Hailsham


Hailsham is a town, a civil parish and the administrative centre of the Wealden district of East Sussex, England. It is mentioned in Domesday Book, where it is called Hamelesham in one part, yet mentioned in another part of the same book as ‘’’Tilux’’’, the land of Ricard de Tunbrige. The town of Hailsham has a history of industry and agriculture.

Etymology

The name "Hailsham" is thought to come from the Saxon "Haegels Ham", meaning the clearing or settlement of Haegel, Hella or a similar name, possibly even "Aella's Ham", the clearing of Aella the Saxon. The name of the town has been spelt in various ways through the ages from ‘Hamelsham’, "Aylesham" in the 13th century, and later Haylesham, to its present spelling.

History

The site of Hailsham has been inhabited since at least the Neolithic age. It was an Ancient British settlement that existed before the Romans invaded Kent and Sussex in 43 AD. The Anglo Saxons invaded Sussex in the year 477 AD. The Saxons are thought to have invaded at an original landing place at Selsey. According to the Anglo-Saxon Chronicle, in 491 AD they attacked and took the British stronghold of Anderida which was the fort that is believed to have been built by the Ancient British and the Romans at what is now Pevensey, just a few miles from Hailsham, thereby consolidating their conquest and forming the small kingdom of the South Saxons, or Sussex.
In Roman and Saxon times, the lowland marsh area between Anderida and the site of Hailsham, today known as the Pevensey Levels, is presumed to be unreclaimed at that time, so that much of the levels would have been a saltmarsh and at high tide, a lagoon. The link between Hailsham and the levels is preserved in the name of the access routes such as Marshfoot Lane and Saltmarsh Lane.
The manor of Hailsham is recorded in the Domesday Survey completed by the Normans in 1086, 20 years after the conquest, when there were just four households, as well as ploughing land and salt houses. There was some activity in this part of Sussex during the baronial wars and in the armed rivalry between Matilda and Stephen.
During the 17th century civil war between Charles I and Parliament, Hailsham and this part of Sussex declared against the royalist cause.
Little is known of the town of Hailsham before the 1086 Domesday Book, but evidence of a Roman road from Leap Cross across the Common indicates some occupation prior to this.

Market town status

granted the town a Market Charter in 1252. Originally, the market was held in the High Street and in Market Square, only moving to its present location in 1868. Sheep and cattle were driven from miles around along the various ancient droves until the arrival of the railway station and motor lorries. Today, the weekly livestock markets, together with the monthly farmers’ market continue whilst stall markets are held weekly in the town centre on Saturdays or Thursdays.

Dates of significance

  • Hailsham was an ancient British settlement that existed before the Romans invaded Kent and Sussex in 43 AD.
  • The Anglo Saxons invaded Sussex in the year 477 AD.
  • 1154 to 1189: Sir Richard Covert of Bradbridge was Lord of the "Manor of Haylesham".
  • 1228: Advowson of "Haylesham Church" granted to Michelham Priory.
  • 1234: Salt pan workings extracted salt from the tidal waters.
  • 1252: Henry III granted Market Charter to the Royal favourite, Peter of Savoy.
  • 1263: Gilbert, son of Gilbert Godseb drowned while bathing in "Haylesham Pond"
  • 1264: Benedict the Jew of "Heylesham" was "outlawed" would have been religious persecution for clipping the King's coin.
  • 1399 to 1413: Troy weights were introduced to the Market. Early consumer protections move.
  • 1425 to 1450: St Mary's Church, Hailsham built.
  • 1540 to 1640: Hailsham was one of the chief centres of leatherwork and tanning due to being a thriving cattle market town.
  • 1542: Fleur-de-Lys Inn built in Market Street.
  • 1559: Uprising of the inhabitants of Hailsham who burnt part of the church.
  • 1581: Manor of "Haylesham" granted to Gregory, Lord Dacre of Herstmonceux.
  • 1603: James VI of Scotland declared King of England - probably from the market cross in Market Square in "Haylysham".
  • 1663: First five bells cast for Hailsham Church at Bellbanks by John Hodson.
  • 1708: Hailsham Vicarage built next to Parish Church.
  • 1800: The Stone Cross in Market Square removed as being an obstacle to carts and wagons.
  • 1803: Barracks established on Hailsham Common to house troops for the war with France.
  • 1803: Grenadier Inn in High Street also built to meet needs of troops.
  • 1804: "Newhouse" built in George Street.
  • 1807: Rope making started by Thomas Burfield.
  • 1827: National School built in South Road, Hailsham to replace one held in the Church by churchwarden Francis Howlett.
  • 1836: New "Union" Workhouse built at junction of Hellingly and Hailsham parish boundaries.
  • 1849: Hailsham Station and railway service to Polegate opened.
  • 1855: As a result of an Enclosure Award on Hailsham Common, the Recreation Ground in Western Road was created.
  • 1862: Hailsham Infants’ School built in the High Street.
  • 1868: Market ceased to be held in High Street/Market Square - moved to new walled-in site in Market Street.
  • 1878: Hailsham Board School built in Battle Road.
  • 1880: Railway line extended northwards to Heathfield and Tunbridge Wells.
  • 1885: Hailsham Water Company started supply from springs at Magham Down.
  • 1894: Austens gun shop burnt down where Victoria Gate now stands.
  • 1895: First Parish Council elections.
  • 1906: Hailsham Church obtained first pipe organ.
  • 1907: Telephone Exchange first installed in High Street.
  • 1921: Hailsham War Memorial erected.
  • 1943: Bomb fell near church destroying the Auxiliary Fire Station with the loss of one life.
  • 1951: Four of the Hailsham church bells were re-cast and all the bells re-hung.
  • 1965: Closure of the Cuckoo Railway line north of Hailsham to passenger traffic. Passenger service from Polegate to Hailsham only survived until 1968.
  • 1968: Railway station closes
  • 1974: Hailsham Parish Council adopted the status of Town Council.
  • 1988: Hailsham Town FC reach the last 16 of the FA Vase.
  • 1988: The Quintin's Shopping Centre in North Street opened to the public, named after Quintin Hogg, Baron Hailsham of Marylebone.
  • 1990: Cuckoo Trail opened to walkers, cyclists and horse riders.
  • 2012: Hailsham Market saved from development and operators South East Marts purchases the freehold of the site in Market Street, ending more than 15 years of uncertainty over the market's future.

    Hailsham Museum & Heritage Centre

Glimpses of the town's past are to be found in photographs and artefacts available for viewing at the Heritage Centre in Blackman's Yard, Market Street, which is run by members of the Hailsham Historical and Natural History Society. A small display is available to members of the public including period kitchen, farming and agriculture, local industry and wartime memorabilia.

The Parish of Hailsham

The civic parish of Hailsham is approximately in breadth and from north to south between its extreme points. Its boundary runs from its most northerly limit, near Carter's Corner Place, in a southerly direction around Magham Down, over the Herstmonceux road and crosses the low-lying farmlands, passing close to New Bridge and on across Horse Eye Level to Rickney.
It then turns westwards taking an irregular course over the Glynleigh Level, across the Cuckoo Trail to the main Eastbourne road, continuing northwards along this for about three-quarters of a mile until it goes west and north again to take in some of the woodlands around Cacklebury.
It runs on the west side of the A22 in a northerly direction between Hailsham and the River Cuckmere to Hempstead, where it turns east to meet the A22. It then runs northwards to the point where the Cuckmere crosses the A22 and follows the river eastwards to Horsebridge and the A271.
On an irregular course eastwards, sometimes following the A271 and sometimes to the north of it, until Amberstone where it completes its delineation by a final straight mile along the line of the road to Carter's Corner Place.
This includes the areas, which under the Wealden Parishes Order 1991, were transferred to Hailsham being a large area of Hellingly Parish along with several smaller areas to the east, south and west. A further area of Hellingly Parish was transferred to Hailsham under the Wealden Parishes Order 1993.

Geography and climate

In the county of East Sussex, about from the coast, and between the well-wooded hills of the southern Forest Ridge and the undulating chalk countryside of the South Downs, Hailsham is surrounded by "much attractive and unspoilt scenery". Hailsham is the largest settlement in the southern half of the Wealden district, and the largest inland town in East Sussex with around 8,500 homes and a population of just over 20,000.

Location and accessibility

Hailsham is north of Eastbourne; south of Tunbridge Wells; west of Hastings; and east of the County town of Lewes. London is some away.
  • Road: The A22 from London to Eastbourne passes through the parish north of where it intersects main roads from Kent and West Sussex, including the road through Haywards Heath and Horsham to Guildford, and links with roads from the M25 and the Midlands. Bus services link Hailsham with Lewes and Brighton, Uckfield, Polegate and Eastbourne, Battle, Bexhill and Hastings.
  • Rail: The nearest rail connection to Hailsham is at Polegate. Rail services operate from Eastbourne and Hastings to London, Ashford, Tunbridge Wells, Lewes, Gatwick Airport and Brighton.
  • Air: Airline services operate from Gatwick Airport and Heathrow Airport reached via the M23 and M25 motorways.