On Friday evening a number of us met up for a warm-up session in the New Inn on the High Street. It has been known as that since it was built in about 1450!
From the outset everybody got on extremely well and the spirit of togetherness lasted all weekend.
Information and addresses were swapped and new friendships developed over the next 3 days.
On Saturday the meeting started in earnest with a trip to Cuckfield where local Historian Sue Ray gave of her best.
Contrary to the weather forecast the tour of Cuckfield took place in warm and sunny weather. Sue Ray, our knowledgeable guide, stressed that the pronunciation is “Cookfield” as opposed to “Cuckfield”. That clear we went on to learn of the somewhat riotous and more excessive pastimes of our ancestors in that quaint corner of Sussex.
We learnt of the dubious elections that current day residents use to stress their independence. At the Talbot Arms we heard of the spat that existed with a Coaching Inn opposite (now defunct) in the competition to gain the upper hand in trade. Here riots were put down by the local inn keeper but resulted in a troop of soldiers being stationed in the town.
Moving on to the Church Yard Sue told us about the time when it was part of Cuckfield Common and tended by a diligent servant who was shot by the landed gentry as a matter of sport. We viewed the site of what was a rope making area, to be serenaded by a piper, practicing his playing, away from residents - and very nice it was as well.
Sue's Cuckfield Tour
On to what was the local Workhouse where we heard that when under local management it was a humane regime as opposed to the one that was imposed upon it by an outside body. To show their displeasure the local residents serenaded the overseer with a dose of “rough music” (the coming together of assorted pots, pans and other objects to create a cacophony of displeasure). The hint was quickly taken!
On to a glorious building that had been a school but now a form of country club and finally to the local museum. Here we were told about the local bonfire association that used to roll burning tar barrels down the narrow main road to the risk of the buildings on the bend at the bottom, of Princes racing horses to London and back through the narrow streets, of a group of male residents who banded together to fight the French when a beacon was accidentally lit, only to lose their way and come into conflict with some local smugglers. Sue’s dialogue was both informative and witty and much appreciated by those of us who attended this activity.
(Cuckfield article by Eric Davey)
At midday most of us met in the local Scout Hall which was our refreshment and meeting point for the whole weekend. Renate was in charge of the kitchen and served up a sandwich lunch with various liquid refreshments. Thanks must go to her as she was suffering from a heavy cold and was dogged all weekend by a particularly nasty cough.
During the afternoon many of us attended the historical St Lawrence Fair which is always held on the first or second weekend in July.
In the evening a large group contingent turned up at the Scout Hall to take dinner which consisted of a selection of starters and hot meals - again served by Renate and her helpers.
The jolly meeting ended at 10:30pm.
A damp start on Sunday that quickly turned to bright weather. This tour was led by Brian Judge, the director of Hurst Museum. We toured the village to pick out the more famous buildings.
Hurst Tour
The old brewery now stands as a pleasant, whitewashed terraced housing complex with the old brewery advertisement still displayed on one wall, albeit peeling somewhat. On to a pleasant terraced avenue that once sported tied cottages with a communal wash house. The current site is a well kept road with pretty open planned front gardens.
Further on we were to see a house that sported real live peacocks, fed and encouraged by a local resident much to the annoyance of other residents in the area. A Baptist Chapel converted to a house; the White Horse Inn, much as it was in 1591, Policemans Walk (so called because the local policeman used to lodge there) with the beautiful Cowdrays Cottage, old tied cottages derelict in 1890s, now renovated with a fabulous view over a valley to the South Downs beyond.
Cowdray's Cottage
In the High Street we were shown several old properties that had once been the homes of the local landed gentry and were still in good order. Here we saw the buildings that housed a school for domestic servants, the old fire station and the site of now defunct businesses that made up the life of this pretty village. One business still thriving was the old public house, the New Inn. The hub of any old community was the church and we were shown the Holy Trinity Church, built between 1843-1845 to replace the St Lawrence church that had been declared to small to house the good and godly of Hurstpierpoint.
Brian’s informative commentary had given us all an insight to the way our ancestors had worked, played and prayed.
(Hurst tour article by Eric Davey)
The Hurst tour finished at 11:00 am in front of Little Park - the former home of Thomas Marchant the diarist from 1678 until his death in 1728.
Little Park
This property has been in the caring hands of Sonja and Kitt Kernon for the last 3 years and they have lavished much love on it. History enthusiasts themselves they were kind enough to receive some 30 people into their home only 10 hours after arriving home from holiday.
In turns they lectured us on Little Park and the demands it makes on them. They revealed that when they bought the house they had no idea what a financial burden it would become. Luckily for posterity and people like us they are extremely sensitive to the needs of the house and employ Annabel Hughes as a permanent expert adviser on what maintenance and restoration is necessary.
3 cousins, 2 spouses with Kitt and Sonja
Recently this has involved renewing the back part of the roof after first installing a quarter of ton of oak which had to be specially manufactured as old oak beams in the girth needed are not available. Normal "run-of-the-mill" oak beams used for repairs in other parts of the house have to be imported from France where gypsies run the trade.
With a great eye to fine detail they have bricks and nails etc specially manufactured.
At lunchtime the group separated and made independent arrangements for lunch.
The MSR Group in front of Little Park
Later most of us met up again at Danny where we were received by the owner, HHSG member, Richard Burrows. (Unfortunately my digital camera failed at this point so we have no record of Danny - if anybody has digital pictures of our visit please contact me)
Richard shows the same keenness and dedication as his friends Sonja and Kitt in maintaining this beautiful mansion set at the foot of the South Downs.
He took on the house a few years ago and transformed it into a luxury retiremnt home for its 25 occupants. Renate and I were lucky enough to stay overnight in one of the guest rooms and can vouch for the wonderful club type atmosphere and charming staff.
During the afternoon visit Richard gave us a fascinating potted history of the manor originally built by the Dacre family. Later it was to offer a country retreat to Prime Minister Lloyd George who sometimes held quite crucial cabinet meetings there. Winston Churchill was also a visitor.
After the lecture we were taken on a tour of the house and were even allowed to enter the private apartments of two residents in order to see the historical features and the personal stamp that they had put on their apartments.
This was followed by tea and cake in the walled garden made possible by the sudden weekend change in weather.
The weekend ended with a final dinner in the Scout Hall. Renate was not under as much stress this evening as we were a very small intimate group, most delegates having already left for home.
All in all - apart from a few blips for which I was responsible - the weekend went well and was enjoyed by all.
Tony Bower
