However the best option, in my opinion,
is the delicious Thai food served up at
the Stand Up Inn - freshly made, good
portion sizes and the tastiest meal you
could hope to have. Wash it all down
with some good local ales (my husband
assures me…) and play some Toads
– something the Lewes residents will
appreciate.
…it’s because of the location
Lindfield is situated on the outskirts of
Haywards Heath, a commuting hotspot
to Brighton and London. The transport
links are excellent – London Victoria is
only 45 minutes away and you can also
get direct trains to St Pancras, London
Bridge and even Bedford. On a direct
train you can find yourself in Brighton in
14 minutes and Gatwick Airport is only
one stop away. Having lived in the middle
of nowhere and on the coast in Bexhill,
from which it takes 2.5 hours to get to
London Victoria, it is a real treat having
such good links to London. We can enjoy
our trips safe in the knowledge that we
will only wait up to 20 minutes for a train
home from London Victoria.
The village and surrounding areas
form part of the High Weald Area of
Outstanding Natural Beauty - great for a
stroll with or without a dog, particularly
in the autumn months. Only 10 minutes
up the road is the South of England
showground (although we are still yet
to visit the South of England Show)
and Wakehurst Place - the most visited
National Trust establishment in the entire
country.
For us the location is perfect as my
husband’s family live in Bexhill and mine
remain in the sticks in Haslemere - we
are conveniently situated an equidistance
from them both, which keeps everyone
happy. We have a very easy 25 minute
drive to Lewes where we both work and
whilst we complain that the journey can
be a little dull, we are lucky enough never
to hit any traffic.
…it’s because of the history
I must admit, when I started writing this
article I wasn’t particularly clued up on
the history of Lindfield, but now I know
more I, of course, love its history.
Apparently, the High Street follows an
ancient track running from the north
to the south and the village was given
its name in the Saxon times (as far
back as 765AD) when it was known as
‘Lindefeldia’ meaning ‘open land with
lime trees’ – hence, I suspect, the naming
of the Limes Bistro on the High Street.
King Edward III (after whom the village
hall is named) recognised the importance
of medieval Lindfield and in 1343 granted
When I say I live in Lindfield the usual response I
get is ‘oh, the one with the pond?’…yes, that’s
the one.”
the town a royal charter to hold a market
every Thursday and two annual fairs.
The fairs continued every April and
August with the summer fair becoming
one of the largest sheep sales in Sussex
– I am glad that the village takes its
annual Summer Fayre almost equally as
seriously in modern times.
Lindfield was once part of the thriving
Wealden iron industry and rumour has it
that iron ore was once extracted in the
village. In 1841 the London-Brighton
railway opened to the west of the village
and a station for Cuckfield and Lindfield
on open land that was to become the
town of Haywards Heath. In 1866 the
construction of the Ouse Valley branch
line reached Lindfield with a proposed
station to the north of All Saints’ Church
(a magnificent church situated at the top
of the High Street) but the line was later
abandoned.
In the early part of the 19th century burial
grounds were provided by the church.
However, the churchyard at Lindfield
became so full that new burials were
being dug on top of existing graves. The
government, recognising the widespread
problem, passed the Burial Acts of 1852
and 1853 and Walstead Burial Ground
was thereafter created, complete with an
entry lodge and mortuary chapels which
can still be seen today - we shall be
paying them a visit.
Lindfield ranks extremely highly on the
prettiness scale and I once read that it
is perceived by outsiders as having a
‘professional pride in its appearance’
– I am sure that this is in no small part
down to the work of the long established
Lindfield Horticultural Society. It has
won the Best Kept Village in Sussex
award many times – in fact, it was
winning so often that the powers that
be were persuaded to withdraw from
the competition to ‘give other villages a
chance’!
At the top of the High Street is Old Place
which used to be one very large house
owned by Charles Eamer Kempe, a
leading church stained glass designer
and manufacturer and where he lived
until his death in 1907. I have been
fortunate enough to visit Old Place
and seen the stunning stained glass
windows he installed during his period
of ownership. He must have been a
quirky character as the East Wing of the
house sports a galleon on its roof. Yes,
that’s right. A makeshift ship. On the
roof. I have boarded the galleon and can
confirm that the view is outstanding!
If you would like any further information
on the history of Lindfield then I would
recommend that you contact the
Lindfield History Group – you could even
become a member.
…it’s because it is Lindfield
After a relatively short time of living in
Lindfield, it has a very special place in
my heart and I hope to live here for many
more years. Whilst I love working in
Lewes, I love to come home to Lindfield
and I feel very lucky to call it my home.
In fact, after spending much time writing
this article, I think I will wander up the
High Street this weekend and treat
myself to a ploughman’s.
By Joanna Wooller
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