Tag: Maresfield History
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by Gordon Marsh. First published in 2003 by Maresfield Conservation Group. IN JULY 1928 the Marsh family — Dad, Mum, Marjorie and I — moved from a tied cottage on a farm in Laughton to the then growing village of Maresfield. It was a good move so far as I was concerned. It had been…
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The Rev’d Richard Bonner, Rector of Maresfield, was buried in the church chancel in 1692. The slab marking his resting-place was found during church repairs in 1837. He was a substantial benefactor for the parish. He left money for educational purposes and also for a Bible, to the value of 8/-, to be given annually…
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Picture circa 1935 shows the wedding breakfast to celebrate the marriage of Emily Holmes and Albert Miller. Albert Miller was one of the sons of Joseph Miller the local builder. J. Miller & Sons still traded in the village in the 1990s, the business carried on by Bill and Robin, grandsons of the founder. Mr…
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The site of the Village Hall (originally called the Maresfield Reading Room) was once a slaughter house. It is not known when the Maresfield Reading Room was first built as records are only available from 10th January, 1924 when a meeting was called to decide what should be done with the money (£209-6-8d) raised by…
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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…
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The Parish Stocks and Pound have been lost for a century but a more recent loss has been two ornamental wrought iron lamps that vanished in the late 1980’s without trace – these were replaced by the Maresfield Conservation Group. The first one was erected at the entrance to the recreation ground in 1897 and…
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THE SOLID red brick-faced Georgian Inn stands in the centre of the village opposite Maresfield Church. Land Tax records show that widow Lucy Relph was at The Chequer from 1752 to 1766, so one can assume the building is at least 250 years old. County records list the occupier of Chequers and posting house in…
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It is not known how long the Old Rectory was the site of the Rector of Maresfield’s residence, but we know that in 1812 the Revd George Woodward who was Rector of Maresfield for 25 years and Vicar of Fletching for over 50 years (at that time clergymen were allowed to hold more than one…
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Miss Mabel Kenward, later Mrs Weston, lived at South View, Budletts, which is now Budletts Restaurant. Her father and brother were the local undertakers. Mrs Weston and her two cousins, the Misses Maude and Grace Kenward, sang in the Church choir for over 50 years. The left hand picture shows Mabel (fourth from left) at…
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The Reverend Algernon Charles Dudley Ryder was rector for nearly 40 years until his retirement in 1941 at the age of 93. Mr Ryder was a well-loved and respected figure in the village and an outstanding botanist. Many residents were grateful to him for kindling a love of plant life and encouraging the collection of…