The Weald of Kent, Surrey and Sussex
Haircomb Farm  Southview Road    Crowborough  

Books and other documents
PublishedTitle, author and references
1933The Story of Crowbrough ⇒ p. 58

Historical records

26th Feb 1839South View & Lords Well, South of Crowborough - 1839John Taylor (occupier) and John Villiers Shelley (owner)John Taylor, labourerHouse Meadow, Meadow (3 acres 2 roods 38 perches) plot 2801Rotherfield Tithe Map

26th Feb 1839South View & Lords Well, South of Crowborough - 1839William Wallett [sic] (occupier) and John Villiers Shelley (owner)William WalnutCottage and Garden (0 acres 0 roods 34 perches) plot 2802Rotherfield Tithe Map

6th Jun 1841CensusCaroline Taylor, F, Head, widowed, age 20 to 24, born SussexCaroline Taylor [Jarvis]Crowborough Common [Haircomb]1841 Census
Rotherfield, Sussex
John Taylor, M, [Son], age 6 months, born SussexJohn Taylor

6th Jun 1841CensusWilliam Walnut, M, Head, age 40 to 44, born Sussex; occupation BricklayerWilliam WalnutHair Coomb1841 Census
Rotherfield, Sussex
Hannah Walnut, F, [Wife], age 40 to 44, born SussexHannah Walnut [Harman]
Henry Walnut, M, [Son], age 14, born SussexHenry Walnut
Eleanor Walnut, F, [Daughter], age 11, born SussexElenor Walnut
Charlotte Walnut, F, [Daughter], age 9, born SussexCharlotte Killick [Walnut]

2nd Apr 1871CensusJoseph Wickens, M, Head, married, age 53, born Rotherfield, Sussex; occupation: farmer of 18 acres employing 2 menJoseph Wickens, farmer and schoolmasterHair Combe Farm1871 Census
Rotherfield and Crowborough, Sussex
Phebe Wickens, F, Wife, married, age 48, born Rotherfield, SussexPhoebe Wickens [Allcorn]
Frederick Wickens, M, Son, single, age 26, born Rotherfield, Sussex; occupation: farm labourerFrederick Wickens, miller's waggoner
William Wickens, M, Son, single, age 15, born Rotherfield, Sussex; occupation: farm labourerWilliam Wickens, builder's carpenter
Phebe Wickens, F, Daughter, age 8, born Rotherfield, Sussex; occupation: scholarPhoebe Dadswell [Wickens]
Emily Wickens, F, Daughter, age 4, born Rotherfield, Sussex; occupation: scholarEmily Brooman [Wickens]

c 1875South View & Lords Well, South of Crowborough - c 1875Part of the 6 inch to 1 mile map of Sussex produced in 1875 by Ordnance SurveyHaircomb

3rd Apr 1881CensusJoseph Wickens, M, Head, married, age 63, born Rotherfield; occupation FarmerJoseph Wickens, farmer and schoolmasterHair Combe1881 Census
Rotherfield, Sussex
Phebe Wickens, F, Wife, married, age 58, born RotherfieldPhoebe Wickens [Allcorn]
William Wickens, M, Son, single, age 25, born RotherfieldWilliam Wickens, builder's carpenter
Phebe Wickens, F, Daughter, single, age 18, born RotherfieldPhoebe Dadswell [Wickens]
Emily Wickens, F, Daughter, single, age 14, born Rotherfield; occupation ScholarEmily Brooman [Wickens]
Emily G. Wickens, F, Grand Daughter, age 11, born Rotherfield; occupation ScholarEmily Grace Wickens

1890HistoryHaircombe Farm HouseFirmin's Guide

There were no buildings on White Hill, which was then called Coldharbour, and the lower part of it was known by the name of the Bowling Alley. Along High Street, past South View to the Common on the left, stood only one building, Haircombe Farm House, belonging to Sir J. Shelley, Bart. On the opposite side was a long narrow thatched building, divided into compartments. This belonged to the parish, and was connected with the Poor House then existing at Rotherfield. It was used as a dwelling for the aged poor, and being built of slabs of wood, went by the name of Slab Castle. The ground around this building, consisting of several acres, also belonged to the parish.

The next building on this side of the way was placed where there are several fine yew trees. These trees still thrive, and are magnificent specimens of their species.

A very old thatched building yet remains near these trees. It marks the spot where the ancestor of one of the Crowborough families, between 200 and 300 years ago, first pitched his tent. He came from the North, and selecting this spot for his encampment, proceeded to cut down trees to build a wooden hut, which, on completing, he called Collier's Lodge. All around this spot was a thick wood, which, as he was a charcoal burner, supplied him with material for his work. The charcoal he sold to the ironmasters in the neighbourhood for their furnaces, and sometimes carried it to the London market.

There seems to have been no objection made by the Lord of the Manor at this period to anyone using the wood or settling upon the Forest, but at certain times the bailiff came round and demanded a small quit-rent as an acknowledgement of the Lord's manorial rights from those who had established themselves on the forest land. Subsequently, however, settlers, whenever they attempted to locate themselves on this waste ground, were summarily dislodged.

There appears to be little doubt that Crowborough Hill was well wooded at one period, and that the trees were all felled to make charcoal for the numerous furnaces in the vicinity. An old inhabitant recollects her father stating that he had seen seven furnaces at work at the same time around Crowborough, and that he remembered an oak tree being dug out of the Broom Bog, near Broom Farm, which was as black as the bog in which it was found. Her father was born in 1780, but there are also traditions from the grandfather and others going far back in time, and some of my statements are made from these traditions.


5th Apr 1891CensusJoseph Wickens, M, Head, married, age 73, born Rotherfield, Sussex; occupation FarmerJoseph Wickens, farmer and schoolmasterHarecombe1891 Census
Rotherfield, Sussex
Phebe Wickens, F, Wife, married, age 68, born Rotherfield, SussexPhoebe Wickens [Allcorn]
William Wickens, M, Son, single, age 35, born Rotherfield, Sussex; occupation Carpenter and JoinerWilliam Wickens, builder's carpenter
Emily Wickens, F, Daughter, single, age 24, born Rotherfield, Sussex; occupation SeamstressEmily Brooman [Wickens]
William George Wickens, M, Grandson, age 3, born Rotherfield, SussexWilliam George Wickens, coal porter

5th Apr 1891CensusEdward S Ainger, M, Head, widowed, age 58, born Greenwich, Kent; occupation: clergy in holy ordersEdward S Ainger, clergy in holy ordersHarecombe1891 Census
Rotherfield, Sussex
Isabel Ainger, F, Daughter, single, age 11, born Ascot, Berkshire; occupation: scholarIsabel Ainger
Thomas Edward Ainger, M, Son, age 7, born Rotherfield, Sussex; occupation: scholarThomas Edward Ainger
Louise G Coweston, F, Servant, widowed, age 32, born Binbey, Hertfordshire; occupation: housekeeperLouise G Coweston
Louise Mary Coweston, F, Brother, age 7, born Hammersmith, Middlesex; occupation: scholarLouise Mary Coweston
Sarah Saurner, F, Servant, single, age 50, born Sutton, Isle Of Ely, Cambridgeshire; occupation: general labourerSarah Saurner

c 1899South View, Coldharbour & Blacknest, South of Crowborough - c 1899Part of the 6 inch to 1 mile map of Sussex produced in 1899 by Ordnance SurveyHaircomb Farm

2nd Apr 1911CensusAnne Tyzack Kirkwood, F, Head, married 38 years, age 62, born Workesop, Nottinghamshire; occupation: private meansAnne Tyzack Kirkwood, private meansHarecombe, South View Road1911 Census
Crowborough, Sussex
John Tuzack Kirkwood, M, Son, single, age 34, born Workesop, Nottinghamshire; occupation: solicitorJohn Tuzack Kirkwood
Florence Dunlop Kirkwood, F, Daughter, single, age 35, born Retford, NottinghamshireFlorence Dunlop Kirkwood
John Douglas Latham, M, Visitor, single, age 37, born Croydon, Surrey; occupation: civil engineer (sanitary)John Douglas Latham
Hester Elizabeth Laker, F, Servant, single, age 39, born Worth, Sussex; occupation: cookHester Elizabeth Laker
Jane Imms, F, Servant, single, age 25, born Ringmer, Sussex; occupation: parlourmaidJane Imms
Edith Elva Hemsley, F, Servant, single, age 20, born Newick, Sussex; occupation: housemaidEdith Elva Hemsley
Edith Laura Reed, F, Servant, single, age 16, born Uckfield, Surrey; occupation: kitchenmaidEdith Laura Reed

2nd Apr 1911CensusWilliam Hornblow, M, Head, married, age 31, born Wallingford, Berkshire; occupation: gardenerWilliam Hornblow, gardenerHarecombe Cottages, South View Road1911 Census
Crowborough, Sussex
Annie Hornblow, F, Wife, married 4 years, age 33, born Stoke Newington N.EAnnie Hornblow
Lillie Hornblow, F, Daughter, age 1, born OxfordshireLillie Hornblow

2nd Apr 1911CensusWilliam Luck, M, Head, married, age 34, born Eridge, Sussex; occupation: coachmanWilliam Luck, coachmanHarecombe Cottages, South View Road1911 Census
Crowborough, Sussex
Minnie Katherine Luck, F, Wife, married 8 years, age 33, born Rotherfield, SussexMinnie Katherine Luck
Freda Kathleen Luck, F, Daughter, age 7, born Crowborough, Sussex; occupation: schoolFreda Kathleen Luck
Hilda Florence Luck, F, Daughter, age 5, born Crowborough, Sussex; occupation: schoolHilda Florence Luck

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