The history, genealogy and topography of the Weald of Kent, Surrey and Sussex

The Weald is "the place where London ends and England can begin"

Thirty miles south of London and half way to the South coast of England lies an area of outstanding natural beauty combined with a fascinating history called the Weald. This was, to the Saxons of 900AD, part of Andredesweald (the forest of Andred the Roman fort at Pevensey), that stretched from the marshes of Kent to the New Forest in Hampshire - 120 miles long and 30 miles wide. The Weald of Kent, Surrey and Sussex encompasses the Lancaster Great Park formed in 1372 and renamed as the Ashdown Forest in 1672.
This site catalogues the people, places, maps, drawings, engravings, books, writings and numerous lists and directories that are over 70 years old into an integrated database of information about one of the most attractive parts of England - The Weald of Kent, Surrey and Sussex. The navigation bar at the top of this page (and every page on this site) give access to all of this information. Records can also be searched for from this page or from the dedicated search page.

Genealogical Pedigrees
Count is the number of people

Adams, Adames, Adam, Adamson, Addams - 872
Akehurst .. Ackehurst .. Achurst - 647
Alan .. Allin .. Alyin - 759
Alcheshorne .. Alchorn .. Allcorn - 976
Arnold .. Arnal .. Arnoll - 382
Ashby .. Asheby .. Ashbornham - 922
Ashdown .. Asshesdowne .. Adowne - 737
Atheral .. Atheroll .. Attrell … Hattrell - 205
Attree, Atree - 106
Austin, Austine, Austen, Aust, Austen-Leigh, Austain, Auston - 1564
Averey, Averie, Averl, Avery - 375
Avis, Aves, Avice, Avies, Avaice - 824
Bailey .. Bayliss .. Baylye - 525
Baker, Bakere, Bakes - 3506
Barnes, Barns, Bernes - 276
Bassett, Baset, Basett, Basset, Bassott - 614
Bedwell, Bidwell, Bidewell - 573
Beeching, Beechinge, Beaching - 119
Bellingham, Belingham, Billingham - 253
Berry, Berrett, Berrey, Berrie, Bury - 360
Berwick .. Barwick .. Berrick - 294
Best - 380
Bisch, Bish, Bishe, Bysh, Byshe, Bysshe - 475
Bishop ….. - 483
Boarer .. Boorder .. Bowrah - 612
Box, Boxall, Boxe, Boxhall - 401
Briant, Bryane, Bryant, Bryand - 318
Bridger .. Brydger - 742
Bromley, Bromly, Brumley, Brumly - 311
Brooker - 1719
Brooman .. Bruman - 276
Brown .. Browner - 2098
Budgen, Budgens, Budgeon, Budginne, Budge, Budgell, Budger, Budges, Budgin, Bugen, Bugden - 711
Burges .. Burgess .. Burgys - 1110
Callaway, Callour, Callow, Calow, Calloway - 87
Cambridge, Combridge, Coombridge - 216
Card, Carde, Cardy - 1474
Cat, Catt, Catte - 684
Chewtor .. Chuter - 216
Coalman, Coldman, Coleman, Collman, Colman, Coltman - 443
Cole .. Coal - 808
Cork, Corke, Corks - 908
Couchman, Cuchman, Cushman - 340
Cox, Coxe - 555
Crittal .. Critchell .. Crittle - 290
Crouch, Crouche, Croch - 333
Crowhurst .. Crawhurst .. Crouhull - 589
Curd, Curde - 496
Dadswell, Dadswall, Dodswell, Dodwell, Dadsell - 939
Dan, Dann, Danne, Dannett, Danns - 663
Denman, Deneman - 175
Dibley, Dibly - 176
Diplock .. Duplock - 785
Dival .. Dives .. Devall .. Duvall - 955
Doust - 206
Dumsday, Doomsday, Domsday, Dunsday - 49
Eastwood - 460
Edward, Edwardes, Edwards - 1492
Everest, Everist, Everst, Evrest, Evarest, Everice - 1143
Farmer, Farmor, Fermer, Fermor, Fermour, Formor - 1338
Fenner - 580
Field .. Field-Buss - 1126
Fowl, Fowle, Fowles, Fowll - 188
Fowler - 179
Frost - 498
Fry .. Fray .. Fre - 911
Gabriel - 170
Gilbert .. Gilbard .. Guilbird - 685
Gobey .. Golbey .. Godly .. Govey - 407
Goldsmith .. Gouldsmyth - 798
Gorham, Goreham - 105
Gravat, Gravatt, Gravett, Gravitt - 63
Groombridge ….. - 939
Grove, Groves - 465
Grover - 302
Gur, Gurr, Gurre - 363
Guy - 148
Hailer, Haler, Halor, Haylarr, Hayler, Haylor, Hayner, Heylar - 231
Hall, Halle, Halls - 1155
Hardwick, Hardwicke, Hardwyck - 69
Harman … Harmer - 1813
Hartfield, Hartfeild, Hadfield, Hatfield, Hathfeld - 431
Hawkins, Hawken - 352
Hazelden … Hassleden … Heselden - 562
Heaseman .. Hesman .. Hesmore .. Hasman .. Hosman - 1738
Heat, Heath, Hethe - 451
Heathfield, Hethfield - 67
Hebden, Hebdon, Hepden, Hepten, Hobbden, Hobday, Hobden, Hodben, Hobdin, Habden - 435
Hemesley .. Helmsley .. Hemssley - 637
Hider, Hyder, Hyden - 600
Hilder, Hilden - 233
Hill …. Hillman … Hylls - 1172
Histed, Histead, Histid, Hysted, Highstead - 256
Hoath, Hoathe, Hoth, Hothe - 589
Hobb, Hobbes, Hobbie, Hobbs, Hobs - 1031
Hollamby, Hollarnby, Hollimby, Hollingby, Hollomby, Holamby, Hollomley - 850
Holmwood .. Homewood - 1247
Hook, Hoocke, Hoock, Hooke - 497
Hooker - 419
Hudson, Hutson, Hodson - 537
Humphrey … Umphrey … - 995
Izzard, Issard, Iszard, Izard, Izared, Isard - 542
Jarvis, Jarris, Jarvice, Jarvies, Jervis, Garvis - 605
Jenner, Jennier, Jennor, Jannor, Jinner, Jonner - 1643
Jenner-Akehurst - 51
Kid, Kidd, Kidde, Kidder, Kiddle, Kide, Kider, Kidger, Kidner, Kydder, Kyder, Kyd - 365
Killick … Kellick - 1276
Langridge …… - 1661
Leveson, Leveson-Gower - 95
Luck, Lucks, Lucke, Lucket, Luckett - 470
Lulham, Lullam, Lullum, Lulliam - 170
Mackellow .. Manktelow .. Meckellou - 593
Marten, Martin, Martyn, Martins, Martten - 2047
Mascall, Mascal, Maschol, Maskal, Maskall, Maskeall, Maskel, Maskell - 168
Michelborne, Michiburne - 100
Miles, Mile, Milles, Myles - 1108
Moon, Mone, Moone, Mooney, Moonlight, Moun - 1146
Morphew, Morphewe - 145
Mudd, Muddel, Muddell, Muddet, Muddle, Muddler, Muddles, Mudel, Mudell, Mudle - 483
Napp .. Knapp - 96
Nevell, Nevile, Nevill, Nevil, Neville - 234
Noakes, Noaks, Nocke, Nockes, Neakes - 370
Obard, Obband, Obbard - 69
Packham .. Peckham - 957
Page, Page Mitchell, Pages, Paige, Peige - 1331
Paris, Parish, Parrish, Pariss, Parres, Parris, Parriss, Parrisse - 292
Parker …. - 1343
Peacock, Peacocke, Pecock - 353
Peerless …. - 367
Pett, Pette - 113
Piper, Pipper, Pyper - 996
Pocknall, Pocknell, Pocknal, Pocknel, Packnell, Picknall, Picknell, Puknell, Pucknall, Pucknell - 279
Pollington, Pollincton, Pollinton, Pollingstone - 228
Pratt, Pratts - 337
Price, Pryce - 313
Quickenden, Quitenden, Quittenden - 376
Ralff .. Relph .. Rolf - 1060
Rebbeck, Rebeck, Reback, Rayback - 54
Ridley, Ridly, Rydley - 346
Rivers - 89
Roger .. Rodgers .. Roggers - 1186
Sackville, Sackville-West - 197
Sale .. Sales .. Sayles - 856
Sandells .. Sendall - 135
Sawyer, Sawyers - 520
Shelley - 92
Sherley, Shirley, Shurley - 93
Spence, Spencer, Spenser - 296
Spittal, Spittall, Spittals, Spittel, Spittle, Spittles - 193
Stapley .. - 936
Stevens .. Stephens - 1401
Stevenson .. Stephenson - 709
Taner, Tanner - 185
Taylor .. Taillour .. Tailor - 2446
Tribe - 54
Turk, Turke, Turck, Turks, Tunks - 404
Turner .. - 2723
Twiner, Twine, Twinar - 118
Underwood - 161
Walter, Walters - 925
Watson, Watson-Smyth - 524
Weeding, Weedding, Weeden, Weedon, Weedin, Weden, Wesding - 138
Welfare …. - 374
Wenham … Whenham .. Wennam - 195
Weston, Western - 1157
Whapham …. - 65
Wheatley, Whetley, Weatly, Wheatly, Wheetley, Whetly - 741
Wicken .. Wickens .. Wickin ..Wykyn - 1650
Wickenden, Wickeden, Wikenden - 346
Wicker, Wickers, Wickerson, Wickersham - 219
Woodhams …. - 862
Wren …. - 522

Records from the 1881 census have been cross referred to the 1841 census; the 1851 census; to Parish records from 1550 for dozens of selected surnames; to guides, directories and lists published from the 1803 militia list to the 1888 directory. From this information, genealogical pedigrees have been established for the surnames listed above and a further 6,500 surnames are recorded as individuals.

Field Marshall Jeffrey Amherst
1716/7-1797
North America Commander

Jane Austen
1775-1817
Author

Wilfrid Ball
1853-1917
Painter

Sir William Burrell
1732-1796
Antiquarian

Anne Boleyn
1501-1536
Queen of England

Decimus Burton
1880-1881
Architect

Lt-Col. John By
1779-1836
Military engineer

Florence Emily Carlyle
1864-1923
Painter

Conan Doyle
1859-1930
Author

Charles Burgess Fry
1872-1956
Cricketer and journalist

Richard Jefferies
1848-1887
Naturallist and author

Rudyard Kipling
1865-1936
Author

Mark Antony Lower
1813-1876
Antiquarian and author

Ebenezer Littleton
1831-1920
Pastor

Louisa Martindale
1839-1914
Liberal and Nonconformist

A.A.Milne
1882-1956
Author

Richard "Beau" Nash
1674-1761
Dandy of the Georgian era

Coventry Patmore
1882-1956
Poet

Charles Leeson Prince
1821-1899
Surgeon and antiquarian

Richard Realf
1832-1878
Abolitionist and poet

Sir Thomas Sackville
1536-1608
Statesman and poet

Vita Sackville-West
1892-1962
Poet, author and gardener

William Makepeace Thackeray
1811-1863
Author

Rev Edward Turner
1794-1872
Antiquarian

Lt.-Gen. James Wolfe
172701759
"Liberator of Quebec"

People of note documents the lives of over ninety individuals who have made significant contributions to the Weald and includes:

three great diarists
Reverend Giles Moore 1655-1680
Walter Gale, Schoolmaster at Mayfield, 1750
Thomas Turner, 1754-1768

two great historians
Edward Hasted, Kent Historian, 1732-1812
Thpmas Walker Horsfield, Sussex Historian, 1792-1837

four great illustrators and cartographers
Richard Budgen, Cartographer, 1695-1731
Letitia Byrne, Engraver, 1779-1849
Charles Essenhigh Corke, Painter and Photographer, 1852-1922
James Lambert, Engraver, 1725-1788

1724	1795	1825	1875	1899

Maps of the Weald commence in the 16th century courtesy of the Buckhurst Terrier and other historical sources. The 18th century sees the beginning of detailed 1 inch to 1 mile maps and this site records the Richard Budgen maps of 1724, the William Gardner and Thomas Gream maps of 1795, the Christopher and John Greenwood maps of 1825 and cross refers these to the 6 inch to 1 mile Ordnance Survey maps produced in the 1870s and 1890s. Over 300 maps are available on this site

Rotherfield - 1785	Withyham - 1783	Eridge Castle - 1830	Mayfield - 1892	Wadhurst - 1906
Tonbridge - 1900	Tunbridge Wells - 1718	Speldhurst - 1900	Westerham - 1905	Sevenoaks - 1905

Over 1,900 Pictures, engravings and photographs of the Weald have been encoded into the database and identifiable locations have been cross-referred with the Weald database.

The History of Kent - Vol III	The History of Kent - Vol V	Edenbridge	Tunbridge Wells	Cobbetts Rural Rides
Tunbridge Wells and its Neighbourhood	The Ashdown Forest Dispute	Country Houses of Kent	English Homes and Villages (Kent & Sussex)	The Story of Wadhurst
The History of Sussex	The Worthies of Sussex	Highways & Byways in Sussex	Rotherfield	Buxted the Beautiful
The Story of Crowborough	The Buckhurst Terrier	Frant - A Parish history	The History of East Grinstead	Kellys Directory

Over 160 Books and documents about the Weald have been encoded into the database and identifiable locations and people have been cross-referred with the Weald database. For example: Windmills in Sussex Wealden Iron The Sussex Weald and other poems Brooker's Guide and Directory for Uckfield and District

To quote Richard Jefferies from his essay on Buckhurst Park - "This wild tract of Ashdown Forest bears much resemblance to Exmoor; you may walk, or you may ride, for hours and meet no one; and if black game were to start up it would not surprise you in the least. There seems room enough to chase the red stag from Buckhurst Park with horn and hound till, mayhap, he ended in the sea at Pevensey. Buckhurst Park is the centre of this immense manor. ........... Here and there a house stands, as it seems, alone in the world on the Forest ridge, thousands of acres of heather around, the deep weald underneath - as at Duddleswell, a look-out, as it were, over the earth. Forest Row, where they say the courtiers had their booths in ancient hunting days; Forest-Fold, Boar's-head Street, Greenwood Gate - all have a forest sound; and what prettier name could there be than Sweet-Haws? Greybirchet Wood, again; Mossbarn, Highbroom, and so on. Outlying woods in every direction are fragments of the forest, you cannot get away from it; and look over whatever gate you will, there is always a view. ........ Clouds drift over; it is a wonderful observatory for cloud studies; they seem so close, the light is so strong, and there is nothing to check the sight as far as its powers will reach. Clouds come up no wider than a pasture-field, but in length stretching out to the very horizon, dividing the blue sky into two halves; but then every day has its different clouds - the fleets of heaven that are always sailing on and know no haven"

This site is dedicated to presenting the records of the Weald of Kent, Surrey and Sussex that are more than 70 years old and in the public domain. It was launched in May 2003 and is continually being updated with more information about the Weald as it becomes available from transcriptions of Census data, Parish records, Pictures, Photographs, Maps, Books and many other documents.

Thanks also to over two hundred and fifty people who have kindly contributed much additional information to the site.
Such contributions are welcome from all by E-mail or by using a form.