinery, but there was an amid much celebration. interesting exhibition of World War aircraft items ranging from Peter Ferguson RAF uniforms on shop dummies to various articles associated with this period of our history. Parts of the exhibition were also seen on other floors which were of interest to some of our Simon Wright's "Edwardian Uckfield" members, especially Air Marshal Sir Frederick Sowery, (Script read by Sally Pearce - 1 October) President of SIAS, who found a reference to his father in the exhibition records. On the fourth floor at the top of the mill At the parochial school, Albert Richards succeeded various grain bins could be seen. After this very interesting William Rollison in 1895. Mr Richards was expected to teach visit, members then made their way to Bridge Cottage for the the top three classes plus half the youngest class. Adverse afternoon meeting. weather affected attendance, also epidemics such as diptheria at Peter Hill, Chairman of the Sussex Mills Group, the Workhouse. Apart from the Grammar School (Headmaster J welcomed members and members of the Uckfield & District Montgomery), vocational education was provided at the Preservation Society to the meeting. There was also a Agricultural College (founded 1894), with experimental work representative from Cranbrook Watermill. After a general carried on at College Farm, Little Horsted. At Crockstead Farm discussion on mill related items, contributions were made by Framfield and other farms chicken fattening was used to various members, starting with Bob Bonnett presenting slides prepare over a million fowls each year for the London market.