the Hurst
Welcome to the Spring 2025 issue of the Hurst. And what a varied issue it is! As part of our mission to find interesting things to report on, we’ve delved into some history.Who knew there were once six pubs in Hurst Green? Bearing in mind, based on the most recent census, the population of the village is around 1450, including over 320 children, and back in the heyday of the pubs, the population was only around 650. It does make you wonder! This issue includes a really interesting delve into the pub history of the village. We intend to dig deeper and would love to hear from anyone who remembers, or has information, about the pubs. Whilst we may not be a huge village, we have a significant history and we’re keen to look into this for future issues of the Hurst. Who knew that Burgh Hill is the likely site of a fort built by Alfred the Great? Or that the youngest ever highwayman – a 13 year old boy – was convicted in Hurst Green (Herst Grene as it was originally known.) Again, we’d welcome input from anyone who has interesting stories about our village.
Allan Cheek’s latest walk takes ramblers past Socknersh Manor and we’ve an article about the fascinating history of this extraordinary house that goes back, in some shape or form, to 1066! More recently, in the 1960s, it was owned by Tom Jones and Englebert Humperdink who held lavish parties there!
The Parish Council have kindly updated us all on the progress of the Hurst Green Neighbourhood Plan. Those interested, particularly in the building programme in the village, can find out more on the website www.hurstgreen2030.uk.
Our primary school and nursery has a new logo and the children have been busy with so many different activities – from a First Aid training day to dancing at White Rock Theatre in Hastings to honing their French language skills and developing forensic skills as mini CSI operatives! We would love to hear more from village residents – points of interest, letters, areas of debate and more. Do send us anything you think might be of interest. We’d love to hear from you. We’d also like to thank our advertisers for their continued support. Without them, there wouldn’t be a magazine so we’re extremely grateful. Editor: Francesca Wooldridge. thehurst.hg@gmail.com
Advertising: Allan Cheek. cheekallan@gmail.com
© Hurst Green PCC
USEFUL CONTACTS
Allotment Association 01580 860251
Breakfast Club (75+) 01580 860760/860358
Brownies 01580 860742
Comedy Capers 01580 860221
Cricket Club 07796 976809
Holy Trinity Church 01580 880282
Hurst Green C of E School 01580 860375
Nursery School 01580 860375 x211
Parish Clerk 01580 860111
Rother District Council 01424 787000
Short Mat Bowling 01580 752348
Twinning Association 01580 860977
Village Hall Booking Agent 01580 860425
HELPFUL LOCAL SERVICES
Cars Mobile Car Mechanic: Cliff Mercer 07909 911869
Dogs Holiday and day care: Lorely Watson 01580 880061/07796 392653
Pippin’s Pet Sitting and walking: 07717 681972
Sarah.janeheasman@hotmail.co.uk
Eco-friendly products Joanna Girling 07443 411677 girling.joanna@gmail.com
Electricians Gareth Skinner 07929 839309
Tim Russell 07771 687636 trussell.5@btinternet.com
House Portraits Christine Masters Art 07833 342020
www.christinemastersart.wordpress.com
Leather repairs Kay Lloyd,Wealden Saddlery 01580 860860
Maths tuition Alec Whiteman 01580 861304
Pest control Paul Messenger 07940 744411 paul@roecallservices.com
Plastering and tiling Edd Ripley, 07875 494493
Plumbers Aaron Plumbing & Heating LtdAaron Rowsell 01580 230330
Steve Walker 07564 405702
Private car hire and taxi service
Hugo, 01435 883803 Mob. 07931 605057
If you would like to be included in this list please email thehurst.hg@gmail.com This is a free listing.
From the Parish Council... Hurst Green Neighbourhood Plan Examination Underway
Following the public exhibition and formal consultation in 2022, the Parish Council approved the submission version of the Hurst Green Parish Neighbourhood Plan in October 2024. The Council then resolved to submit the plan to Rother District Council for the next stage of public consultation.
From October to December 2024, Rother District Council conducted the publicity and representation period for the plan, inviting feedback from the community and stakeholders.
We are pleased to share that the plan has now entered the examination phase, a significant milestone in shaping the future of our parish. This process ensures the plan meets national planning requirements and aligns with local policies.
Rother District Council has appointed John Slater, an experienced independent examiner, to assess the plan. Mr. Slater has reviewed several neighbourhood plans in Rother and the surrounding areas.
In January 2025, Mr. Slater visited Hurst Green to familiarise himself with the parish and key sites. His visit included an accompanied tour of the proposed allocation site for approximately 3 to 4 dwellings near the entrance of Iridge Place. This allowed him to better understand the landscape, the development area, and local green spaces.
Following his visit, Mr. Slater issued a set of questions to the Parish Council and Rother District Council. These questions sought clarification on specific policies, site allo-
cations, and feedback received during the Regulation 16 consultation. Both councils have responded, and at the time of writing, Mr. Slater is due to determine the next steps. While many neighbourhood plan examinations are conducted through written submissions alone, he will decide whether a public hearing is necessary.
We are grateful for the community’s ongoing involvement and support throughout this process. Your engagement is vital in helping shape the future of Hurst Green. The Council believes there are many benefits to having a plan, to provide guidance and greater influence over how Hurst Green should be developed in the future, including helping to protect the parish against inappropriate housing development.
We will continue to keep you updated as the examination progresses. For more information please visit the Council’s dedicated website at: www.hurstgreen2030.uk
A thirst for nostalgia! Hurst Green’s Lost Pubs
Hurst Green has a rich history that reflects its development from a forest clearing to a village. The name “Hurst” derives from the Old English word for “wooded hill,” indicating its origins in a forested landscape.
The earliest documented mention of “herst grene” dates back to 1574. However, nearby manors such as Bernhurst and Iridge are recorded as early as the 13th century, and some surrounding farms have histories traceable to the Domesday Book of 1086 and there are rumours that Burgh Hill was the site of a fort built by King Alfred the Great, although the actual site has never been found.
Hurst Green’s strategic location on the route from London to Hastings made it a significant stopover point. In the 16th century, records from Boarzell estate indicate that travelers brought exotic goods, including spices like ginger and cloves, and fruits such as pomegranates and olives, highlighting the village’s role in trade.
The village also has a history of smuggling and highway robbery. In the 18th century, the notorious Hawkhurst Gang operated in the area, and in 1796, a 13-year-old named Richard Russel was convicted for robbing the Hurst Green mail of £32, making him, according to records, the youngest ever recorded highwaymen.
With such a rich history, in a village where the echoes of the past still linger, Hurst Green’s once-prolific pub scene is now a tale told in fond reminiscence.
The village was once home to as many as six licensed establishments – including The White Horse at Silver Hill, The Queens Arms, The Royal George, the Old Bull Inn and The Woolpack, plus The Cross Keys in Swiftsden. These pubs were more than mere watering holes. They were community meeting places, lively stages for local gossip and vital waypoints on the historic London–Hastings coaching route.
In a time before digital connectivity, these public houses were the nerve centres of Hurst Green. Regulars gathered to swap stories, debate local events and share the latest news, all while enjoying hearty ales and traditional dishes. The sheer number of licensed premises has led some to wonder if it was the community’s insatiable thirst for both good drink and a bit of local scandal that kept these establishments in business. One local historian recalls that during the village’s heyday, a single day could see patrons moving from one pub to another along London Road.
As ‘The Hurst’ celebrates local heritage, the memories of these pubs serve as both a toast to the past and a gentle reminder of the ever-evolving nature of community life. For many, the question remains: was it simply a love for fine ale, or a deeper, unquenchable thirst for connection and shared gossip that made Hurst Green’s pub culture so unique?
Do please send your stories or photographs, as we’re looking to publish more on Hurst Green’s lost pubs in future issues.
The Old Bull
Site of The Queen’s Head
The Royal George - the lone survivor still going strong in the village.
The Woolpack
The White Horse
The Cross Keys
HURST GREEN WALKS
Allan Cheek continues his regular feature in the Hurst describing different walks of varying difficulty. Allan is happy to discuss this and other Hurst Green walks in more detail including the possibility of leading small groups. For information, contact Allan by text/ WhatsApp 07803 502972
Etchingham Station to Robertsbridge Station
A point-to-point walk of 7 miles with a handy return via SouthEastern Trains. This walk can be started from Hurst Green via Station Road and Burgh Hill to Etchingham Station but if you have access to a car it saves the walk down and more importantly back up the hill!
Exit the station from the ticket office and Bistro side (check Bistro opening hours for a handy starting coffee or return refreshments). Turn right past the historic church and up through the village towards the school where you’ll find Borders Lane on your left.
Follow this quiet backwater lane for over half a mile until it turns sharp right. Here take the farm entrance on the left up past an open barn and look for a small footpath gate on the left. Follow this narrow path until you reach the metal gate out into pastures.
The path heads away from the field edge roughly south-west over a stile just below a pond then takes a turn downhill towards a normally wet gateway and shortly after, another two bridleway gates which lead diagonally up towards the house of Grandturzel.
Go through the final metal gate and uphill to the driveway where it’s a good opportunity to look back at the view before heading right along the drive past Burwash Park to Fontridge Lane.
Turn right up the lane then first left into ‘private road’ following this until the end where you’ll see the impressive Socknersh Manor’s horse statues and landscaped surroundings. This historic estate was once jointly owned by Sir Tom Jones and Engelbert Humperdinck who hosted celebrity parties with guests including Elvis, Janis Joplin et al! (see separate feature on page 12). After admiring the location please follow the immaculate iron-fenced and clearly signed footpath to the left past the lake.
At the end cross the stile, go ahead between the hedges and then after the abandoned cottage look for the footbridge diagonally downhill. Cross this one and the next before climbing steeply uphill to another stile, entering a small wood which forms part of a gathering of delightful homes around Newhouse Farm.
The tarmac driveway leads you eventually to the Brightling Road where you turn left for approx. 250yds to find a blue-ish footpath sign on the right. Head down here and take the narrow sunken track on the left before the ‘private’ gate. This gets a bit narrow and overgrown going downhill but eventually leads to horse paddocks. Keep on the lefthand side all the way across to the gate marked with a yellow path arrow pointing to the next top left corner stile and descend to the little footbridge over the stream and driveway of Mountfield Farm. Turn left up here to reach Mountfield Lane, left again past Park Pale cottages and shortly after find the first footpath on the left via a metal gate. This leads gently uphill past an excavated area (possibly used for the dam wall of Darwell Reservoir which is now in view behind you!) Go through the little wood out into and straight across the very large pasture with a wind turbine. Cross the stile into a fenced track heading past a barely visible
mediaeval moat on your left before snaking through the Glottenham Manor enclave of dwellings, manor house and care home. The long exit driveway leads you past the Darvell community land and under the railway before reaching the public road.
Turn left and take care over the narrow bridge, cross over to find the footpath tucked between the next rail bridge and the gated driveway on the right. This short stretch of path is very narrow, often overgrown and with a dodgy stile at the end. Once safely over it keep left towards the backyard, stables and guard goose of the Ostrich Hotel owner. Here you can escape down the final section of footpath just on the left leading to the pub carpark and Robertsbridge station. After a welcome refreshment at the Ostrich it’s just a matter of crossing the road and the footbridge to the Etchingham platform. On a good day you should allow approximately three hours.
The Hurst Green Cricket Club
Preparations for the New Season
We’ve got through the long winter and the evening light is drawing out more each day so it can mean only one thing - cricket season will soon be with us!
This year we will continue building on our connections with the village by hosting the fete on the cricket field (weather permitting) and deepening our ties with our shirt sponsors The Royal George.
The pub hosted our end of season meal last November at which Ryan and Millie won the coveted player of the year awards.
The pub’s darts team have challenged the cricket team to a darts match on 1st April with a return game of cricket to be played on the 27th June - I hope to see many from the village at both games. Match reports to follow in future editions of the Hurst Magazine.
We have a busy season to look forward to, increasing the number of fixtures to 11 games this summer. The dates are below and all of you are welcome to grab a pint from the pub and wonder over to the pitch to watch our home games.
As always, we could do with at least one or two more villagers to join the team.
It doesn’t matter if you haven’t played since school or even not at all, we’ll have plenty of practice sessions on Tuesday evenings (6.30pm start) from mid-April onwards for you to get up to speed. This year we’re also aiming to adopt the English Cricket Board’s Safe Hands policy, which means we’ll have a DBS checked Club Safeguarding Officer to give reassurance to parents with older children who would like to play for the club.
Keep an eye on facebook.com/ hurstgreencricketclub for the latest updates on everything we’re up to.
2025 Season Fixtures
11 May Robertsbridge Development XI (Away)
25 May Clive Vale (home)
8 June Robertsbridge Development XI (Home)
27 June (Fri evening) - Royal George Landlord’s Match (Home)
6 July Pett Level (Home)
20 July Wadhurst (Home)
3 Aug Yellow Stump CC (Home)
17 Aug Catsfield (Away)
31 Aug Pevensey (Away)
6 Sept Pakenham XI (Home)
14 Sept (Sun)- Rother Valley Tournament (Away)
Art, design, your garden and you!
The Garden Show at Firle Place is back this April for its 17th year.With over 170 stalls including specialist growers, visitors will find guidance on selecting the right plants and where to place them. They can explore a diverse range of garden goods, artisan designs, homeware, garden furniture, fashion accessories, and country foods. The show supports local small businesses, with many stalls from the surrounding area. In addition to shopping, the show features exciting attractions. Gardening expert Paul Slater will be available daily to address plant-related questions and will give a talk daily on ‘Small Space. Big Impact!’ showing how compact gardens can thrive. On Saturday, entomologist Dr. Ian Bedford will run a ‘Pest Clinic’ to identify any bug samples you bring plus Ian will be giving a talk on ‘Gardens for Nature’. Ben Cross from Crosslands Nursery will be back to
share insights on the ‘British Cut Flower Industry’ and promote the message that ‘British Flowers Rock’!
Younger visitors can have fun with Crazee Hazee, the show’s jester, who will teach circus juggling skills and host daily Punch & Judy shows. Plus, there will be carnival fun with Jason Winters Amusements, toddler rides, and bouncy activities.
TICKETS PRICES ON THE GATE
Adults £12, Concessions £10, Child £5 (4yrs and under FOC), Family £26 (2A & 4C)
PRE-BOOKED TICKETS ON LINE ARE 15 % DISCOUNTED
We strongly advise pre-booking for safer, fast track, guaranteed entry. Go to our facebook page, www.thegardenshowonline. com or smartphone scan the QR code.
Hurst Green Church of England Primary School and Nursery
At Hurst Green Primary School and Nursery, we are pleased to have our vision and values reflected in our new signage which you can see as you pass the school gates. We all work together to enable our children to ‘Aspire, Create and Achieve’.
We have had a busy term starting with our ‘House Day’ where all the children worked collaboratively on creative activities, which ranged from experiments with paper aeroplane design to maths problem-solving and the construction of a giant marble run!
Our Silver Birch class (Year 1 and 2) had great fun performing ‘Time to Dance’ at The White Rock Theatre in Hastings. They performed a Rock and Roll partner dance with confidence, despite the huge stage and dazzling lights.
KS2 spent an afternoon honing their French conversational skills, immersing themselves in some French culture and tasting some traditional French cuisine. Willow class (Year R) used their forensic skills to try to find out who had broken into their role play area.They used the evidence from footprints and fingerprints to discover the culprit.
As part of our English lessons, Year 6 took part in ‘Parliament Week’ where they took part in a debate about whether we should abandon the development of AI – they then had a vote to illustrate the process of a democracy. During National Storytelling Week, Year 5 and 6 enjoyed an author Zoom with
the author of the ‘Onyeka’ series,Tola Okogwu and wrote their own superhero stories using Onyeka for inspiration. Year 6 have also enjoyed the annual residential trip to PGL where they tested their fear of heights and water during a variety of outdoor activities from abseiling to raft building.
As part of our ‘Lifeskills’ curriculum, all of the children had a First Aid training day where they learnt how to perform CPR and found out what to do in the event of an injury. KS2 took part in a Zoom Assembly with many other schools from across the country to mark Mental Health Awareness Week.
We run a variety of after school clubs including dance, KS1 Art and Craft club, KS2 Art Club and Multisports. Art club have been taught a variety of skills including batik, papier mache and have even had a go at sewing on a machine.
Many of our children have had the opportunity to experience sports competitions at Robertsbridge Community College.
One of our Values is ‘Service’; we recently made delicious scones to sell to parents on Parents Evenings in order to raise money for Orphaids, a charity that helps orphaned children in South America.
For working parents, we have a breakfast (8am) and after-school club (until 5pm) where the children eat healthily and take part in a variety of fun activities.
THE FLORAL BOUTIQUE LTD
20, HIGH STREET, ROBERTSBRIDGE
Open Monday – Saturday
Telephone orders welcome
Wide delivery area
Major
Socknersh Manor - a hidden
Socknersh Manor, though remote and lacking direct public roads, stands as a remarkable example of early 17th-century English architecture.
With its timber-framed structure, red brick infill, and tiled roof, the estate reflects centuries of ownership changes, economic shifts, and architectural evolution, making it a fascinating part of England’s past.
Architectural Features and Early History
The manor’s craftsmanship includes casement windows, two prominent gabled doorways supported by intricately carved figures, period paneling, and an elaborate overmantel. Architectural historian Nikolaus Pevsner described its rustic charm in 1965. It is believed that the manor was originally two separate houses later connected. Restoration in 1921 introduced a Jacobean-style staircase while preserving historical elements. The estate dates back to the St. Leger family, who arrived in England after the Norman Conquest of 1066. By 1294, records describe the estate as a “messuage and garden” with substantial landholdings. Ownership passed through various hands, including Will de Etchingham and the Ashburnham family, eventually reaching Simon Bate in 1439. On his death, it was shared with William and John Covert.
The Sussex Iron Industry
John Collins, an ironmaster from Burwash, bought part of the estate in 1529, recognizing its potential for iron production. An iron furnace was established, operating until about 1675. Remnants of this industry, including Furnace Wood and Pond Bay, are still seen on maps. The Collins family maintained ownership for generations, with Thomas Collins expanding the manor around 1620, shaping its present form. It remained in the Collins family until 1753.
18th and 19th Century Ups and Downs
By the mid-18th century, the Collins family had expanded their holdings but ceased residing at Socknersh Manor after 1724, leasing it as a farm. Ownership passed to George Luxford in 1759 and remained in his lineage until 1800. John Holloway acquired the estate in the early 19th century. After his death in 1855, the property struggled to find a buyer until purchased by Henry Capel Lofft and his sister Laura Capel Trevelyan in 1859. Robert Emlyn Lofft inherited it in 1900, passing it to his niece Mary Whittred Capel Lofft.
20th Century: Restoration
Throughout the late 19th century, Socknersh Manor was occupied by tenants. The 1861 census records John Bound as a resident, and by 1871, Job Cook managed a 240-acre farm there. Various tenants leased the manor into the early 20th century. A turning point came in 1907 when Mary Lofft sold the estate to Alfred Leonard Lawley, a civil engineer with ties to Portuguese East Africa. Lawley restored the estate’s “manor” designation and, after selling in 1920, retained some surrounding lands. Florence Temple Cross, a wealthy American
hidden gem with a lot of history!
widow, purchased the property, playing a key role in its preservation and restoration. Architect E.H. Burgess was hired to expand the estate, adding servant quarters and a swimming pool. Florence Cross’s son, Graham inherited the estate but sold it around 1938 to Cecil Ward Mason, who owned it into the 1950s.
Celebrity Owners and Modern Day
In 1957, James Lilley of Lilley & Skinner acquired Socknersh Manor. In the early 60s, it was sold for £800,000 to new owners—singers Tom Jones and Engelbert Humperdinck. The manor became a venue for extravagant parties attended by celebrities like Janis Joplin and Barbara Eden. A rumored dispute between Jones and Humperdinck (allegedly over a girl), led to the property’s sale. Tom Jones and Englebert have never spoken since! There are even reports that it housed an underground petrol station. Russell Beswick later owned the estate. In 2017, a Euromillions lottery-winning couple purchased it for £4 million.
Despite its secluded location and lack of major roads, Socknersh Manor remains one
of Sussex’s most picturesque and historically rich properties. From its medieval origins and industrial significance to its celebrity connections, the estate continues to captivate historians, architects, and admirers of England’s grand heritage.
WHAT’S ON IN YOUR VILLAGE
HALL
Reg Charity no. 229672
MONDAY 5pm Children’s gymnastics 7.30pm Short Mat Bowls
TUESDAY 8.45am Pilates (07798 663820) 7pm Jive & Lindy Hop (07766 881045)
8pm Parish Council Meeting (last Tuesday of each month)
WEDNESDAY 5.30pm Brownies (termtime only)
THURSDAY 8.45am Pilates 1.30pm Short Mat Bowls 8pm Zumba
FRIDAY 10am Breakfast Club (2nd & 4th Friday each month) 4pm Children’s gymnastics
For more information, contact: Sue Endean, booking agent: 07718 282605, 01580 860425
