Forest Row

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Map sources for Forest Row at grid reference TQ423350

East Sussex Portal

Forest Row is a large village with approximately 5,500 inhabitants. It is a civil parish in the northwestern corner of the Wealden District of East Sussex, England, close to the West Sussex, Kent and Surrey borders. The village draws its name from its proximity to the Ashdown Forest. It is located three miles (5km) south-east of East Grinstead. The A22 road runs through the village.

1 Village Centre
2 History and Development
3 Religion
4 Literary Connections
5 Education
6 Business
7 Architecture
8 Trivia and Incidents of Historical Interest
9 Leisure and Culture
10 Famous Residents
11 References
12 External links

[edit] Village Centre

The main hub of the village lies at the intersection of the A22 and the B2110 (Hartfield Rd) where the usual assortment of local shops, facilities, and services can be found close to the centre:

[edit] History and Development

From the 1200's the Ashdown Forest was the King's deer and wild boar hunting park. King's hunting lodges were built to accommodate the hunting parties. A wild boar was found dead in 2003 suggesting these dangerous, fanged, beasts could re-establishing themselves in Ashdown Forest[1]. The village itself dates back to the 14th century.

[edit] Religion

The parish church, dedicated to the Holy Trinity, is one of five churches. The others are Our Lady of the Forest (Roman Catholic); a Baptist chapel; Providence church; and the cemetery chapel.

[edit] Literary Connections

The village features in several famous pieces of literature. The Brambletye Inn was frequented by Sir Arthur Conan Doyle and features in the Adventure of Black Peter when Sherlock Holmes and Dr Watson stay at the hotel in Forest Row whilst they investigate the murder of a retired sea captain.

The village's ruin, Brambletye House (known locally as Brambletye Castle) was built by Sir Henry Compton in 1631. This building features in the 1826 Horace Smith novel: Brambletye House.

The Winnie the Pooh stories are based near the village and neighbouring Hartfield. Near Forest Row is Poohsticks Bridge where Poohsticks was first played.

[edit] Education

A number of institutions associated with the Anthroposophical movement of Rudolph Steiner are located in or near the village, notably Michael Hall School and Emerson College. The town also houses a state school: Forest Row Church of England School.

[edit] Business

As well as the large number of at Forest Row's centre, there is an industrial estate housing more businesses as well as offices and other companies at various locations throughout the village.

[edit] Architecture

The village's architecture is a mixture of traditional and modern. As well as many cottages in the classic style of Sussex there are a variety of more modern developments which fit in well with this village's look and personality. Gage Close is an example of the quirkier side of the village - it has very unusual and distinctive houses with copper rooves that are very green indeed.

The village hall, at the centre of the village, is quite distinctive in its style. It has an almost Germanic and British look to it.

[edit] Trivia and Incidents of Historical Interest

There are several hotels in the village including The Brambletye, The Chequers Inn and Ashdown Park Hotel and Country Club. The Chequers Inn was built around 1452, and was hot bed of smuggling. The Ashdown Park Hotel and Country Club was partly closed during the 2006 radiation scare surrounding KGB agent Alexander Litvinenko [2]. Italian security expert Mario Scaramella may have stayed there but tests showed no evidence of "radiation toxicity".

A mail coach robbery occurred at the bottom of Wall Hill on June 27th 1801. John Beatson and his adopted son William Whalley Beatson hid in a meadow at the foot of Wall Hill, by the entrance to an old Roman road. The mail coach made its way up Wall Hill, where it was stooped by them just after midnight. The Beatsons took between £4,000 and £5000. Judge Baron Hotham sentenced the two men to death by hanging at the trial on March 29th 1802. Gallows were erected on the spot where the robbery took place, on April 17th 1802. Beatson and his adopted son were hung until dead in the presence of 3,000 people. This was to be one of the last public hangings to take place in England. [3] This historic event is commemorated in the village to this day. The second Saturday in April traditionally sees members of the community dress as coach robbers and stop passing travellers. Instead of robbing them, they offer them favours of sugar coated almonds and wish them a safe passing. A village fayre is held and the event culminates in a bonfire on the village green where effigies of the villains are burned. This is followed by fireworks.

John F. Kennedy, the 35th President of the United States, came to Forest Row in 1963 during his visit to the UK, attending a service at the Our Lady of the Forest church. At the time he was engaged in a series of discussions with the Prime Minister Harold Macmillan at his home in nearby Birchgrove.

[edit] Leisure and Culture

The Worth Way, a disused-railway line, leads from the village to East Grinstead. In the other direction is The Forest Way which is a 10 mile (14.5 km) route towards Groombridge. Both are fairly flat making them ideal as leisurely cycle routes and a bridal-paths.

As well as walking and exploring in Ashdown Forest, you can also play golf there. The large Royal Ashdown Forest Golf Club was established in 1889 and has two courses.

Clubs and societies include:

Forest Row Dramatic Society
The Scapegoat Society [4]
Forest Row Cricket Club
Forest Row Football Club
Forest Row Junior Football Club
Anderida Golfers
Weir Wood Sailing Club
Ashdown Pantomimers
The Binkell-Bing Magic Club
Ashdown Forest Conservators
Forest Row Film Society
One Planker Club: Snowboarding and Monoskiing trips organised to Alpes each winter
Jupiter Chamber Orchestra

Forest Row is famous locally for alternative ways of life. The Steiner Schools and Four Seasons Shop are just two examples. The Village has many practising alternative therapists and two organic farms. Yoga classes are available in the village.