The Weald of Kent, Surrey and Sussex
Forest Row
The forest near Forest Row in 1908
The forest near Forest Row in 1908
Forest Row is so called from its proximity to the great Forest of Ashdown, and originated in the building of hunting lodges for the use of noblemen and gentlemen who made sport there when "Lancaster Great Park" was in existence. A more desirable spot could scarcely be found; the venison was plentiful, and the scenery and bracing air delightful. The district abounds in picturesque beauty.
extract from M.A. Lower's A Compendious History of Sussex published in 1870
Forest Row is a village and parish in the East Grinstead division of Sussex, in the hundred of East Grinstead, rape of Pevensey, rural deanery of East Grinstead, archdeaconry of Lewes and diocese of Chichester. Forest Row was formed as a separate parish from East Grinstead in 1894. It is 3 miles south of East Grinstead and 33 miles south of London
The population of Forest Row in 1861 was 1,411; in 1871 was 1,817; in 1891 was 2,137; in 1901 was 2,516; in 1911 was 3,035; in 1921 was 3,303; and in 1931 was 2,989 (the decline being due to boundary changes with East Grinstead).
Forest Row historical notes has been derived from the same sources to highlight Forest Row's key events in chronological order

Parish & other records Before
1500
1500
to
1550
1550
to
1600
1600
to
1650
1650
to
1700
1700
to
1725
1725
to
1750
1750
to
1775
1775
to
1800
1800
to
1825
1825
to
1850
1850
to
1875
1875
to
1900
1900
to
1925
1925
to
1950
1950
to
1975
1975
to
2000
After
2000

1452Births315411561865110
847Christenings4943512
90Marriages582822
87Deaths13242651
106Burials37521052
 
Books and other documents
Published Title, author and references
1810Tunbridge Wells and its Neighbourhood by Paul Amsinck and Letitia Byrnep. 80
1835The History, Antiquities and Topography of the County of Sussex by Thomas Walker Horsfield, F.S.A.p. 390
1840New Guide for Tunbridge Wells by John Colbran and edited by James Phippen ⇒ p. 287
1867The Post Office Directory of Sussex by E. R. Kelly, M.A., F.S.S. ⇒ entry
1868Notes on East Grinstead by J. C. Stenning ⇒ p. 144
1870A Compendious History of Sussex - Volume I. by Mark Antony Lower, M.A.p. 187
1874The Post Office Directory of Sussex by E. R. Kelly, M.A., F.S.S. ⇒ entry
1882Kelly's Directory of Sussex by E. R. Kelly, M.A., F.S.S. ⇒ entry
1927The Sussex Highlands ⇒ p. 75
2004The Manor of Duddleswell by Colin J HobbsManor records

People of note
Slight, Rev. Benjamin
(1800 - 1889)
Nonconformist minister
       

Picturesmore pictures 

Brambletye House - 1782

The Old House, Brambletye - c 1785

Kidbrooke - 1809

Brambletye - 1809

Moated House at Brambletye - 1809

Brambletye House - c 1830

Brambletye House, interior - c 1830
 

Brambletye - 1840

House at Forest Row - 5th Feb 1892

Brambletye - c 1900

High Street - c 1900

The Village - 1903

Brambletye Hotel - 1904

The Weirs - 1904
 

Forest Row Maps

c 1724

c 1795

c 1825

c 1899
 

Sussex Maps

1750

1st Sept 1787

1808
 

Acorn Gill
Admiral's Bridge
Albion Cottage
Alpha Villa
Armstrong Cottages
Ashdown Cottage
Ashdown Cottage
Ashdown Forest [near Forest Row]
Ashdown House [a.k.a. Ashdown Place, Lavortye]
Ashurst Cottages
Back Road
Ballards Farm
Bank Farm
Bashford's Cottages
Bethesda Chapel
Blenheim Villas
Bower Hill
Bramblehurst
Brambletye Hotel
Brambletye House
Brambletye Mansion
Brambletye Mill
Brickyard Cottage
Broadstone Farm
Brook Farm
Brookers Bottom
Burnthouse Farm
Cedar Cottage
Chapel Lane
Chapel Lane
Charlwood
Chequers House
Coldharbour
Colyton House
Cookham
Corn Mill
Cottage
Court-in-Holmes
Courtlands
Cripps Corner
Dallingridge Farm
Delta [a.k.a. Delton] Villa
Doges [a.k.a. Dodges] Cottage
Domaha
Fir Bank
Forest Row
Forest Row Gas Works
Forest Row Green
Forest Row Post Office
Forest Row Rectory
Forest Row School
Forest Row Smithy
Forest Row Station
Forest Row Village
Forest View
Frogs Mote
Fuller's House
Gashouse Cottages
Gateway Manor House
Gatlands Row
Gilhams Lane
Goat Farm
Greenhall
Harbury
Hartfield Road
Highgate
Hill House
Hill Place House
Hindleap
Hindleap Lodge
Holly Cottage
Holy Trinity Church
Home Dale
Hooker's Cottage
Horseshoe Farm
Hospital Farm
Infant School
Ivy Cottage
Ivy Cottage
Keepers Cottage
Kidbrooke
Kimberley Place
Lavender Cottage
Legsheath
Lewes Road
Lower Road
Macks Cottages
Marles
Marlpits Hall
Martin's Cottages
May's House
Meadowlands
Monkshill
Mudbrook
Nenthorn
Oakcroft
Oakfields
Park Corner
Park Hill Farm
Parkside Cottage
Pixton [a.k.a. Pickstones] House
Plawhatch
Poplar Cottage
Primrose Cottages
Quabrook Common
Railway Hotel
Rist Farm
Rose Cottage
Rose Cottages
Royal Ashdown Forest and Tunbridge Wells Golf Club
Royal Oak Public House
Shalesbrook [Shelves Brook]
Snuff and Rag
South Park Farm
Stonehouse
Strattons Cottages
Swan Inn
Tablehurst
Tablehurst Farm
Testers Cottage
The Elms
The Hollies
The Homestead
The Laurels
The Priory [a.k.a. Clay Pits]
Tompset's [a.k.a. Thommas's] Bank
Trimmers Pond
Tunbridge Wells Road
Turnpike Gate
Twyford Cottages
Tyes Cross
Vine Cottage
Walesbeech [a.k.a. Welsbeach, Whalesbeach]
Wall Hill
Wallhill Farm
Warren Side
Wells Cottage
Whitehouse Farm
Windmill Cottage
Woods House
Woolvins Lane
Yew Cottage
'
Historical records

1750SussexSussex by Thomas KitchinForrest RowThomas 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.

1st Sep 1787[North] Sussex[North] Sussex by John CaryForest RowJohn Cary
John Cary, apprenticed to William Palmer in 1770, went into business in 1783 as a publisher of maps, plans and road-books. He was highly successful and is referred to as the founder of the modern English School of Cartography by H.G. Fordham

c 1795Forest Row, Sussex - c 1795Part of the 1 inch to 1 mile map of Sussex produced in 1795 by William Gardner and Thomas GreamForest Row

1808[North] Sussex[North] Sussex by G.Cole and engraved by J.RoperForest RowG. Cole
The British atlas; comprising a series of county maps…intended to illustrate and accompany 'The beauties of England and Wales' published 1808.

6th Jun 1841CensusForest Row1841 Census
East Grinstead, Sussex
All that part of the Parish of East Grinstead which lies between the road from East Grinstead to Lagsheath and Twyford Lodge and the road leading from Wytch Cross to East Grinstead turnpike gate, bounded by the Parish of Horsted Keynes and Maresfield, Brockhurst House and Cottages are included in this district.
Enumerator: Joseph Simmons

6th Jun 1841CensusForest Row1841 Census
East Grinstead, Sussex
All that part of the Parish of East Grinstead which lies to the North of the turnpike road from Wytch Cross to Forest Row bridges, bounded on the West by the river Medway and bounded by the Parishes of Maresfield and Hartfield.
Enumerator: James Brooker

3rd Apr 1881CensusSamuel Taylor, M, Head, married, age 31, born Hastings, employs 1 boy; occupation: baker's confectionerSamuel Taylor, baker's confectionerBakers Shop1881 Census
East Grinstead, Sussex
Sarah Ann Taylor, F, Wife, married, age 27, born SurreySarah Ann Taylor [Simpson]
Florence Jane Taylor, F, Daughter, age 3, born HastingsFlorence Jane Taylor
Herbert Robert Taylor, M, Son, age 2, born East GrinsteadHerbert Robert Taylor
Eva Ethel Taylor, F, Daughter, age 5 m, born East GrinsteadEva Ethel Taylor
Charlotte Bouis, F, Servant, single, age 14, born Ticehurst, occupation: servantCharlotte Bouis
John Huggett, M, Servant, single, age 15, born East Grinstead; occupation: baker's boyJohn Huggett

3rd Apr 1881CensusWilliam Walker, M, Head, married, age 41, born London; occupation UpholstererWilliam WalkerUpholsterers Shop1881 Census
East Grinstead, Sussex
Elizabeth Walker, F, Wife, married, age 42, born BerkshireElizabeth Walker
William Walker, M, Son, age 10, born London; occupation ScholarWilliam Walker
Edith Walker, F, Daughter, age 8, born London; occupation ScholarEdith Walker
John Charles Walker, M, Son, age 6, born London; occupation ScholarJohn Charles Walker
Maude Walker, F, Daughter, age 3, born LondonMaude Walker
Lillian Walker, F, Daughter, age 1, born East GrinsteadLillian Walker

3rd Apr 1881CensusThomas Newberry, M, Head, married, age 33, born Bletchingly, Surrey; occupation PainterThomas NewberryWolrius Lane1881 Census
East Grinstead, Sussex
Mary Newberry, F, Wife, married, age 32, born BedfordshireMary Newberry
Lettia Newberry, F, Daughter, single, age 3, born Forest RowLettia Newberry
George T. Newberry, M, Son, single, age 1, born Forest RowGeorge T. Newberry

3rd Apr 1881CensusWilliam Heasman, M, Head, married, age 24, born Hartfield; occupation: labourerWilliam Heasman, labourerWolwins Lane1881 Census
East Grinstead, Sussex
Eliza Heasman, F, Wife, married, age 22, born HartfieldEliza Heasman [Young]

3rd Apr 1881CensusCaleb Botting, M, Head, single, age 45, born Croydon, Surrey, occupation: trampCaleb Botting, trampCockham Hill1881 Census
East Grinstead, Sussex

3rd Apr 1881CensusForest Row1881 Census
East Grinstead, Sussex
The Southern part of East Grinstead Parish that includes Ashdown Forest near Forest Row, Highgate, Stone Quarry House and Witch Cross Inn

3rd Apr 1881CensusForest Row1881 Census
East Grinstead, Sussex
The Southern part of East Grinstead Parish that includes the western part of Forest Row, Brambletye, Kidbrook, Mudbrook, Priory, Hospital Farm, Hollybush Farm, Frame Post, The Hermitage, Brockhurst and Horseshoe Farm

3rd Apr 1881CensusForest Row1881 Census
East Grinstead, Sussex
The Southern part of East Grinstead Parish that includes Forest Row Village, Forest Row Green and Quay Brook Common

c 1899Forest Row and Brambletye House, Sussex - c 1899Part of the 6 inch to 1 mile map of Sussex produced in 1899 by Ordnance SurveyForest Row

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