Cuckfield, Sussex

Description
Cuckfield, a small town and a parish in Susses. The town stands on an eminence, 2 miles W by N of Haywards Heath station on the L.B. & S.C.R., and 12 NNW of Lewes; commands a fine view over the Weald ; and has a post, money order, and telegraph office under Haywards Heath, two chief inns, a parish church, three dissenting chapels, and a workhouse. The church ranges from Early English to Perpendicular, has an Early English tower, and contains monuments by Flaxman and Westmacott. There are two mission rooms, the drill hall of the 2nd Sussex Volunteers, and a club-room. Markets used to be held on Fridays, but were recently transferred to Haywards Heath. The parish comprises 11,275 acres; population of the civil parish, 5730; of the ecclesiastical, 2496. The manor belonged to Earl Warrenne, and passed to the Earls of Arundel. Cuckfield Place is the seat of the Sergison family; dates from the end of the 16th century ; and was the original of Ainsworth's l< Rookwood Hall." Ockenden House was the residence of Timothy Burrell and Sir William Burrell the antiquary. There are several fine residences in the neighbourhood. Leigh Pond covers about 50 acres, and is a resort of wild fowl. Freestone has been largely quarried. The living is a vicarage in the diocese of Chichester; value, £375 with residence. Patron, the Bishop of Chichester. The vicarages of Staplefield Common and Haywards Heath are separate.