Heathfield, East Sussex facts for kids
Quick facts for kids Heathfield |
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 Heathfield High Street |
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 Flag of Heathfield |
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 Heathfield
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| Area | 0.95 sq mi (2.5 km2) |
| Population | 7,732 (2011) |
| • Density | 8,139/sq mi (3,142/km2) |
| OS grid reference | TQ586209 |
| • London | 40 miles (64 km) NNW |
| Civil parish |
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| District |
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| Shire county | |
| Region | |
| Country | England |
| Sovereign state | United Kingdom |
| Post town | HEATHFIELD |
| Postcode district | TN21 |
| Dialling code | 01435 |
| Police | Sussex |
| Fire | East Sussex |
| Ambulance | South East Coast |
| EU Parliament | South East England |
| UK Parliament |
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| Website | http://www.heathfield.net/ |
Heathfield is a lively market town in East Sussex, England. It's part of the larger Heathfield and Waldron area. In 2011, about 7,732 people lived here.
Contents
Where is Heathfield Located?
Heathfield is found where two main roads meet: the A267 and the A265. The A267 connects Royal Tunbridge Wells and Eastbourne. The A265 comes from Hawkhurst. Heathfield is about 16 miles (26 km) from both Tunbridge Wells and Eastbourne.
A Look at Heathfield's History
Heathfield has a long history. It was once on an old trackway that linked the South Downs with the Weald. In February 1316, during the time of King Edward II, Heathfield was given permission to hold a market. This was a big deal for the town!
During the 1500s and 1600s, Heathfield became rich because of the iron industry in the Weald area. Later, in 1880, a railway line called the Cuckoo Line came to town. This brought new life and opportunities. However, the railway wasn't very successful financially. The part of the line between Eridge and Polegate closed in 1968. Today, the old railway path is a popular walking and cycling route called the Cuckoo Trail. It's even part of the National Cycle Network.
The original village, called Old Heathfield, is now just one part of the bigger town we see today. Heathfield has grown a lot over time. In 1961, about 3,244 people lived in the area. On April 1, 1990, Heathfield joined with Waldron to form the "Heathfield and Waldron" parish.
Important Places and Buildings
The main church in Heathfield is called All Saints Church. You can find interesting old gravestones in its churchyard. Heathfield is also home to the Heathfield Park Cricket Club, which started in 1878. Their cricket ground is known for being very beautiful.
Close by is Heathfield Park, a large house from the 1600s. On its grounds, there's a special monument called the Gibraltar Tower. To the north-east, you can find Braylsham Castle. This isn't an old castle, but a modern house started in 1993. It was built using old methods and materials to look just like a medieval manor house, complete with a working drawbridge!
About a mile from town is the Heathfield transmitting station. This is a very tall mast, about 145 meters high. It sends out TV and radio signals to people in East and West Sussex, and parts of Kent.
Heathfield's Culture and Community
Heathfield has many fun events and groups!
- Heffle Cuckoo Fair: Every April, the town holds an annual fair called the Heffle Cuckoo Fair.
- Heathfield Agricultural Show: Each summer, there's a big agricultural show.
- Le Marché: On the August Bank Holiday, an Anglo/French market called Le Marché takes place.
- Schools: Heathfield is home to Heathfield Community College, several primary schools, and two pre-schools.
- Leisure Centre: There's a leisure centre right across from the college.
- Sports: The town has a large football field and a playground. At Cross-in-Hand, there's a rugby club for both kids and adults.
Heathfield Army Cadets
Heathfield has its own Army Cadet Force (ACF) group. This group is part of the Sussex Army Cadet Force. The cadets meet at the Youth Centre on High Street every Monday and Wednesday evening. They learn valuable skills and are connected to the Princess of Wales' Royal Regiment.
Heathfield Silver Band
The Heathfield Silver Band is a brass band with a history going all the way back to 1880! The band has many members, from 9-year-olds to 80-year-olds. While women weren't allowed to join in the past, the band now welcomes everyone.
Their practice hall on Alexandra Road was made bigger and better in 2005 because more and more people joined the band. Famous TV presenter David Dimbleby even opened the new band room!
The Heathfield Silver Band plays at many different events, like weddings, garden parties, church events, and fetes. They also give concerts regularly. They are also a marching band and take part in local bonfire celebrations. From September to November, they march in carnivals in Uckfield, Crowborough, Mayfield, Lewes, and East Hoathly. They also march for their hometown's Heathfield & District Bonfire Society. You can also see them march on Remembrance Sunday, St. George's Day, and at Heathfield's Heffle Cuckoo Fair.
Heathfield & District Bonfire Society
The Heathfield & District Bonfire Society (HDBS) was started again in 2018 by local people who love the tradition. Their goal is to make the community stronger by holding the traditional bonfire and torchlight procession. They also join in the yearly season of events around Sussex, representing Heathfield & District at other bonfire societies' events.
HDBS is a non-profit group, which means any extra money they make goes back into the community to help local charities and groups. In 2019, HDBS held the first official Bonfire Night in Heathfield in 62 years! HDBS hopes to put on more bonfire nights for the community and wants to work with more local groups, businesses, and schools in Heathfield.
Local News and Media
For local news and TV shows, people in Heathfield can watch BBC South East and ITV Meridian. These signals come from the nearby Heathfield TV transmitter.
Local radio stations include BBC Radio Sussex (104.5 FM), Heart South (102.4 FM), and Ashdown Radio (105 FM). Ashdown Radio is a community station that broadcasts from Uckfield.
The town's local newspaper is called The Heathfield News, which you can read online.
Famous People from Heathfield
Many well-known people have lived in Heathfield! These include:
- Jayne Torvill, an Olympic gold medalist in ice dancing.
- Joe Marler, an England rugby international player.
- Tom Baker, a former actor who played Doctor Who.
- Fred Frith, a talented guitarist.
- Mark Hollis, a musician and singer-songwriter.
- Heather Olver, a national badminton player.
- Neil Jones, a Radio DJ.
- Rag'n'Bone Man, a popular singer-songwriter.
See also
In Spanish: Heathfield para niños
