Forest Row facts for kids
Quick facts for kids Forest Row |
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|---|---|
 The centre of Forest Row |
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| Area | 32.5 km2 (12.5 sq mi) |
| Population | 4,954 (2011) |
| • Density | 152/km2 (390/sq mi) |
| OS grid reference | TQ427348 |
| • London | 29 miles (47 km) NNW |
| Civil parish |
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| District |
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| Shire county | |
| Region | |
| Country | England |
| Sovereign state | United Kingdom |
| Post town | FOREST ROW |
| Postcode district | RH18 |
| Dialling code | 01342 |
| Police | Sussex |
| Fire | East Sussex |
| Ambulance | South East Coast |
| EU Parliament | South East England |
| UK Parliament |
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| Website | https://forestrow.gov.uk |
Forest Row is a lively village in East Sussex, England. It is also a large civil parish, which is a local area with its own council. The village is about three miles (5 km) south-east of East Grinstead. In 2023, Forest Row was named the 3rd "poshest" (most expensive and fancy) village in Britain.
Contents
History of Forest Row
How Forest Row Got Its Name
The village gets its name from being close to the Ashdown Forest. This forest was a royal hunting park, first set up in the 1200s. Imagine kings and queens hunting there a long time ago!
Village Growth and the Railway
Forest Row started as a small group of houses. It grew bigger when a special road called a turnpike was built in the 1700s. This road helped people travel and trade. Later, in 1866, a railway line opened between East Grinstead and Tunbridge Wells. Forest Row even had its own train station! Sadly, the railway line closed in 1967. This was part of a big plan to close many train lines across Britain.
Old Buildings and Stories
A very old pub called The Swan (it used to be known as The Yew Tree) has been in Forest Row for a long time. Another interesting old building is Brambletye House, also called Brambletye Castle by local people. Sir Henry Compton built it in 1631. This house even appears in a book called Brambletye House, written in 1826 by Horace Smith.
A Famous Visitor: John F. Kennedy
In June 1963, John F. Kennedy, who was the President of the United States, visited Forest Row. He came to a church called Our Lady of the Forest. At that time, he was having important talks with the British Prime Minister, Harold Macmillan, at his home nearby. There is a special sign on Freshfield Hall that remembers President Kennedy's visit.
Becoming a Transition Village
Forest Row became a "Transition village" in 2007. This means the community works together to become more sustainable. They try to be more friendly to the environment and rely less on things like fossil fuels. The official launch happened in March 2008 at the Village Hall.
How Forest Row is Governed
Forest Row has its own local government. It is part of an "electoral ward" which is an area used for voting. In 2011, about 5,278 people lived in this voting area. This local council helps make decisions for the village.
Geography of Forest Row
Location and Surroundings
The civil parish of Forest Row is in the north-west part of East Sussex. It is close to the borders of three other counties: West Sussex, Kent, and Surrey. The beautiful Ashdown Forest surrounds the village on three sides. The upper part of the River Medway also flows through the area.
The center of Forest Row is where two main roads meet: the A22 road and the B2110. This makes it a busy place with many shops and businesses that serve the people living nearby.
Nature and Wildlife
Weir Wood Reservoir is a special place in Forest Row. It is a Site of Special Scientific Interest, which means it's protected because of its important plants, animals, or geology. It's one of the biggest open water areas in the county. Many different kinds of birds live there or stop by when they are migrating. It's a great spot for birdwatching!
Village Buildings
Forest Row has a mix of old and new buildings. You can see many traditional Sussex-style cottages. There are also newer homes, like those in Gage Ridge and Michael Fields, which have unique copper roofs. The village also has an industrial area with different businesses.
Religion in Forest Row
Forest Row has several churches for different Christian groups. The Church of England has two churches: Holy Trinity in Forest Row and St Dunstan's in Ashurst Wood. There are also a Baptist chapel and Providence church. The Roman Catholic Our Lady of the Forest Church opened in the 1950s but closed in 2009.
Education in Forest Row
Local Schools
For state education, children in Forest Row can go to Forest Row CE Primary School.
There are also independent schools in the village. Greenfields School teaches children of all ages. It offers a unique approach to learning. Another important school is Michael Hall, which is a Steiner Waldorf School. It teaches children from kindergarten all the way up to age 18. Emerson College is also in the area. These schools are part of the Anthroposophical movement, which is a special way of thinking about human development and spirituality.
Leisure and Culture
Freshfield Hall
The village hall, called Freshfield Hall, was a gift to the people of Forest Row. It was given by Douglas Freshfield and his mother in memory of his son, Henry, who passed away at age 14. The first hall burned down in 1895, but they quickly rebuilt it. It reopened in 1895, and they hoped it would be used by everyone in the village.
The Forest Way
The Forest Way is a popular path that goes through Forest Row. It used to be a railway line! Now, it's a flat path that stretches for about 10 miles (14.5 km) from East Grinstead to Groombridge. People love to walk, cycle, and ride horses on this path. Walkers always have priority.
Golf Club
If you like golf, Forest Row has the Royal Ashdown Forest Golf Club. It was started in 1889 and has two golf courses.
Literary Connections
Forest Row has inspired some famous writers!
- The Brambletye Inn (now The Brambletye Hotel) was a favorite spot for Sir Arthur Conan Doyle, who wrote the Sherlock Holmes stories. In one story, "The Adventure of Black Peter", Sherlock Holmes and Dr. Watson stay at the hotel while solving a mystery.
- Parts of the movie The Collector, made in 1965, were filmed in Forest Row. This movie was based on a book by John Fowles.
- The writer Helen Humphreys wrote about staying with her grandmother in Forest Row in her 2013 book, Nocturnes.
- Owen Barfield, a famous English philosopher and writer, lived in Forest Row after 1980.
Twin Towns
Forest Row is twinned with a town in France:
Milly-la-Forêt, France
Notable People
Many interesting people have lived in Forest Row!
- Owen Barfield, a writer and philosopher.
- Ben Elton, a comedian and writer.
- David Gilmour from the famous band Pink Floyd.
- Violet Needham, an author.
- Richard Jones, the bass player for the band the Feeling.
- Jonael Schickler, a Swiss philosopher.
- Sean Yates, a professional cyclist.
- The singer Engelbert Humperdinck had a holiday home here in the 1980s.
- Actor Ed Sanders is from Forest Row.
- DJ and producer Secondcity (Rowan Harrington) lived in Forest Row from age 12.
- Horace Hutchinson, a well-known amateur golfer and writer, lived here in the late 1920s and early 1930s.
Images for kids
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