22 Jul 2006
Transcribed by Carol Harrison
CHIDDINGLY is an extensive parish and village, 10 miles east from Lewes, 7 south-east from Uckfield, 5 north from Hailsham, 3.5 from Berwick railway station, and 51 by road from London, in the hundred of Shiplake, West Firle Union, county court district and archdeaconry of Lewes, rape and deanery of Pevensey, East Sussex, Chichester Diocese. Chiddingly Place, the Chapel of which is now used as a barn, is a very ancient mansion. The church (name unknown) is near the centre of the parish; it is an ancient structure in the Decorated style of the 13th century, having a square stone tower with four pinnacle, from which, rising to an altitude of 128 feet, is a very elegant spire; in the tower are 6 good bells; the body of the church has been restored and repaired by voluntary contributions. There are several monuments in the church, one of a stately and capacious character, erected to the memory of Sir John Jefferay, knt., Lord chief Baron of the Exchequer, the then Lord of Chiddingly Place, who died in 1578; it is 18 feet in height and 12 in breadth, raised on a pedestal of Sussex marble. The area is 4297 acres, and the population in 1861 was 992. The living is a vicarage, value £158 per annum, in the patronage of the Dowager Countess Amherst; The Rev. James Henry Vidal, M.A., of St John’s College, Cambridge, is the vicar. The register begins in the year 1625. Here is a national school, supported by voluntary subscriptions. Fuller Meyrick, Esq., who is a large landowner, receives the great tithes. The Earl of Chichester, the Dowager Lady Amherst, John Fell and John Day, Esqrs., Mr David Guy and Mr Reeves, are landowners.
PARK FARM is a half mile east; Frights, half a mile north; Hale Green, 1 mile north-east; Cole Harbour, 1.5 miles north-west; Whitesmith, 1 mile west; Hilders and Cheswell, 1 mile north-east; Muddles Green, half a mile south; Peak Hill, 1.5 miles south-east; Burghill, 1 mile south; Broad Oak, 1.5 miles south.
The DICKER is a common, 1.5 miles south, consisting of 1000 acres, and containing 491 inhabitants, partly in the parishes of Chiddingly, Arlington and Hellingly. At the ‘Bat and Ball’ on the Dicker, is held annually, on the 23rd July, a large sheep fair. There are several hop growers in this parish, and the earth on the Dicker is famous for bricks.
Private Residents
Brown Mr Matthew, Elm Cottage, Lower Dicker
Collins Mrs, Muddles Green
Rymer John D Esq. On the Low. Dicker
Vidal Rev. Jas. Henry, M.A. Vicarage
Whichelo Mr John Ayers, on the Dicker
Commercial
Akehurst Geo. Shopkeeper and whitesmith
Carpenter Geo. Miller, Low. Dicker mill
Clapson George, Butcher
Cottingham Christopher, boot and shoemaker, The Street
Deadman Edward, farmer, The Islands
Dempster Augsts. G. farmer. Farley’s Farm
Dunk Isaac, farmer, near ‘Bat and Ball’
Elam Valance, farmer, Burghill
Gibbs Gideon, farmer and hop grower, Strood Farm
Goldsmith James, Gun, and farmer
Guy John, brickmaker, on the Dicker
Guy David, farmer & hop grower, Chiddingly Place
Guy Silas, wheelwright, Muddles Green
Guy Thos. Brickmaker, on the Dicker
Hide Henry, farmer, Peak Farm
Holman David, farmer, Peak Hill
Hunt James, farm bailiff to Mr Richardson, Birch’s Farm
Knight James, carpenter, on the Lower Dicker
Lower Richd. Land surveyor, Muddles grn
Noakes James, grocer, draper, provision dealer & sub-postmaster, The Street
Page Peter, Bat & Ball
Pierce Thomas, shopkeeper, Muddles Green
Reeves Robert, miller, farmer and hop grower, Stream Mill
Russell Charles, tailor and draper, The Street, & at East Hoathly
Siggs Samuel, farmer, Lower Dicker farm
Rymer John D. surgeon, on the Lower Dicker
Simmonds Thomas, farmer, Nash Street
Smith Peter, farmer, Easterfield
Swanton Henry, farmer, Hilders Farm
Swanton Robert, farmer & hop grower, Frith’s Farm
Thatcher John, farmer & hop grower Park farm
Thorpe Wm. Farmer, on the Lower Dicker
Vine John, Six Bells, The Street
Westgate James, Golden Cross, farmer & carrier, on the Lower Dicker
White Benjamin, brick & tile maker, & farmer, Lower Dicker brickyard
White James, blacksmith, on the Lower Dicker
Wickens Geo. Miller, Lower Dicker mill
POST OFFICE – James Noakes, sub-postmaster. Letters received through Hurst Green arrive at 8am; box closes at 7pm. The nearest money order office is at Hailsham.
Parish Clerk, Trayton White, Street
National School, Trayton White, master; Mrs Elizabeth Ann White, mistress.
CARRIER TO LEWES. – James Westgate, from ‘Golden Cross’, on the Lower Dicker.
22 Jul 2006 | Transcribed by Carol Harrison |
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