| Hailsham | |
Hailsham Town Centre |
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Hailsham
Hailsham shown within East Sussex |
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| Area | 19.4 km2 (7.5 sq mi) [1] |
|---|---|
| Population | 20,500 |
| - Density | 2,652 /sq mi (1,024 /km2) |
| OS grid reference | TQ589093 |
| - London | 61.4 miles (98.8 km) NNW |
| District | Wealden |
| Shire county | East Sussex |
| Region | South East |
| Country | England |
| Sovereign state | United Kingdom |
| Post town | HAILSHAM |
| Postcode district | BN27 |
| Dialling code | 01323 |
| Police | Sussex |
| Fire | East Sussex |
| Ambulance | South East Coast |
| EU Parliament | South East England |
| UK Parliament | Wealden |
| Website | http://www.hailsham-tc.gov.uk/ |
| List of places: UK • England • East Sussex | |
Hailsham is a civil parish and the largest of the five main towns in the Wealden district of East Sussex, England. Mentioned in the Domesday Book, the town of Hailsham has had a long history of industry and agriculture. Whilst the town is undoubtedly moving with the times, it still retains its character as a market town.
The name ‘Hailsham’ is thought to come from the Saxon ‘Haegels Ham’,[2] meaning the cleaning of Haegel, or possibly even 'Aella’s Ham’, the cleaning of Aella the Saxon. The name of the town has changed through the ages to ‘Hamelsham’ (as it was referred to in the Domesday Book), ‘Aylesham’ in the 13th century, to its present spelling in the late 1600s.
[3] The town of Hailsham was settled before the Romans and the Anglo Saxons. In the year 490 A.D., the Saxon invaders advanced along the coast from their original landing place at Selsey and, according to the Saxon Chronicle, attacked and took the British stronghold of Anderida which was the fort the Romans had built at what is now Pevensey, a few miles from Hailsham, thereby consolidating their conquest and forming the small kingdom of the South Saxons, or Sussex.
It was on the Pevensey Levels, which extend from Hailsham to the coast, that William of Normandy made his historic landing in 1066, for, in those days, the seashore was some distance inland - about halfway between Hailsham and the present beach along Pevensey Bay - and the ancient castle stood upon an island amongst the marshes of the River Ashburn.
The manor of Hailsham is recorded in the Domesday Survey completed by the Normans twenty years later.
There was some activity in this part of Sussex during the baronial wars and in the armed rivalry between Matilda and Stephen, the castle at Pevensey being garrisoned and held by opposing sides. Men of Hailsham may have taken part in the important battle of Lewes in 1264 when Simon de Montfort’s victory resulted in the establishment of the first principles of parliamentary representation.[4]
During the seventeenth-century civil war between Charles I and Parliament, Hailsham and this part of Sussex declared against the royalist cause.
Little is known of the town of Hailsham before the 1086 Domesday Book, but evidence of a Roman road from Leap Cross across the Common, indicates some occupation prior to this.
Henry III granted the town a Market Charter in 1252 - 200 years before the discovery of America. Originally, the market was held in the High Street and in Market Square, only moving to its present location in 1868. Sheep and cattle were driven from miles around along the various ancient droves until the arrival of the railway station and motor lorries. Today, the weekly livestock markets, together with the monthly farmers’ market and Friday stall markets continue to serve the town and the wider rural economy.
Glimpses of the town's intriguing past are to be found in photographs and artefacts available for viewing at the Heritage Centre, Blackman’s Yard, Market Street, which is run by members of the Hailsham Historical and Natural History Society. A small but interesting display is available to members of the public including period kitchen, farming and agriculture, local industry and wartime memorabilia. The Centre is open May to September (Fridays and Saturdays from 10.30am-12.30pm).
The civic parish of Hailsham is approximately 3 miles (4.8 km) in breadth and 4 miles (6.4 km) from north to south between its extreme points. Its boundary (going in a clockwise direction) runs from its most northerly limit, near Carter`s Corner Place, in a southerly direction around Magham Down, over the Herstmonceux road and crosses the low-lying farmlands, passing close to New Bridge and on across Horse Eye Level to Rickney.[5]
It then turns westwards taking an irregular course over the Glynleigh Level, across the Cuckoo Trail (former railway line) to the main Eastbourne road (A22), continuing northwards along this for about three-quarters of a mile until it goes west and north again to take in some of the woodlands around Cacklebury.
It runs on the west side of the A22 in a northerly direction between Hailsham and the River Cuckmere to Hempstead where it turns east to meet the A22. It then runs northwards to the point where the Cuckmere crosses the A22 and follows the river eastwards to Horsebridge and the A271.
On an irregular course eastwards, sometimes following the A271 and sometimes to the north of it, until Amberstone where it completes its delineation by a final straight mile along the line of the road to Carter's Corner Place.
This includes the areas, which under the Wealden Parishes Order 1991, were transferred to Hailsham being a large area of Hellingly Parish (the residential areas around Anglesey Avenue, Upper Horsebridge, and Lansdowne Drive) along with several smaller areas to the east, south and west (transferred from Arlington, East Sussex, Hellingly, and Pevensey Parishes). A further area of Hellingly Parish (between the A22 and Anglesey Avenue) was transferred to Hailsham under the Wealden Parishes Order 1993.
Situated in the county of East Sussex, within about 7 miles (11 km) of the coast and between the well-wooded hills of the southern Forest Ridge and the undulating chalk countryside of the South Downs, Hailsham is surrounded by much attractive and unspoilt scenery.[6] Hailsham is already the largest settlement in the southern half of the Wealden district, and the largest inland town in East Sussex with around 8,500 homes and a population of just over 20,000.
Hailsham is 8 miles (13 km) north of Eastbourne; 24 miles (39 km) south of Tunbridge Wells; 18 miles (29 km) west of Hastings; and 14 miles (23 km) east of the County town of Lewes. London is some 57 miles (92 km) away.
Hailsham is ideally situated for ease of access to many of the larger towns of Sussex and the south coast, with their more extensive shopping centres and entertainment facilities, being centrally located within the Eastbourne/Hastings/Tunbridge Wells triangle. It is also within easy reach of airports, Channel ferry terminals, the Channel Tunnel and London.
Hailsham, like other towns in the Wealden district, has a relatively high average daytime temperature, with above high sunshine averages. Rainfall is heaviest during the autumn and early winter months. As South East England is closest to continental Europe, this can result in cold spells in winter and very warm, humid weather during the summer.[7]
| Climate data for Hailsham, England | |||||||||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Month | Jan | Feb | Mar | Apr | May | Jun | Jul | Aug | Sep | Oct | Nov | Dec | Year |
| Average high °C (°F) | 8 (46) |
8 (46) |
10 (50) |
13 (55) |
17 (63) |
19 (66) |
21 (70) |
22 (72) |
19 (66) |
15 (59) |
11 (52) |
8 (46) |
14 (57) |
| Average low °C (°F) | 1 (34) |
1 (34) |
2 (36) |
3 (37) |
6 (43) |
8 (46) |
11 (52) |
11 (52) |
8 (46) |
5 (41) |
2 (36) |
1 (34) |
5 (41) |
| Precipitation mm (inches) | 87.0 (3.425) |
55.0 (2.165) |
52.0 (2.047) |
62.0 (2.441) |
60.0 (2.362) |
52.0 (2.047) |
51.0 (2.008) |
65.0 (2.559) |
71.0 (2.795) |
108.0 (4.252) |
94.0 (3.701) |
95.0 (3.74) |
852.0 (33.543) |
| Avg. rainy days | 24 | 20 | 20 | 19 | 19 | 17 | 17 | 18 | 18 | 21 | 22 | 23 | 238 |
| Source: WorldWeatherOnline.com [8] | |||||||||||||
Hailsham is a relatively safe town, falling below the national average for robbery, burglaries and other criminal offenses.
Local/regional crime figures (statistics are per 1,000 of the population within the local authority (Wealden) area (2008/09) [11]
| Offence | Locally | National average |
|---|---|---|
| Robbery | 0.1 | 1.6 |
| Burglary | 5.0 | 11.1 |
| Criminal damage | 9.7 | 17.4 |
| Drug offences | 1.4 | 4.5 |
| Fraud and forgery | 1.7 | 3.1 |
| Offences against vehicles | 5.3 | 11.1 |
| Sexual offences | 0.5 | 1.0 |
| Violence against the person | 5.8 | 16.8 |
| Other offences | 0.5 | 1.3 |
In Hailsham, there are three tiers of local government which manage between them the majority of local community services and amenities.
At the local level, Hailsham is represented by Hailsham Town Council. The councillors are elected from four wards: Hailsham Central and North Ward (7 seats); Hailsham East Ward (3 seats); Hailsham South and West Ward (10 seats) and Upper Horsebridge Ward (4 seats). The current seat allocation per party is 3 Hailsham Independents, 3 Liberal Democrat and 18 Conservative.[12] As of May 2011, Jeff Bentley-Astor is the current Town Mayor/Chairman and Richard Grocock is the Deputy Town Mayor/Vice-Chairman.
Hailsham is the home of Wealden District Council. District Council Elections are held every four years. Fifty five Councillors in total are elected, six of these from the three wards that make up Hailsham. The May 2011 election returned 47 Conservative, 3 Liberal Democrat, 4 Independent Democrat and 1 No party allegiance/non-group.[13]
The next level of government is the East Sussex County Council with responsibility for Education, Libraries, Social Services, Civil Registration, Trading Standards and Transport. Elections for the County Council are held every four years. For these elections Hailsham is combined with Herstmonceux to return two seats.[14] The 2009 East Sussex County Council election resulted in 29 Conservatives, 13 Liberal Democrats, 4 Labour and 3 Independent, of which the Hailsham and Herstmonceux ward provided two Conservative councillors.[14]
Wealden is the parliamentary constituency that covers Hailsham, much of the Wealden area and parts of Eastbourne, Lewes and Battle. The current serving MP is the Conservative Charles Hendry, who won the seat in the 2001 general election and was re-elected in 2005 and 2010. At European level, Hailsham is represented by the South-East region, which holds ten seats in the European Parliament. The June 2009 election returned 4 Conservative, 2 Liberal Democrat, 2 UK Independence, 1 Labour and 1 Green awarded seats.[15]
Hailsham itself has a long but uneventful history.[16] Many years ago it became the market town for the prosperous surrounding agricultural district and it continues to be so although there are now many local light industrial undertakings.
Hailsham was granted a charter to hold a market in 1252 by King Henry III. There is currently much controversy over the sale of Hailsham Cattle Market and its redevelopment into a supermarket. The land is currently owned by supermarket chain Aldi[17] who plan to build a supermarket on the site, although the amended planning application was rejected by Wealden District Council in November 2007.[18] Should the market close, the nearest alternatives would be in Ashford, Kent or Salisbury, Wiltshire. Local MP Charles Hendry, the National Farmers Union amongst others have spoken out against closure.[19][20] The Public Inquiry lodged by Aldi against the District Council's decision to refuse planning permission commenced on 11 February 2009 and ended on 19 February 2009.
Hailsham's traditional industry was rope making,[21] which included supplying ropes for public hanging to Great Britain and the Colonies.[22] Presently, light industry survives in two large industrial estates to the west of the town, located in Diplocks Way and Station Road, and several smaller ones including those situated in Hackhurst Lane (Lower Dicker) and north of Old Swan Lane, all of which provide a source of employment for local residents.
Whilst being largely rural in character, Hailsham can still boast a variety of local and national shops, restaurants, and several supermarkets throughout the town.
In the past few decades, the main shopping area in Hailsham has developed along the High Street and George Street. A parade of units at St Mary's Walk made a significant contribution to the variety and quality of independently owned retail facilities in Hailsham.
The Quintins development, located beside the longer-established Vicarage Field precinct, was opened to the public in the late 1980s, creating a more central focus for shopping in Hailsham. The shopping centre was named after Quintin Hogg, Baron Hailsham of St Marylebone.[23] At the heart of the centre was the Co-operative (supermarket) until its closure on 15 July 2011. There is a Waitrose supermarket nearby in Vicarage Field, which was previously a Somerfield store.
Another supermarket, Tesco, was granted planning permission for a new store on land in North Street. Building work began in 2007 and the store opened on 3 November 2008.[24] The Tesco plans have been the subject of much debate in the town over the past 15 years, with some local councillors disagreeing with the planned development. Another supermarket, Lidl, also plan to open a supermarket at the new Ropemaker Park development, on the former site of the Marlow Ropes factory.[25] Plans to redevelop the Quintins Centre car park[26] to include provision for a 1,407 square metre food store, additional units to the North Street frontage and a new car park deck have undergone public consultation and been approved by Wealden District Council.
Hailsham competes with nearby towns such as Eastbourne for both convenience goods, (day to day) shopping and higher order durable goods shopping. A retail study commissioned by Wealden District Council for the non-statutory local plan indicated that Hailsham town centre could support around 1,600 square metres net of additional convenience goods floorspace by 2014.[27] The study also indicated that there was scope in expenditure terms for 2,100 square metres net durable goods floor space in the town centre.
Within the main shopping area in Hailsham, as indicated in the Hailsham & Hellingly Masterplan,[28] the Council aims to improve the quality of shopping facilities by encouraging small-scale redevelopments, the refurbishment and annexation of existing premises, and better and more sympathetic shop signs and frontages.
Hailsham Farmers' Market operates on the second Saturday of each month in the Cattle Market located in Market Street, from 9.00am to 12.30pm. Local food producers offer a variety of fresh meat, fruit and vegetables, dairy products, honey, bread, cakes, eggs, pies, and jams and pickles.
Established in 1998, Hailsham Farmers' Market is based in the only active Livestock Market in East and West Sussex, and is living proof that Farmers' Markets are a vital link between the farmer and the consumer all round.
Extensive development has taken place in Hailsham since 1945 by private developers, with the northern part of the town now largely developed right up to the boundary with Hellingly. Wealden planning policies will result in further development in and around Hailsham,[27] together with increased local infrastructure and services. These developments will add growth to the town and could result in an expansion of its amenities once completed.
The Hailsham & Hellingly Masterplan,[28] submitted to Wealden District Council as supplementary planning guidance in 2009, has taken a holistic approach to the town's infrastructure: roads; sewerage and drainage; transport; retail; employment land; housing; healthcare; education and training; leisure, recreation and the arts. Among the Masterplan’s proposals are long-term visualisations for the town's roads, including two major (new) relief roads which would make the High Street and town centre more pedestrian-friendly, a community-based diagnostic and treatment centre with GP surgeries, and a community park/complex.
Hailsham has several primary schools, including Hawkes Farm, Grovelands, Marshlands and White House. In November 2006 two of these, Marshlands and White House, were placed in special measures;[29] both were removed from this category in September 2008, having improved satisfactorily.[30]
The town has one secondary comprehensive school, Hailsham Community College, located in Battle Road, which has achieved a specialist status of sports college. In 2006, Hailsham Community College was awarded the prestigious Sportsmark standard for its work in Physical Education and within the wider community. In June 2007 it gained the Healthy Schools Gold standard, in recognition of its work to support the health and wellbeing of the students.
The town also has an independent secondary school, St. Bede's School.
In Literature, the book "Never Let Me Go" uses Hailsham school as a background.
Various evening institutes in commercial and advanced subjects and handicrafts are also organised locally in Hailsham, according to current demand.
Hailsham is currently under review as an 'innovative project'. The provision of the 'Every Child Matters' agenda in Hailsham has been centred around a co-ordinated project involving all the major primary school heads and secondary school principal along with Sussex Police, Wealden District Council, the Federation of Small Businesses, and East Sussex County Council Social Care representatives. This body is co-ordinating a unified provision with support via a series of working groups, and any new educational provision in Hailsham (i.e. new schools) would be required to be integrated within this project.
(Rank by aggregate performance in English, Maths and Science, relating to the school year 2008/09.[31])
Hailsham is served by four NHS doctors’ practices, one health centre, one physiotherapy unit and four NHS dental practices. Hospitals serving this area are located in Eastbourne, Hastings, Uckfield and Crowborough, and are managed by the East Sussex Hospitals NHS Trust.
With the proposed increase in housing for Hailsham in the next few years, there is a projected growth in the population of approximately 8000 by 2026.[27] As a consequence, the health requirements for the area are likely to be reviewed to meet the extra demands on the services, including the need for new and expanded doctors' surgeries, that will be created by these developments to achieve a qualitative improvement to existing services.
Hailsham is near the junction of two major roads, the A22 road to Eastbourne and the A27 South Coast Trunk Road. Both of them (the latter especially) have frequent congestion and traffic problems due to roundabouts and short single carriageway stretches.
Hailsham is served by Stagecoach Buses on routes that serve the town; and also extend to Eastbourne, Bexhill and Uckfield. Cuckmere Community Bus, an independent charity run by volunteers, provides supplementary bus links into Hailsham to and from neighbouring villages. A Quality Bus Partnership was set up by Hailsham Town Council in November 2011 to drive forward improvements to the planning of bus routes and bus stop networks.
Hailsham used to have a railway station on the Cuckoo Line, running from Polegate to Tunbridge Wells. The line from Polegate was opened in May 1849 and finally closed as part of the Beeching cuts in 1968. The southern 12 miles (19 km) of disused line between Polegate and Heathfield is now a cycleway-footpath known as the Cuckoo Trail. Hailsham Railway station outlived the rest of the Cuckoo Line by three years, the section north of Hailsham closing to passenger traffic in 1965. The track was retained with a weekly freight service until April 1968 when a bridge at nearby hamlet Horsebridge was damaged by a road vehicle. With the whole line due for closure, the damaged railway infrastructure was never repaired.
The closure of the section from Polegate to Hailsham was disputed — British Railways going so far as to admit that the town was growing at the time of closure and that the town would soon outgrow other public transport.[32] Despite this, passenger services finished on 9 September 1968 with the final train, composed of two Diesel Electric Multiple Unit (DEMU) units, leaving Hailsham station to the sound of detonators on the line and the tune of Auld Lang Syne sang by a large crowd who had gathered. After 119 years of railway operation into Hailsham, the line was gone.
Local newspapers include the Hailsham Gazette and the Sussex Express, both published by Johnston Publishing Ltd. The Hailsham music and social scene is also covered in the monthly East Magazine, an independent publication aimed principally at younger people. A similar publication is the more regional Magnet. Both are freely distributed throughout the town.
Hailsham is covered by BBC Sussex, as well as independent stations Heart Sussex (formerly Southern FM) and 107.5 Sovereign FM, which is based in St Mary's Walk.
The Hailsham & District Sports Alliance was set up in 1995 with the objective[35] to unite sports clubs and societies within the Hailsham district, provide support for member clubs, and to promote sport within the town as an essential activity for residents. The Alliance has an active committee which meets regularly to discuss local sporting issues.
There are a number of active sports groups in the town, including:
As part of the planning requirements for the current Welbury and Woodholm Farm development and as outlined in the Hailsham & Hellingly Masterplan [28] proposal, plans to build an additional community sports hall and formal play facilities in Hailsham are being discussed. The new sports facility will accommodate a wider variety of users, meeting the demands of the growing local sports community.
Hailsham is the home of Wealden Brass,[37] a brass band which rehearses at Union Corner Hall. The band was formed in February 1979 and held its first practice in the Church at Vines Cross on the 6th of March 1979.[38] The Hailsham Choral Society, founded in 1961, performs several concerts in Hailsham and neighbouring towns throughout the year.
Four pubs remain in the three streets that make up the triangle of Hailsham Town Centre including: The Grenadier; The Corn Exchange; and The Terminus. The fourth, 'The George', closed in June 2008 due to financial pressures,[39] but reopened in December 2008 under new ownership.[40] The Corn Exchange also operates as a nightclub on weekend nights. In addition, Hailsham has several members' clubs in the town centre including: Slate Base; the Hailsham Memorial Institute and The Hailsham Club (known locally as The Top Club). Local public houses and inns that have vanished over the years include: The Railway Tavern, The Good Intent; The Fox; The Black Horse Inn; The Swan Inn; The Market House; The Cow and The Brewers Arms (formerly the Railway Arms).
Hailsham Pavilion is a Grade II listed cinema and concert hall built in 1921. After remaining empty, it was refurbished in 1993 and reopened in 2000. Hailsham Pavilion was originally opened as a cinema on 28 November 1921 by local Justice A.K. Burtenshaw JP, with The Kid starring and directed by Charlie Chaplin as the first picture.[41]
Following many years of service, Hailsham Pavilion closed as a cinema in 1965. It served as a bingo hall until 1987, before being purchased by Wealden District Council using a Compulsory Purchase Order, after its owners fell into receivership. By 1999, the Hailsham Old Pavilion Society (H.O.P.S.) had raised enough money to restore the old cinema and signed a 31-year lease at a peppercorn rent.
Summerheath Hall also serves regularly as a theatre to Hailsham, and has a long history of being home to amateur dramatic players, whose regular musical and drama performances have been presented there since the early 1930s. A number of other local theatrical and drama groups use the hall as a “theatre” venue for productions on less frequent occasions.
Hailsham has one major fine art gallery, Gallery North in North Street. Since the Gallery North project began in November 2004, they have showcased the work of over 200 artists, organised numerous art workshops, courses and events (including the formation and promotion of Hailsham’s first Arts Festival).
Although Gallery North is supported by Wealden District Council and Hailsham Town Council, they rely on donations, grants, bursaries and sponsorship from various organisations to manage the project. They are a not-for-profit organisation run by unpaid volunteers.
There are a number of voluntary and community groups active in Hailsham ranging from small volunteer-led groups to large well-established charities:
The Hailsham Town Crest was originally designed by a parish councillor (unknown) and adopted by Hailsham Town Council for use on all official documents. It was created by a local resident in the form of a shield, which was presented to the Council, and now hangs in the Town Council offices at The Inglenook in Market Street. The resident responsible for painting the shield was Mr P.V. Collings, a reitired artist assigned to produce work for the Royal Family.
The shield is divided into four sectors.[42] The upper left of these shows the six gold martlets and crown of the armorial bearings of the County of East Sussex. The remaining three quadrants each depict a facet of the town's history or culture.
The upper right shows a sheaf of corn, crook and rake, to illustrate the agricultural and rural connection from which Hailsham derived its status as a market town. The lower right shows a mill, of which Hailsham originally had several of this type - although it is believed that this represents the last surviving mill - Hamlin's Mill in Mill Road (the remains of ancillary buildings can still be seen) and again represents Hailsham's close connection with the farming industry.
Finally, the lower left quadrant depicts a ball of twine and rope "dolly", representing Hailsham's later entry into light industry, in the form of ropemaking, which supported several factories and numerous "ropewalks" within the town's boundaries. These have all but disappeared, with the Marlow Ropes factory in South Road, relocating in 2006.
A main event in the town's calendar is its celebration of Guy Fawkes Night, held annually in October. An average attendance of 3,000+ people descend upon the town centre to witness the event, organised by the Hailsham Bonfire Society.[43] Additional town festivities include the Hailsham Carnival, held each summer and organised by the Lark In The Park Charitable Trust and partner organisations, and various Christmas activities, which have been coordinated by Hailsham Town Council, Hailsham & District Chamber of Commerce, Hailsham Lions' Club, Hailsham Rotary Club and St Wilfrid's Hospice in recent years.
Many older parts of Hailsham have been lost to redevelopment prior to preservation orders being introduced.[2] However, the present town retains a number of buildings which display evidence of antiquity. The houses are mainly Victorian in character with more modern residential developments around the original town centre.
The Twinning Charter between Hailsham and Gournay-en-Bray (a small town in Normandy, France) was originally signed in Hailsham in October 2000 and in Gournay-en-Bray in February 2001, but officially renewed in October 2010 and February 2011 respectively. Whilst the population of the two towns differs considerably (Hailsham c.20,500; Gournay-en-Bray c.5,000), the features and facilities of both towns are quite similar. A number of cultural and host family visits in both directions take place each year.