MOST PARISHES had their Pounds by which the problem of straying animals was solved. Some old pounds can still be seen, Isfield and Wilmington are good examples.

Maresfield’s Pound stood beneath a large tree opposite Sandrock which is now part of the recreation ground. It was later removed to just below the Mill Pond where it fell into disuse and then disappeared.

An old village yarn stated that a villager, Jarrat Smith, had his donkey put in the Pound. The Poundman or ‘Street Runner’ as he was commonly called, asked Mr Smith for the customary 4d for the donkey’s release. Jarrat Smith pleaded he only had  3½d change but the Poundman insisted on full payment so Mr Smith gave him 1/- and received change. The donkey owner then suggested the Poundman should stand him a drink at The Chequers Inn. After the drinks had been served the shilling tendered was found to be a dud one. Mr Smith drank up and departed, leaving the Landlord and the Poundman to argue over the fated coin!

Maresfield Stocks

ABOUT 200 years ago stocks and whipping posts were in most parishes. Maresfield Stocks stood on a rough piece of ground between Sandrock and Maresfield Garage where the cemetery now is.

The Revd Mr Ward-Petley, in his book, recalls that about 1830 a young lad was sent to Uckfield to call for a watch that had been repaired and was given the money to pay for it. However, he spent the money and did not complete the errand.

He was brought to justice at the stocks. An excited crowd gathered and the children were let out of Maresfield Bonners School just down the road to witness the ceremony. Apparently the boy’s legs were tied with a cord to the bottom of the stocks but before his hands were secured he drew a knife from his pocket and cut the cord to the embarrassment of the parish policeman and to the delight of the crowd. The whipping was said not to be severe although there was plenty of screaming before the pupils returned to their studies!

The whip was composed of ten lashes of stout whipcord on a short handle.

Extract from “Maresfield”, by Betty Turner , © 1991 Betty E Turner