Lindfield History Project Group

Throughout her long life the dowager Countess of Tankerville was engaged in charitable works.  Born Lady Olivia Montagu daughter of the 6th Duke of Manchester, she married the 6th Earl of Tankerville in 1850.

One charitable venture was the establishment of laundries to provide work and a home for women in difficult circumstances including unmarried mothers.  She opened a number of laundries across the country.

The Countess of Tankerville while living at The Welkin, Lindfield built such a laundry on land adjoining Gravelye Lane.

The laundry opened in 1902 and was run on charitable lines by a local committee.  It was taken over by the Salvation Army in 1912.  Their aim remained to provide help to women struggling to regain their character by means of honest labour.  The laundry home called ‘Quinta’ provided accommodation for thirty female workers.

The Salvation Army ended its connection with the laundry in 1922.

The laundry became a business and continued trading as the Mid Sussex Steam Laundry.

After WWII the business was taken over by Mr J Carter, a Quaker, who ran it until closure in 1972.

After closure the buildings were demolished and the land used for the Grey Alder and Kidbrook housing development.

Deans Mill had been disused since the early years of the 20th century, then in 1935 it was bought by George Horsefield.  He set about repairing the mill and soon started producing wholemeal flour for sale locally.

Additionally, the Horsefields converted the Elizabethan barn into tearooms and to attract visitors, boats were offered for hire on the Ouse and a 15 inch-gauge railway constructed.  The railway ran for some 300 yards, in a loop around the grounds with a tunnel, sidings and station.

The line opened in 1937 and initially a steam tank engine was used to pull the passenger wagons but this was soon replaced and in 1939 a petrol driven locomotive was acquired.  The railway was suspended during the war years although the tearoom continued for a time as a restaurant aimed at officers stationed in Lindfield.

After WWII the tearooms and railway were again opened for business until 1957 when Deans Mill was sole to new owners

The Mill is now a private residence.

The Lindfield Fire Brigade was formed by the Parish Council in 1899.  A new horse drawn Merryweather Greenwich Gem steam fire engine was purchased by the Council at a total cost of £276-15s-0d in March 1910.  This resulted in a search to find a suitable building in which to house the new engine.

The redundant former stables of Pear Tree House, at the rear of the King Edward Hall site, were offered by the Hall Committee to the Council for use as a fire station.  Following an inspection in July 1910, the Council agreed to lease the building at an annual rent of £5-0s-0d.

The interior of the building was fitted out with match-boarding to a height of seven feet with shelf above, which remains in place to this day.  The doors were duly painted bright red and Lindfield became the proud owners of a new fire station.

The Lindfield Fire Brigade continued to serve the village until the mid 1930s when it was disbanded upon fire cover being provided by the Fire Service from stations in South Road and New England Road, Haywards Heath.

Auxiliary Fire Service

With the advent of World War Two additional wartime cover was required for Lindfield and the old fire station was pressed into service again as an Auxiliary Fire Station.  Electric light and a heater were installed and the building fitted out with sleeping quarters.

The firemen rather quaintly named it ‘Ye Olde’ Lyndfielde Firemen’s Dugout’.  The names of the WWII firemen were painted above their uniform hooks on the original 1910 match-board lined walls and remain to this day.

Lindfield AFS was equipped with a 1932 Chevrolet 30cwt truck and two new trailer pumps.  The air raid warning siren for the village was mounted above the building.  The Fire Station was again closed at the end of the war.

In medieval times the Michelbourne family had close associations with Lindfield and especially the Tiger Inn.  The family went to live at East Mascalls and adopted the alias Mascall.  Richard Michelbourne in 1522 dropped the Michelbourne name in favour of Mascall.  His grandson inherited the property selling it in 1550 to his aunt Ursula Middleton.

Ten years later East Mascalls was purchased by William Newton who had acquired the Manor of South Malling Lindfield.  In 1695, Margaret Newton married William Noyes and their son, William, married Martha Herbert.  Subsequently Herbert became incorporated as part of the family name.

The property descended through the Noyes line to Thomas Herbert Noyes in 1800 and with his large family he occupied East Mascalls for 30 years.  In the years that followed the house fell into disrepair eventually becoming a ruin.

It was subsequently restored.

King Edward III in 1344 granted the Dean of South Malling a charter for Lindfield to hold a weekly market every Thursday and two yearly fairs.  The fairs on the feast days of St Philip and St James the Less [May 1st] and St James the Great [July 25th] were for eight days each.  The only other parish in Sussex to have had a fair lasting eight days was Pagham.

Over the centuries the July fair, later held in August, prospered while the May fair ceased.  Sheep were the major animals sold at the fairs with many thousands changing hands.  The High Street and Common were the traditional sites for the fairs; the last sheep sale held in the High Street was in about 1903.  The commercial nature of the fair ceased in the early 1900s following the opening of the Haywards Heath cattle market.  Although, the tradition of an August fair continued, as a major entertainment event, with a visiting fun fair.

In 1906, George Leslie moved to Lindfield.  He was a successful professional artist and an Associate of the Royal Academy.  He built Compton House, a spacious 14 room house, as home for himself and his wife Lydia.

His unmarried niece Kate Leslie and her mother had arrived in Lindfield five years earlier commissioned a large house, Cotmaton, built by Parker Anscombe, on the land that is now Shenstone Close.  A few years later Miss Leslie built Oaklee and Littlecote, on two plots adjacent to Compton House in Compton Road.

Gertrude Jekyll, the well-known garden designer, a friend of the Leslies’ provided help with designing the gardens.  George Leslie created two ‘Lion’s head’ water fountains;  one was given to Gertrude Jekyll and installed in her garden at Munstead Wood.  The other remains to this day at Compton House.

Members of the family lived in Lindfield from 1901 to c1928 making significant contributions to the village, artistically, physically and socially.  For example, serving in the WWI VAD hospital in King Edward Hall and the Lindfield Amateur Dramatic Club was a beneficiary of their talents.

Compton House is now a nursing home, Oaklee has been greatly extended as retirement accommodation.  The other properties have been demolished.

In 1810 a group of dissenters, who had formerly established links with the Countess of Huntingdon’s Chapel at Wivelsfield, together with the minister of the Union Street Independent chapel in Brighton applied for a licence to hold services in the Ballroom attached to the White Lion alehouse [now Bent Arms] in Lindfield.  The cause prospered and Stephen Wood, a successful Brighton builder and prominent member of the Countess of Huntingdon’s Chapel in Brighton, built them a small chapel on the site of a former malthouse in the High Street in 1813.  He later retired to the village, living in the present Ryecroft and endowed the chapel.

In 1818 four members formed the Lindfield Congregational Church and 3 years later Stephen Wood’s daughter, Kitty Copeland, put the chapel into  a trust for “Congregational Calvanists.”  Its members were mainly drawn from the labourers and artisans of Lindfield and Ardingly.  The first attempts to bring education to the poor children of Lindfield originated from this chapel and an evening school for secular instruction pre-dated William Allen.

Perhaps it is worth noting that “Congregational” is an adjective which is often used quite loosely as an alternative to “independent”.  This refers to churches that like to organise themselves as a completely independent unit and pay their ministers themselves.  This is in contrast to the Presbyterians who were centrally organised and whose ministers were paid from central funds.   Theologically there is a difference in that the Presbyterians looked back to the 16th Century Reformation and the teachings of John Calvin in Geneva and the Congregationalists follow the independent thinking of an Englishman called Browne.  Oliver Cromwell was an independent/Congregationalist but many of the officers in his New Model Army were Presbyterians.  It all comes under the words “puritan ” and “dissent” and can get muddled.

The chapel flourished under the pastorship of Rev J E Judson [1843-1861].  it was rebuilt in ‘Early English design’ by W G & E Habershon.  the cost was about £1,200 and, largely due to Judson’s efforts, opened free of debt in May 1858.  Later it was Thomas Durrant, the Lindfield piano factory owner, together with Thomas Wells, the local headmaster, known as the “‘Father of Sussex Congregationalism” who provided strong leadership.

In 1879 the front of the church was remodelled together with other improvements to the building financed by James Proctor of Finches.  then in 1898 a school room was built on the back which, in turn, was replaced by the present large hall in 1960.

During WWI troops billeted in the village used the school room as a canteen and reading and writing room.  Electric lighting was installed in 1948 and major renovation work carried out to the interior in the early 1950’s.  In 1972 the Congregational Church of England and Wales united with the Presbyterian Church of England becoming the United Reformed Church.

A major extension in 1996 completed the present buildings.  In each case land was surrendered by Ryecroft next door which the church bought in 1888.  This was sold in 1952 and repurchased in 1984 and has been used as the Manse ever since.

The land on which the house stands was once part of West common held by the Manor of Ditchling.  Enclosure created a couple of fields and a dwelling was built, which can be clearly seen on surveyors draft dated 1794 for the first Ordnance Survey map.  One of the fields was named the ‘Golden Nob’ in the Tithe Survey of 1848.  the owner is listed as Francis Blaker with the annotation ‘now Charles Catt’. – circa 1848/50

The 1852 census describes the area as ‘Golden Nob’ and lists four families numbering 19 persons in residence.  In the next few years it would appear that Charles Catt acquired more land in the area and was responsible for building Summerhill House in the late 1850s perhaps 1860.  It is shown on Ordnance Survey maps that were produced following surveys conducted in the 1870.  The Catt family lived in the house and farmed the surrounding land for many years.

In the 1920’s, Mr and Mrs Donald Fraser owned the property, a man well known in the area.  It was then sold to the Col. Eggar-Byatt, the Diocesan solicitor for the Church of England.  He was a widower and lived in the house with his son and daughter, Neil and Elizabeth, together with his two maiden sisters.

Following the commencement of WWII, his children joined the forces.  Life became difficult with the need to travel to Chichester to undertake his diocesan duties, so he moved with his sisters to that city.

It was at this point that Summerhill House was first used as a school.  Hollingbury Court Preparatory School was evacuated there early in Word War II, probably in the summer of 1940 when the invasion threat was greatest.  It is understood their stay was fairly brief and the school returned to Brighton when the situation improved.

In 1945, Mr Cross leased, the property from the Eggars, as the home for Summerhill Court School and the property remained as a school until 2015.  The building was demolished in 2018.

Today our cars with their independent suspension on all four wheels give a smooth ride, despite the occasional pothole and bumps in the roads.  Likewise all roads have smooth hard surfaces.  It was not always that way.  Pity the traveller in the nineteenth century, the roads at best were of variable quality and horse drawn carriages gave their occupants a bumpy ride.

Elliptical springs that had traditionally been fitted to carriages in the 1800s did little to improve the ride for passengers.  Julius Guy, a Lindfield carriage builder, set about finding a way to improve this crude form of suspension.  In 1885, after trying various possible improvements, Julius Guy discovered that the attachment of India rubber cushion blocks to the springs considerably enhanced their performance.  he patented his invention as the Climax Combination Spring.

This simple but effective device received great acclaim.  His invention was exhibited at the Anglo-Danish Exhibition of 1888, where it was awarded a gold medal and diploma of honour.  The Exhibitors Journal described Mr Guy’s invention as ‘One of the best and greatest improvements’ to carriage suspension saying ‘the unpleasant jarring is considerably reduced’.  It further explained ‘Another advantage is that the liability of breaking either springs or axles, and the wear of the carriage is very considerably reduced;  the oscillation and extra strain on other parts of the carriage is also obviated’.

Julius guy was enrolled a Member of the Institute of British Carriage Manufacturers and his patent was taken up by very many carriage builders.  It was also applied to the carriages belonging to the British Royal Family and the King of Belgium . A testimonial written by Lord Suffield, relating to the rubber blocks fitted to the carriages of Queen Victoria and the Prince of Wales, said they were ‘found to very much enhance the comfort’.  Praise indeed for a village coachbuilder.

Who was Julius guy?  He was born in 1831 at Chiddingly and after being apprenticed to his father, went to London and gained coach building experience at some of the leading workshops before opening his own business.  His wife’s health was affected by the foul London air and he decided to move to Lindfield in 1859, acquiring the business of Mr H Packham  Julius Guy’s home, workshop and yard were at the northern end of the Bent Arms, adjacent to Brushes Lane.

His business thrived, and with the introduction of the motorcar he transferred his skills from carriage building to being a motor body builder and repairer.  Julius Guy was also one of the first agents for the Car and General Insurance Corporation, the insurance company that pioneered the comprehensive motor policy.

Published in Lindfield Life April 2017

There were very few days during the Great War that determined how future land battles across the world would be fought; a son of Lindfield played a leading role in one such day – 15th September 1916.  His heroism and sacrifice went unrecognised.

during 1915 the war on the Western Front had settled into an entrenched stalemate with neither side making and sustain any significant gain.  To help break this deadlock a new weapon was required; this resulted in Britain inventing the tank.  Two prototypes were available by December 1915 and, following trials, the Army ordered 100.  At this time the Somme offensive was being planned as a major breakthrough, and it was hoped the tanks and their crews would be available for the first day of the offensive on 1st July 1916.  However, neither the crews nor the tanks were ready in sufficient numbers.

Being a new and untried weapon, the Army had to learn not only how to drive, operate and maintain tanks, but the tactics to be deployed for their use in battle.  In spring 1916, officers and men were drafted into the newly formed Heavy Branch Machine Gun Corps and commenced training.  Second Lieutenant Reginald Legge was one of those recruited to be a tank commander.

Reginald’s parents lived at ‘Greenwoods’, High Beeches Lane, Lindfield.  After leaving Brighton Grammar School, he worked for a wholesale draper in Cannon Street, London before travelling the world as a merchant. A well travelled adventurer, he was working on the Gold coast prior to the war.  Returning to Lindfield in January 1915, Reginald joined the 2/1st Bucks Yeomanry [Royal Bucks Hussars] as a Trooper and was quickly identified as officer material.

On 4th March 1916 he attended a six week officer training course and, following being commissioned on 15th April 1916, aged 34, was posed to the Heavy Branch Machine Gun Corps and became one of the first officers to undergo tank training at Canada Farm, Elvenden, near Thetford.

Reginald was posted to France in August 1916, together with fellow officers, tank crews, mechanics and 60 tanks.  However, due to mechanical breakdown, only 49 tanks were available for their first deployment into action at the Battle of Flers-Courcelette.

On the night of 13th September 1916, the crews fuelled the tanks, collected rations and ammunition ready for their debut.  the following day, Reginald and his fellow officers received final instructions and reconnoitred the route to their front line start points.  The terrain was extremely rough, heavily damaged by shell holes and cut by trenches making it difficult for the 28 ton monsters to traverse.  That evening the tanks moved forward in readiness to take part in the Battle of Flers-Courcelette at zero hour on 15th September 1916.  Along the battle front only 32 of the 49 tanks made it to their start points, the others had either got stuck or broken down.

Seven tanks supported the 4st Division, organised into four groups. Tank D6, commanded by Reginald, the only tank in C Group, was given the task of leading the attack on the defences around Flers, thus opening the way for the infantry assault.

From his start point Reginald’s tank supported the infantry advance and made good progress towards Flers, reaching the division’s first objective. A British soldier described the tank as ‘lumbering past on my left, belching forth yellow flames from her machine gun and making a gap where the Flers road cut through the enemy trench!’

The tanks had a maximum speed of four mph on good ground and appreciably less over rough terrain.  Interior conditions were absolutely appalling, extremely noisy with intense heat, noxious engine, violent motion and flying red hot metal splinters as bullets hit the exterior.  Severe nausea could ensue after only short distances.

Regardless of the arduous conditions, Reginald continued turning d6 east and north to move down the eastern side of Flers.  Once inside the village he helped the infantry clear out of the Germans. as the assault continued towards the third objective northeast of the village, the role played by D6 was recognised by the Commanding Officer, 26th Royal Fusiliers, recording that ‘This tank was one of the greatest material use and the party in charge of its distinguished themselves considerably’.  Leading the advance, Reginald got ahead of the British Infantry line and in danger from enemy artillery, he continued north towards his next objective.  Aware that there was a German gun battery nearby, he went on the attack destroying one field gun but was fired upon by the remaining three guns.  Receiving a direct hit, D6 burst into flames and burnt out.

One crewman died in the burning tank, two died from their wounds at the scene, three made it back to the British line and one was captured.  There is some uncertainty regarding Reginald’s precise fate.  A crew member saw him in a nearby shell hole, possibly suffering serious wounds.  Reginald was posted missing in action by the British.

He is thought to have been captured by the Germans and to have died of his wounds the next day.  However, the Germans have no record of him being taken prisoner or of a grave.  In 1917 Reginald’s identity disc and Will were sent from Germany by the Red Cross and were eventually received by his mother, confirming his death, over a year after going missing.

A review after the battle identified that, out of the 32 that started the attack, nine tanks broke down after a short distance, five bogged down on the battlefield and nine were ineffective as they failed to travel at sufficient speed to support the infantry attack.  Only nine tanks played an active role in the advance, with tank D6, commanded by Reginald, making one, if not the greatest, contribution to the advance.

The first deployment of tanks into battle could hardly be regarded as a great success but their potential was proved and tanks were used to greater effect in future British advances during the Great War.  Despite playing a manor role in the advance and demonstrating the tanks’ potential, his brave actions and sacrifice received no official recognition.  He is remembered on the Lindfield War Memorials.

After the war, a fellow tank commander at the battle commented ‘Dear old fire-eating Legge came very near to being great’.

Published in Lindfield Life September 2017