Hailsham

Coordinates: 50°52′N 0°16′E / 50.86°N 0.26°E / 50.86; 0.26

Hailsham
Hailsham Town Centre
Hailsham  Hailsham shown within East Sussex
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.

Etymology

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.

History

^[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.

Market town status

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.

Dates of significance

• 1154 to 1189: Sir Richard Covert of Bradbridge was Lord of the "Manor of Haylesham".
• 1228: Advowson of "Haylesham Church" granted to Michelham Priory.
• 1234: Salt pan workings extracted salt from the tidal waters (hence, the areas of Saltmarsh and Marshfoot).
• 1252: Henry III granted Market Charter to the Royal favourite, Peter of Savoy.
• 1263: Gilbert, son of Gilbert Godseb drowned while bathing in "Haylesham Pond" (now known as the Common Pond.)
• 1264: Benedict the Jew of "Heylesham" was "outlawed" (much as Robin Hood would have been) for clipping the King’s coin.
• 1399 to 1413: Troy weights were introduced to the Market. Early consumer protections move.
• 1425 to 1450: St Mary’s Church, Hailsham built (present structure).
• 1540 to 1640: Hailsham was one of the chief centres of leatherwork and tanning (using local oak bark) due to being a thriving cattle market town.
• 1542: Fleur-de-Lys Inn built in Market Street (later to be the Parish Workhouse, and now Town Council Offices).
• 1559: Uprising of the inhabitants of Hailsham who burnt part of the church.
• 1581: Manor of "Haylesham" granted to Gregory, Lord Dacre of Herstmonceux.
• 1603: James VI of Scotland declared King of England - probably from the market cross in Market Square in "Haylysham".
• 1663: First five bells cast for Hailsham Church at Bellbanks (Common Pond) by John Hodson.

• 1708: Hailsham Vicarage built next to Parish Church (now known as "The Grange").
• 1800: The Stone Cross in Market Square removed as being an obstacle to carts and wagons.
• 1803: Barracks established on Hailsham Common (between Summerfields Road and London Road) to house troops for the war with France (dismantled in 1815 after success at Battle of Waterloo).
• 1803: Grenadier Inn in High Street also built to meet needs of troops.
• 1804: "Newhouse" built in George Street (later to be renamed "Cortlandt").
• 1807: Rope making started by Thomas Burfield.
• 1827: National School built in South Road, Hailsham to replace one held in the Church by churchwarden Francis Howlett.
• 1836: New "Union" Workhouse built at junction of Hellingly and Hailsham parish boundaries (serving needs of 12 parishes).
• 1849: Hailsham Station and railway service to Polegate opened.
• 1855: As a result of an Enclosure Award on Hailsham Common, the Recreation Ground in Western Road was created.
• 1862: Hailsham Infants’ School built in the High Street (at the junction with North Street).
• 1868: Market ceased to be held in High Street/Market Square - moved to new walled-in site in Market Street.
• 1878: Hailsham Board School built in Battle Road (now Hailsham Community College).

• 1880: Railway line extended northwards to Heathfield and Tunbridge Wells.
• 1885: Water Works Company started supply from springs at Magham Down.
• 1894: Austens gun shop burnt down where Victoria Gate now stands.
• 1895: First Parish Council elections.
• 1906: Hailsham Church obtained first pipe organ.
• 1907: Telephone Exchange first installed in High Street.
• 1921: Hailsham War Memorial erected.
• 1943: Bomb fell near church destroying the Auxiliary Fire Station with the loss of one life.
• 1951: Four of the Hailsham church bells were re-cast and all the bells re-hung.
• 1965: Closure of the Cuckoo line to passenger traffic.
• 1974: Hailsham Parish Council adopted the status of Town Council.
• 1986: Major improvement works carried out to the 1.86 acre Common Pond site began, including the creation of a second central island.
• 1988: The Quintin’s Shopping Centre in North Street opened to the public, named after Quintin Hogg, Baron Hailsham of Marylebone.
• 1990: Cuckoo Trail opened to walkers, cyclists and horse riders.
• 1993: The Hailsham Pavilion Cinema & Theatre refurbished.
• 2000: The Hailsham Pavilion Cinema & Theatre re-opened to the public via funds raised by the Hailsham Old Pavilion Society (H.O.P.S.) to restore the old cinema. A 31-year lease was signed at a peppercorn rent.
• 2007: Planning applications for the construction of an Aldi supermarket at the historic Hailsham Cattle Market site rejected by Wealden District Council.
• 2012: Hailsham Market saved from development and operators South East Marts purchases the freehold of the site in Market Street, ending more than 15 years of uncertainty over the market’s future.

Hailsham Museum & Heritage Centre

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 Parish of Hailsham

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, 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.

Geography and climate

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.

Location and accessibility

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.

• Road: Hailsham is directly reached by road as the A22 from London to Eastbourne passes through the parish where it intersects main roads from Kent and from West Sussex (A27), including the road through Haywards Heath and Horsham to Guildford, and links with roads from the M25 and Midlands. Bus services link Hailsham with Lewes and Brighton, Uckfield, Polegate and Eastbourne, Battle, Bexhill and Hastings.

• Rail: The nearest rail connections to Hailsham are at Polegate station. Rail services operate from Eastbourne and Hastings to London, Ashford, Tunbridge Wells, Lewes, Gatwick Airport and Brighton.

• Air: Airline services operate from Gatwick Airport (near Crawley) whilst Heathrow Airport is reached via the M23 and M25 motorways.

Climate

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]

Demography and statistics

Parish

• Area: Approximately 5,000 acres.
• Population: Approximately 20,500. The published Electoral Roll for 1999/2000 shows 14,873 recorded electors (the remainder being school children and young persons under voting age).
• Residential Rates: (Council Tax): For the year 2013-2014 this varies from Band A @ £1,111.55, through Band D @ £1,667.33, to Band H @ £3,334.66.^[9]
• Average House Price: For the year 2012, £200,463^[10]

Crime

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

Governance and administration

In Hailsham, there are three tiers of local government which manage between them the majority of local community services and amenities.

Town

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 15 Conservative, 4 Hailsham Independents, 3 Liberal Democrat and 2 No party allegiance/non-group.^[12] Jo Bentley was elected Town Mayor/Chairman in November 2012 and Michael Ryan is the Deputy Town Mayor/Vice-Chairman.

District

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]

County

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]

Parliament

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]

Economy

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.

Industry and commerce

Hailsham was granted a charter to hold a market in 1252 by King Henry III. From 1997 to 2012, there was much controversy over the sale of Hailsham Cattle Market and its redevelopment into a supermarket. The land freehold was, until being sold to market operator South East Marts in January 2012,^[17] was owned by supermarket chain Aldi^[18] who planned to build a supermarket on the site, although the amended planning application was rejected by Wealden District Council in November 2007.^[19] Should the market have closed as a result of development, the nearest alternatives would have been in Ashford, Kent or Salisbury, Wiltshire. Local MP Charles Hendry, the National Farmers Union among others spoke out against closure.^[20][21] and 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,^[22] which included supplying ropes for public hanging to Great Britain and the Colonies.^[23] Currently, 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.

Shopping and retail

While 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.^[24] 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.^[25] 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.^[26] Plans to redevelop the Quintins Centre car park^[27] 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.

Potential new retail developments

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.^[28] 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,^[29] 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 Forward

Following a government-commissioned report compiled by television’s ‘Queen of Shops’ Mary Portas, Hailsham Town Council and the local Chamber of Commerce took the decision in September 2012 to form a Town Team (Hailsham Forward), which was set up to take a closer look at ways to revitalise the town’s High Street and surrounding urban environment, increase footfall and spend within the town.^[30]

Hailsham Forward's key actions for the next five years include a pedestrian-friendly High Street, parking time restrictions, the creation of loading bays in the town centre, a review of business rates and shop rents, improvements to shop frontages and signage, and the attraction and retention of a broader diversity of retail outlets (independent national/chain) to fill empty retail units in the town centre.^[31]

Hailsham Street Market

One of the Hailsham Town Team's main initiatives since it was established in 2012 was the establishment of a regular town centre market. The market, which is based in Vicarage Field, is open between 9.30am and 3pm every Saturday except for the second week of the month whereby the market takes place on the Thursday.

Hailsham Farmers' Market

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.

Housing and development

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,^[28] 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,^[29] 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.

Education

Primary

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;^[32] both were removed from this category in September 2008, having improved satisfactorily.^[33]

Secondary

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, Bede's School, formerly St Bede's School.

In literature, the book "Never Let Me Go" uses the fictional Hailsham school as a background, although filming was done at Ham House, Surrey.^[34]

Other

Various evening institutes in commercial and advanced subjects and handicrafts are also organised locally in Hailsham, according to current demand.

Current coordination of education

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.

Primary school performance tables

(Rank by aggregate performance in English, Maths and Science, relating to the school year 2008/09.^[35])

• Grovelands Community Primary School: 256 (89 curriculum eligible pupils)
• Hawkes Farm Primary School: 245 (60 curriculum eligible pupils)
• White House Primary School: 223 (31 curriculum eligible pupils)
• Marshlands Primary School: 200 (17 curriculum eligible pupils)
• Park Mead Primary School: 213 (16 curriculum eligible pupils)

Healthcare

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.^[28] 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.

Transport

Road

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, extending 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. The Hailsham Bus Alliance was set up by Hailsham Town Council in January 2012 to drive forward improvements to the planning of bus routes and bus stop networks.

Railways

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.^[36] 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.

Media

Print

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.

Radio

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.

Sport and recreation

Notable teams

• Hailsham Town Football Club play in the first division of the Sussex County Football League, and are currently managed by Kenny McCreadie,^[37] who returned to the club in November 2009 six months after leaving by mutual consent. The club, known as "The Stringers", had their biggest success in 1989 when they reached the fifth round of the FA Vase, losing to Hungerford Town at the Beaconsfield in front of a record crowd of 1,350.^[38]

• Hailsham Cricket Club is one of the oldest in East Sussex having been established in 1871. The club has been playing at their ground on Western Road in Hailsham ever since, and have on a number of occasions throughout their history won championship awards. Today, the club fields four Saturday teams and a weekday twenty20 team, as well as a number of junior teams.

Hailsham & District Sports Alliance

The Hailsham & District Sports Alliance ^[39] was set up in 1995 with the objective 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.

Leisure facilities

• The Maurice Thornton Playing Field in the east of the town and provides additional facilities for football (junior and senior), as well as stoolball and athletics.

• The 'Freedom Leisure Centre' recreation complex, located near the town centre, has facilities including a gym and swimming pool (with a flume and water slide). Several ten-pin bowling lanes were added in 2006. Hailsham Outdoor Bowling Club is based at the rear of the complex.

• Knockhatch Adventure Park provides a variety of leisure pursuits on a large complex including a ski and snowboard centre, birds of prey centre, tractor and trailer rides, boating lake, crazy golf and other activities. It is understood that there are plans to increase this operation in the future.

• The Arlington Speedway/Stadium, situated just outside Hailsham, is a well attended 350 yard long concrete oval motor racing track. Racing normally takes place on a weekly basis and more frequently throughout the summer months.

Leisure activities

• Fishing is permitted in season at the Hailsham Country Park lake, off Gleneagles Drive. Horse riding is popular in Hailsham and there are several livery stables in the area.

• For walkers and ramblers, there are numerous footpaths, woodlands, riverside and field walks in the Hailsham district. Information on suitable routes may be obtained from the Hailsham Town Council and Wealden District Council offices. There is an active branch of Ramblers (formerly known as the Ramblers' Association) in Hailsham, which organises a weekly series of walks.

• The local authorities promote^[40] cycling, and there is opportunity for safe cycling along the Cuckoo Trail, which runs through Hailsham and connects to Tunbridge Wells, Heathfield and Polegate.

Sports clubs and groups

There are a number of active sports groups in the town, including:

• Hailsham Town Football Club
• Hailsham Cricket Club
• Hailsham Tennis Club
• Hailsham Hockey Club
• Hailsham Harriers (Running Club)
• Hailsham Equestrian Club
• Hailsham Ramblers

Proposed new sports facilities

As part of the planning requirements for the current Welbury and Woodholm Farm development and as outlined in the Hailsham & Hellingly Masterplan ^[29] 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.

Entertainment and culture

Hailsham is the home of Wealden Brass,^[41] 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 6 March 1979.^[42] The Hailsham Choral Society, founded in 1961, performs several concerts in Hailsham and neighbouring towns throughout the year.

Three pubs remain in the three streets that make up the triangle of Hailsham Town Centre, The Grenadier; The Corn Exchange; The Third being 'The George', closed in June 2008 due to financial pressures,^[43] but reopened in December 2008 under the new ownership of pub chain J.D. Wetherspoon.^[44] 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

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.^[45]

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. In 2012 the film The Moo Man had its first ever screening at the Pavilion.

Summerheath Hall

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.

Gallery North

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.

Voluntary and community groups

There are a number of voluntary and community groups active in Hailsham ranging from small volunteer-led groups to large well-established charities:

Clubs and societies

• Hailsham Theatres
• Hailsham & District Twinning Association
• Hailsham Bonfire Society
• Hailsham Old Pavilion Society (H.O.P.S.)
• Hailsham Historical & Natural History Society
• Hailsham In Bloom
• Hailsham Horticultural Society
• Hailsham & District Flower Club
• Hailsham & District Bird Club
• Hailsham Photographic Society
• Hailsham Choral Society
• Hailsham & District U3A
• Hailsham Trefoil Guild
• 249 Millennium Squadron (Air Training Corps)

Charities

• Computers For Charities (CfC)
• East Sussex Association of Blind and Partially Sighted People (ESAB)
• Anchor Staying Put
• The Quicken Trust
• Charles Hunt Centre (Age Concern)

The Town Crest

The Hailsham Town Crest was originally designed by a parish councillor 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.^[46] 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.

Local traditions and festivals

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.^[47] Additional town festivities include the Hailsham Carnival, held each summer and organised by the Lark In The Park Charitable Trust and partner organisations, an annual Charter Market 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.

Sites of interest

Buildings and architecture

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.

• War memorial - The High Street's war memorial was unveiled on 28 November 1920 by Lord Leconfield, the then Lord Lieutenant of the County. It records the loss to the community of the eighty-six men killed in World War I and a further thirty-five lost during the Second World War. The memorial comprises a wheel cross with Celtic lettering under which the names of the dead are listed on two tablets.
• St Mary's Church - St Mary’s Church is a grade-listed building and dates back to the early 15th century, although there is evidence of a church on this site in the early 13th century. The building was substantially rebuilt in Victorian times. Five of the peal of eight bells date from 1663 and three from 1889. The present clock was installed to celebrate Queen Victoria’s Diamond Jubilee.
• The Old Vicarage - Now ‘The Grange’, the Old Vicarage was built 1701-1705 for the Reverend Thomas Hooper as a vicarage for the adjacent church. The architectural style of the house exemplifies what many refer to as the Mary-Anne style which reflect the Dutch domesticity of the William and Mary period, combined with the more grand and formal style of the Queen Anne period, is an early 18th-century residence and a Grade II listed building.
• Fleur de Lys and Inglenook - The ‘Fleur de Lys’ and ‘Inglenook’ in Market Street – one building divided in two in the late 19th century, but now reinstated as one – was originally built in the reign of Elizabeth I (1542) as part of the original hostelry of the town. Later to become the Workhouse, after which it was converted to shops and residential dwellings, it is now the Hailsham Town Council’s offices and meeting room.

• The Grenadier - In 1803, Hailsham Barracks were built to quarter troops intended to man the Martello towers, which defended the Pevensey areas from Napoleon. It is believed that The Grenadier was built to serve troops stationed at the barracks. The barracks were closed after the defeat of Napoleon at Waterloo in 1815.
• The Old Court House - The Old Court House was erected in 1861 consisting of a Court Room together with an office and residence for the Police Superintendent. Prior to 1861, the first Police Station was located at the top of Hailsham High Street. Offenders were placed in the stocks situated in front of the Terminus Hotel, and a gibbet was built on the corner of Summerheath Road and Western Road.
• The Stone - A grade II listed building, 'The Stone' is probably the oldest house in Hailsham and possibly named after an old boundary stone in the grounds, and originally built around 1320 in the style of the Wealden Hall houses. Featuring inglenook fireplaces, a bread oven, a priest hide, and with evidence of early sliding shuttered windows, it was once owned by Cardinal Wolsley.
• Cortlandt - Originally called ‘Newhouse’, Cortlandt was renamed after one of its previous occupants, Philip van Courtlandt, an American who fought on the British side in the American War of Independence. The renaming was undertaken by William Strickland.

• The Old Court House - Erected in 1861 consisting of a Court Room together with an office and residence for the Police Superintendent, The Old Court House was, prior to 1861, the first Police Station in Hailsham.
• The Old Brewery - Built in 1827 by Thomas Gooch from Norfolk, The Old Brewery was renowned for strong beers. The building was used by a succession of brewers and was, for a while, used as a Catholic place of worship.
• Hamlin's Mill - The one mill believed to be the town’s last surviving one was Hamlin’s Mill (where the remains of the mill’s ancillary buildings can still be seen today). The mill was a smock type built in 1834, and was destroyed by fire on 17 November 1923. It was replaced by a powder mill, but by 1969, it was being used as a sack mill when it was again destroyed by fire.
• Harebeating Mill - Harebeating Mill, a post mill located at St Wilfrid's Green just off the top of Hailsham High Street, was previously known as Kenward’s Mill. Only the lower floor of the mill remains and this, together with a more modern upper storey, has been converted into a private house.
• Michelham Priory - Michelham Priory at Upper Dicker in Hailsham, was founded for Augustinian Canons in 1229 in the Sussex Weald. It is surrounded by a great medieval moat, with 7 acres of lawns and gardens. Parts of the Priory buildings were destroyed at the Dissolution in 1636, and the remaining buildings formed the nucleus of a fine Tudor house built in the late 16th century. The property was owned by the Sackville family from 1603 to 1897 and was given to the Sussex Archeological Trust in 1959.

Parks and gardens

• Hailsham Country Park covers approximately 22 acres^[48] and incorporates woodland, an open field area, wildflower meadow, two ponds and a lake. A water course skirts the open field area and all-weather footpaths can be found throughout the park to encourage people of all ages to enjoy this precious open space area. The various woodland sites within the Country Park have a very good selection of tree species including birch, oak, ash, maple and wild cherry. Wildlife residing in the area includes voles, mice, lizards and weasels. The Hailsham Country Park received South & South East in Bloom Silver Awards in 2009 and 2010,^[49] in recognition of the efforts of volunteers to restore the park's wildflower meadow and the planting of additional trees in recent years.

• The Common Pond in Bellbanks Road has been a focal point in Hailsham for centuries and is considered to be the town's "Jewel In The Crown".^[50] The commons were largely enclosed in 1855, but the pond area was retained by the lord of the manor, Lord Sackville. It was finally bought by the Council in 1922 for £300, and became a public open space. Major improvement works to the 1.86 acre site began in 1996. The pond base was then excavated and surplus clay used to extend the existing central island, before the construction of a second island and a sloping marginal wetland area along and over a section of the south perimeter wall.

• The Dennis King Memorial Orchard & Sensory Garden was officially opened in 2010 to help reverse the trend in the loss of traditional English orchards and create a fully accessible community garden for local residents.^[51] Advice and recommendations were received from the East Sussex Association of Blind and Partially Sighted People (ESAB) and Thrive, a national charity dedicated to enabling positive change in the lives of disabled and disadvantaged people through the use of gardening and horticulture.

Other sites of interest

• Burfield Park - In 1807, Thomas Burfield, a local saddle maker, founded his rope company in Hailsham. Ropes were produced for the demands of the re-emerging yachting industry, which was just recovering after World War II. Furthermore, all the official hangman’s ropes used here and in the colonies were made in Hailsham. Today, Marlow Ropes has a brand new purpose-built factory and warehouse, and continues to manufacture quality British ropes on the same site as Thomas Burfield over 200 years ago.
• Market Square - the site of the original market, with sellers spreading out into the adjoining roads. A market cross was erected in the square to make sure all deals were seen to be "done in the sight of the Lord." The cross was removed in c.1880, to allow carts to turn the corners of the roads leading to the square.
• Amberstone Farm - On Sunday 26 June 1814, the Emperor of Russia, the King of Prussia and their suites halted on their way to Dover at Amberstone Farm, which, at the time, was in the hands of Samuel Rickman, whose son was born soon afterwards. The child was by imperial request, named Alexander.

Places of worship

• St Mary's Parish Church (Anglican)
• Christchurch Hailsham
• Emmanuel Church (Anglican)
• Hailsham Baptist Church
• St Peter & St Paul's Church
• Hailsham Free Church (Evangelical)
• St Wilfrid's Roman Catholic Church
• Hailsham Methodist Church
• Gordon Road Evangelical Church
• Living Word Community Church (Evangelical)
• Hailsham Gospel Mission
• Primrose Hall Corinthian Church
• Kingdom Hall (Jehovah's Witnesses)
• Bartholemew's Church

International relations

• Gournay-en-Bray, France

Hailsham is twinned with Gournay-en-Bray in the Upper Normandy region of France. Although Gournay-en-Bray has a much smaller population (c.6,500 compared to Hailsham's c.20,500), according to Hailsham Town Council, "the features and facilities of both towns are quite similar".^[52] The Twinning Charter was signed in Hailsham in October 2000 and in Gournay-en-Bray in February 2001, and renewed in both towns on the tenth anniversary. Cultural and host family visits take place every year, in both directions.^[53]

Notable residents

• Fanny Cradock (1909–1994) - British writer, restaurant critic and television cook.

She spent the final part of her life living in Ersham House, Hailsham.

• Peter Grant (1935–1995) - British music manager and former manager of Led Zeppelin.

He bought and lived on a private estate at Hellingly after retiring from the music business.

• Lord Hailsham of St Marylebone (1907–2001) - British politician and 2nd Viscount Hailsham.

Formerly Quintin Hogg, he lived at the seventeenth century Carter's Corner House in Hailsham.

• Anne Shelton (1923–1994) - popular English vocalist of the 1940s and 1950s.

She lived at Herstmonceux near Hailsham until her death in July 1994, aged 66.

• Ronnie Hilton (1926-2001) - popular English balladeer of the 1950s, originally from Yorkshire. He died at the Ersham House Nursing Home in Hailsham.

• Thomas Wolsey (1473–1530) - English political figure and cardinal of the Roman Catholic Church.

He once lived at The Stone, Hailsham.

See also

• Hailsham railway station
• Hailsham Community College
• Hailsham Town F.C.

References

External links

Wikimedia Commons has media related to Hailsham.

• Hailsham on the Open Directory Project

Wikivoyage has a travel guide for Hailsham.

• Hailsham Town Council
• Hailsham Forward (Town Team)

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