The Weald of Kent, Surrey and Sussex
Old Buckhurst    Withyham Village  Withyham  

Books and other documents
PublishedTitle, author and references
1766The History of Tunbridge Wells by Thomas Benge Burr ⇒ p. 266
1810Tunbridge Wells and its Neighbourhood by Paul Amsinck and Letitia Byrnep. 72
1830Guide of Tunbridge Wells ⇒ p. 161
1832Descriptive Sketches of Tunbridge Wells and the Calverley Estate by John Britton, F.S.A. ⇒ p. 140
1840New Guide for Tunbridge Wells by John Colbran and edited by James Phippen ⇒ p. 280
1870A Compendious History of Sussex - Volume II. by Mark Antony Lower, M.A.p. 264
1871The Parliamentarian Surveys of the County of Sussex by John Robert Daniel-Tyssen, F.S.A. ⇒ p. 193; p. 209
1902Historical Notes of Withyham, Hartfield and Ashdown Forest by C. N. Suttonp. 92
1909English Homes and Villages (Kent & Sussex)
also published as
Tunbridge Wells and its Neighbourhood by Lady Hope ⇒ p. 93
1911Old Buckhurst by W.D. Scullp. 62
1927The Sussex Highlands ⇒ p. 33
1985Crowborough - The Growth of a Wealden Town by Malcolm Payne ⇒ p. 21

Historical records

1230BirthSir Jordan SackvilleBuckhurstIGI - Family Search

1254BirthSir Andrew SackvilleBuckhurstIGI - Family Search

1274HistoryOld BuckhurstSutton's Historical Notes
The first direct mention of this ancient house [Old Buckhurst] is in the Enquiry of 1274, after the death of the late owner, Sir Jordan de Sackville, who became possessed of the property through marriage with the Lady Ela de Dene. It is spoken of as that time as "a well-built dwelling house", and there are indications of even greater antiquity in certain parts of the ruins, where portions of Saxon masonry are to be seen built in the walls.

1288BirthAndrew SackvilleBuckhurstIGI - Family Search

1536BirthSir Thomas Sackville, 1st Earl of DorsetBuckhurstCharles J. Phillips'
History of the Sackville Family

1584BirthMary Neville [Sackville], Lady BergavennyBuckhurstIGI - Family Search

1597FreeholderSir Thomas Sackville, 1st Earl of Dorsetcapital mansion and manor house called BuckhurstBuckhurst Terrier
Thomas Sackvill, Knight, Lord Buckhurst, holds the site, capital mansion and manor house called Buckhurst, being within the park called Great Parck of Buckhurst als Buckhurst Parck, being 1150 acres of meadow, pasture and wood. Also the Little Parck of Buckhurst als Stonelands Parck, being 520 acres. Within this parck is situate a messuage called Stonelands Lodge with a barn and a garden.
In all Buckhurst is worth £46 per annum

1597Occupation Keeper of the Great Parck of BuckhurstThomas WoodgateOld BuckhurstBuckhurst Terrier

c 1597Hartfeild, Withyham, and Buckhurst Parck, The Manor of Buckhurst - c 1597Part of the maps produced in 1597 in the Buckhurst TerrierBuckhurst

c 1600Plan of BuckhurstPlan of Buckhurst, Withyham drawn by John ThorpeOld Buckhurst

1610[North] Sussex[North] Sussex by John Norden and augmented by John SpeedBuckhurstJohn Speed
The first engraved maps of the counties of Great Britain were the work of Christopher Saxton who, under the authority of the Privy Council, surveyed the English counties in Elizabethan times, from 1574 to 1578. In 1593 he was followed by John Norden who projected an ambitious scheme for a complete series of county histories. He published before his death a number of counties - Middlesex, Hertfordshire, Essex, Northampton, Cornwall, Sussex and Surrey. John Speed's map of Sussex is based upon Norden's map and was engraved by Jodocus Hondius. It occupies pages nine and ten of John Speed's Atlas entitled "The Theatre of the Empire of Great Britaine", is 20 1/4 inches by 15 1/4 inches in size and shows additionally an interesting plan of Chichester and a spirited representation of the Battle of Hastings.

1645[North] Sussex[North] Sussex by Jan BlaeuBuckhurstJan Blaeu

1695[North] Sussex[North] Sussex by Robert MordenBuckhurstRobert Morden
Robert Morden was a London bookseller from 1669 until his death in 1703. He specialised in the geographical field and was himself something of a cartographer and a publisher. Throughout the 17th and most of the 18th centuries, there was little distinction between the activity of book or print-selling and that of publishing: many booksellers were also printers or engravers. They undertook the sale of each others' work and often combined to meet the high cost of publishing a new map or reissue of an old atlas, even if the original plates were still available. This map was published in Brittania: a chorographical description of Great Britain and Ireland by William Camden.

c 1724Withyham, Sussex - c 1724Part of the 1 inch to 1 mile map of Sussex produced in 1724 by Richard BudgenBuckhurst

1750SussexSussex by Thomas KitchinBuckhurstThomas Kitchin
Thomas Kitchin, an engraver and publisher from c.1738 to 1776, held the appointment of Hydrographer to the King. His output was prolific. He engraved the maps of the British and French dominions in North America by John Mitchell (1755), which was used at the peace coucil at the end of the revolutionary war. In his later years he worked with his son (hence senior after his name in the c.1755 edition of the Small English Atlas). He died in 1784.

c 1780Old Buckhurst Gate TowerOld Buckhurst Gate Tower, Withyham drawn by James LambertOld Buckhurst

1804Buckhurst HouseBuckhurst House, print by I.H. Green© British Library Board - Shelfmark: K Top XLII, Item number: 28.1

1809BuckhurstBuckhurst, Withyham by Paul Amsinck & engraved by Letitia ByrneLetitia ByrneAmsinck's Tunbridge Wells

1824BuckhurstBuckhurst, Withyham by J. Clifford, Tunbridge WellsGuide of Tunbridge Wells

1840[North] Sussex[North] Sussex by Joshua Archer, Pentonville, LondonBuckhurst ParkDugdale
Dugdale's England and Wales Delineated

1851De La Warr, The Hon., EarlGeorge John Sackville-West, 5th Earl De La WarrBuckhurst ParkPost Office Directory

1867Directory entryOld BuckhurstPost Office Directory
Not far from the church are a tower and other portions of buildings, which are the remains of the ancient house of Buckhurst, where the Lord Treasurer of Queen Elizabeth lived, and who was afterwards made Earl of Dorset: the heiress of that family is the Countess De La Warr (Baroness Buckhurst).

1874Directory entryOld BuckhurstPost Office Directory
The church of St. Michael is a stone building, with square tower containing an excellent peal of 6 bells in 1844 the interior was entirely renovated, and a south aisle added: on the north-eastern side is a private chapel, belonging to the ancient family of Sackville : here are the banners and arms of that family, beneath which is the vault, which for many centuries has been their place of burial: there are three fine monuments execute by Nollekens, Flaxman and Chantrey : in the north window, in stained glass, is the genealogy of the family from the time of the Norman Conquest. The register dates from the year 1663. The living is a rectory, worth £868 per annum with residence, in the gift of the Earl De La Warr, and held by the Rev. Thomas Frederick Rudston Read M.A. of University College, Oxford.

c 1875Buckhurst, Balls Green, St Mary's & St Michael's, Hartfield & Withyham - c 1875Part of the 6 inch to 1 mile map of Sussex produced in 1875 by Ordnance SurveyBuckhurst House

3rd Apr 1881CensusWilliam Woodrow, M, Head, married, age 52, born Suffolk; occupation GamekeeperWilliam WoodrowBuckhurst Park1881 Census
Hartfield, Sussex
Abigail Woodrow, F, Wife, married, age 56, born SussexAbigail Woodrow [Edwards]
William R. Woodrow, M, Son, single, age 23, born Sussex; occupation GardenerWilliam Robert Woodrow
Eliza J. Woodrow, F, Daughter, single, age 21, born SussexEliza Jane Woodrow
Arthur F. Woodrow, M, Son, single, age 17, born SussexArthur Frederick Woodrow, general labourer
Mary Ann E. Woodrow, F, Daughter, age 15, born SussexMary Ann Virtue Woodrow
Charles A. Woodrow, M, Grandson, age 9, born DevonCharles A. Woodrow
Alles M. Woodrow, F, Granddaughter, age 5, born SussexAlice Mercy Woodrow

3rd Apr 1881CensusWilliam Smith, M, Head, married, age 53, born Scotland; occupation: farm stewardWilliam Smith, farm stewardOld Buckhurst1881 Census
Withyham, Sussex
Ellen Smith, F, Wife, married, age 53, born ScotlandEllen Smith
Ellen Smith, F, Daughter, single, age 20, born ScotlandEllen Smith
William Smith, M, Grandson, age 10, born Cheshire; occupation: scholarWilliam Smith

3rd Apr 1881CensusElizabeth Bell, F, Serv (Head), single, age 30, born Yorkshire, occupation: maidElizabeth Bell, maidBuckhurst House1881 Census
Withyham, Sussex
Annie Heasman, F, Servant, single, age 21, born Withyham; occupation: housemaidAnnie Heasman
Frederick Collings, M, Groom, single, age 26, born Hertfordshire, occupation: groomFrederick Collings

3rd Apr 1881CensusJohn Francis Hewitt, M, Head, married, age 46, born Withyham; occupation: gardenerJohn Francis HewettBuckhurst House Garden1881 Census
Withyham, Sussex
Mary Ann Hewitt, F, Wife, married, age 44, born WithyhamMary Ann Hewitt
Emma Hewitt, F, Daughter, age 9, born Withyham; occupation: scholarEmma Hewitt
Ann Eliza Hewitt, F, Daughter, age 8, born Withyham; occupation: scholarAnn Eliza Hewitt
George Hewitt, M, Son, age 7, born Withyham; occupation: scholarGeorge Hewitt
Albert Hewitt, M, Son, age 5, born Withyham; occupation: scholarAlbert Hewitt
Harry Hewitt, M, Nephew, age 15; occupation: letter carrierHarry Hewitt

1882Directory entryOld BuckhurstKelly's Directory
Not far from the church are a tower and other portions of buildings, the remains of the ancient house of Buckhurst, where the Lord Treasurer of Queen Elizabeth, afterwards mode Earl of Dorset, lived; Earl de Ia Warr is the heir of that family.

1890HistoryBuckhurstFirmin's Guide

Buckhurst is within the parish. It is mentioned in Domesday Book thus: - " The same Ansfrid holds half a hide in Biochest outside the rape of the Earl (Mortain). Frane held it of King Edward. It lay in Waningore. It has never paid geld. There is land for one plough, and there it is, with one villein. It was worth 15s., now 5s."

Biochest is said to be a corrupt spelling of the Anglo-Saxon boc hyrst - beech wood.

In Buckhurst Park is the seat of the Earl Delawarr. This park is romantic and well timbered, having many fine oak and beech trees. There are also several pieces of water. A walk through it on a fine day is one of the most delightful of pleasures. The noble old trees, silent yet eloquent with the history of centuries, the cawing of the rooks, indignant at the intrusion of a stranger, the rustling of the nimble squirrel skipping from bough to bough, the gambols of innumerable rabbits, the enquiring look and innocent curiosity of the gentle fallow-deer, the rippling of the water, the singing of the birds, and the hum of insects, plunge the mind into the very depths of romance and poetry. We almost realise the presence of a hawking party just issuing from the shadow of the wood into the glade before us. What we actually saw was the huntsmen, in their scarlet coats, disappearing behind clumps of trees and appearing again on the grassy slopes of the opposite hill - a truly picturesque scene. Red deer are said to be kept in that part of the park called the "Five Hundred," which is thickly covered with forest trees.


1890HistoryBuckhurst HouseFirmin's Guide

The site of the old mansion, Buckhurst House, which for many centuries was the home of the Sackvilles, was some little way west of the present mansion, and on much lower ground. Very little of the old building remains - only the old gate tower and a small part of one side of the quadrangle, but the court is still well defined. There are also yet to be seen, below the house, parts of subterraneous passages which a few years ago could be explored for some distance, but have since become blocked up with the earth which has fallen into them. The old mansion was forsaken and allowed to fall into ruins, when Lord Buckhurst obtained a grant of Knole, in Kent, and some of the materials were carried to East Grinstead to be used in building there the Sackville College. The property originally belonged to the family of Dene, but by the marriage of Ela Dene with Jordon de Sackville it came into possession of the Sackville family. At this old mansion was born Thomas Sackville, more illustrious from his abilities and learning than from his title, who afterwards became the first Earl of Dorset. He died in 1608, in the reign of James I., whilst sitting in the Council Chamber at Whitehall, at the advanced age of 80 years, and was buried at Withyham.


5th Apr 1891CensusWilliam Smith, M, Head, married, age 65, born Scotland; occupation: farm bailiffWilliam Smith, farm bailiffOld Buckhurst1891 Census
Withyham, Sussex
Ellen Smith, F, Wife, married, age 65, born ScotlandEllen Smith
Ellen Smith, F, Daughter, single, age 30, born ScotlandEllen Smith

c 1900Old BuckhurstOld Buckhurst, WithyhamSutton's Historical Notes

c 1900Buckhurst TowerBuckhurst Tower, WithyhamAshdown Forest

c 1900Old Buckhurst TowerOld Buckhurst Tower, Withyham photographed by G. GlanvilleSutton's Historical Notes

c 1900Buckhurst HouseBuckhurst House, WithyhamOld Buckhurst

1904Old BuckhurstOld Buckhurst, WithyhamPrivate collection

1911Old Buckhurst Gate TowerOld Buckhurst Gate Tower, Withyham photographed by J. C. StenningOld Buckhurst

2nd Apr 1911CensusJohn Ditch, M, Head, married, age 60, born Etchingham, Sussex; occupation: land agent to Earl de la WarrJohn Ditch, land agent to earl de la warrOld Buckhurst1911 Census
Withyham, Sussex
Sarah S. Ditch, F, Wife, married 36 years, age 58, born Withyham, SussexSarah S. Ditch
Walter Kirk, M, Boarder, single, age 48, born Inverness, Scotland; occupation: architectWalter Kirk
Dorothy Krewherger, F, Visitor, single, age 23, born Chingford, EssexDorothy Krewherger
. . Cowland, F, Maid, single, age 42, born Royston, Kent; occupation: private means. . Cowland
. . McLeish, F, Cook, single, age 61, born Royston, Hertfordshire; occupation: housemaid. . McLeish
. . Homberger, F, Visitor, single, age 16, born London, Middlesex; occupation: cook. . Homberger

1920Old Buckhurst from ParkOld Buckhurst from Park, HartfieldPrivate collection

2001TodayBuckhurst Farm Cottage

2001TodayBuckhurst Farm

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