Henfield village sign. (Image: Andrew Hasson) THE VILLAGE SIGN
The beautiful village sign tells many tales. The local cricket club was founded in 1771, making it one of the oldest in the world. This is also home to the oldest scout troop. The coat of arms is based on that of the Bishop family, who owned the manor and the surrounding lands. Henry Bishop, or Byshopp, was the country’s first Postmaster General in 1660 and, the following year, introduced the world’s first postmark. The golden bird at the top depicts a golden oriole – apparently 14 of these rare birds were seen on the Common in the early 19th century. The motto Domine Salve Nos is Latin for Lord Save Us. Form what, I’m not sure.
St Peter’s Church, Henfield (Image: Andrew Hasson) ST PETER’S CHURCH
Close to most of the older buildings in the village, St Peter’s Church sits proudly surrounded by about 100 clipped yew bushes on a raised bit of land near Pinchnose Green. There has been a place of worship here since the 8th century, but the present building came about between the 13th and 15th century, with a huge restoration taking place in the 19th century.
Plaque commemorating the coronation of King Edward VII (Image: Andrew Hasson) PINCHNOSE GREEN PLAQUE
Next to the Cat House, this tree at Pinchnose Green was planted in 1902 in celebration of the coronation of King Edward VII. But why is this tiny patch of land called Pinchnose Green? Well the village was well-known as a centre for tanning leather – the old Tanyard isn’t far away – and, in order to successfully tan leather in those days, one needed copious supplies of urine and dung in which to soak the hides. This was the place that was clearly so smelly, an appropriate name was required.
(Image: Andrew Hasson) SOUTH VIEW TERRACE
South View Terrace in the Nep Town area of the village is a terraced row of 16 houses with incredible views out over the South Downs. And it’s less than ten minutes to walk to the High Street. Dating from sometime around 1890, this charming little row of houses must be a glorious place to live.
Lavender Cottage, Henfield (Image: Andrew Hasson) LAVENDER COTTAGE
On Henfield Common North, stands Lavender Cottage, a beautiful 17th century thatched building with a very interesting history. At the start of the 20th century, it was owned by two ladies, Ada Brown and Decima Allen, who had a successful business growing lavender, carnations and violets for London’s flower markets. The cottage was used as a workspace for preparing the blooms for market and they employed women to do this work. At around the same time, the women’s suffrage movement was gaining traction and the violet was adopted as an emblem for women’s rights with many suffragettes wearing violets from Henfield on their gowns. There is a mosaic just off the High Street, on the corner of Coopers Way, celebrating this.
Old Tudor Cottage near the church, Henfield (Image: Andrew Hasson) THE OLD TUDOR COTTAGE
The Old Tudor Cottage sits just outside the southern gate entrance to St Peter’s Church. It’s a two-storey timber-framed building dating back three or four hundred years. I just love those upstairs windows with the diamond-shaped leaded panes. Very beautiful.
The Cat House, Henfield (Image: Andrew Hasson) THE CAT HOUSE
Dating from 1550, The Cat House is a village icon, decorated as it is with metal cats set into the walls around the first floor. Look closely and you’ll see each cat is depicted with a small bird. A canary, in fact. The reason is that just down the road is Martyn Lodge, in the 19th century the home of Nathaniel Woodard, founder of several independent schools in the area including Ardingly College and Lancing College. The Cat House was owned at the time by Bob Ward, one of whose pet canaries was killed by one of Mr Woodard’s pet cats. At one time, the metal cats were connected with a string of bells which would ring out every time Woodard walked by. It’s incredible that almost 200 years later, this act of petty revenge is still visible.
Sign for Backsettown House, Henfield (Image: Andrew Hasson) BACKSETTOWN HOUSE
The entrance sign for Backsettown House, a house that played an important role in the history of our country. In 1913, the government introduced the Prisoners (Temporary Discharge for Ill-Health) Act, more commonly known as the Cat and Mouse Act. This act was designed for dealing with hunger-striking suffragettes who were given temporary release from prison when their hunger-striking made them ill. They were released on the understanding that they would be re-imprisoned once they regained their strength. This was one of the places they were able to come to rest and recuperate. Henfield’s important role in the story of women’s suffrage is celebrated in a mosaic to be found in Coopers Way.
The Cricket Club, Henfield (Image: Andrew Hasson) HENFIELD CRICKET CLUB
The Cricket Club, on the edge of the village and at the southern end of the common, is one of the oldest cricket clubs in the world. Records go back to 1719. It is an enormous part of the identity of Henfield. Now competing in the Sussex Cricket League, the club has been playing here on The Common for years now and hopefully for many more years to come.
Mosaics commemorating the Suffragette movement (Image: Andrew Hasson) SUFFRAGETTE MOSAIC
A mosaic on Coopers Way pays homage to the role of Henfield in the womens’ suffrage movement of the early 20th century. At that time, women imprisoned for their suffragette beliefs often went on hunger strike. The government passed a bill, The Prisoners (Temporary Discharge for Ill-Health) Act, allowing women made ill by hunger-striking to be released on the understanding that when they regained their health they could be re-imprisoned. One of the places these women came to recuperate was Backsettown House in Henfield.
The new Community Centre building to be used by the scouts, Henfield (Image: Andrew Hasson) 1ST HENFIELD SCOUTS
Founded in 1907, the 1st Henfield Scout troop is recognised as being the oldest existing scout troop in the world. It was founded by local resident Audrey Wade whose brother, Lieutenant A.G. Wade had served under Robert Baden-Powell in the Boer War. When he told his sister about Baden-Powell’s plans to start a youth movement for boys, she formed the first group right here, converting the hockey club into a scout hut. Sadly, they years took its toll on the old hut and it had to be demolished in 2022. The new community hall currently being finished will serve as headquarters for the Henfield troop.
LOCAL VIEWDick Nye (Image: Andrew Hasson) Local resident Dick Nye: ‘It’s a very friendly village. It has a lot of history. Unfortunately, we have the A281 going through the middle of it so it’s busy in that respect unlike, say, Steyning, which now is quiet in the village centre. We now have a bus service on a Sunday between Horsham and Brighton. During the week, it’s now every half hour and it’s later in the evenings, which is a big asset. If you want the train you have to travel to Horsham or Brighton, although I think most people go to Haywards Heath to travel to London. Not having a train here has been a saving grace. It’s stopped a lot of the development you see around Haywards Heath, Burgess Hill and the like.’
Dave Malkin (Image: Andrew Hasson) Local resident Dave Malkin: ‘It’s just a fantastic community spirit here. We have the Baden Powell Guild here and we meet once a month for a business meeting and in between we do all sorts of things like jumble sales to raise money – around £15,000 a year – for the community.’