NEW Lindfield history book

Life in Lindfield history book

Following more than seven years working in partnership with Lindfield History Project Group, Lindfield Life has published a series of articles which depict the previous eras of Lindfield. 

With the support of keen local historian Richard Bryant, the idea was to bring together all the previously published articles from the magazine, into one place. The book – Life in Lindfield – was launched at Lindfield Village Day on Saturday 1st June 2024, with profits from the limited first print run going to registered charity King Edward Hall. 

However, after selling out, a second edition is now in print…

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The second edition of Life in Lindfield is now available to buy online, direct from Lindfield Life only.

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Editor David Tingley explained: “It has been a real privilege to work with Lindfield History Project Group, and in particular with Richard, over the years. His gathered knowledge means that he is my go-to person for any question relating to this village’s rich history! 

“I am delighted the group has agreed to let these articles be re-published, as I know when we publish content of this nature – many readers are ready to consume it. Having them all in one place, will be a fantastic and new resource for those history-hungry Lindfield enthusiasts!”

The 130-page book will include over 60 articles from Lindfield Life, some of which have been updated since original publication.

The history of Lindfield's fair - time flies when you're having fun

By Richard Bryant and John Mills

Each summer a fair arrives on Lindfield Common reflecting a tradition that has featured in village life for centuries. In medieval times Lindfield was a thriving small town. To maintain its importance and prosperity, in 1343 the Canons of South Malling, the Lords of the Manor, applied to Edward III for permission to hold fairs and a market. The King granted a Royal Charter allowing a market to be held every Thursday and two annual eight-day fairs to be held on 1st May, the Feast Day of Saint Philip and St James, and 25th July, the Feast Day of St James the Great. A charter for an eight-day fair was a significant privilege as they were usually for three or five days.

The first Lindfield Fairs were held in 1344, the Spring Fair probably for sheep and cattle with lambs featuring at the Summer Fair. The charter required them to be held ‘at the town’. Little is known of the fairs in medieval time but fairs across the country were similar events with records showing the trading of animals, the opportunity to buy a wide range of goods not available in the market or local shops. Itinerant traders travelled from fair to fair, less welcome were the rogue traders, pick-pockets and other ne’er-do-wells that such events attracted.

Image kindly provided by Elizabeth Wickstead

Fairs also gave locals the chance to make merry with entertainment provided by travelling minstrels. The Lindfield Fairs continued through the centuries but little information is known until the arrival of local newspapers in the early 1800s; by this time their duration was shorter and the July fair had moved to 5th August. Also, another fair was held in early April for the sale of tegs - two year old sheep - its origins are not known. The traditional ‘charter’ May Fair for sheep and cattle continued until in the early 1850s when it merged with the Summer Fair on the Common. The April Sheep Fair continued in the High Street; the wider roadway section below the Red Lion Inn being the traditional location of fairs since medieval times.

The Sussex Advertiser in April 1828 reported, ‘The Lindfield Teg Fair was most amply supplied with stock and buyers. This Fair has of late years attained a degree of celebrity superior to any in the County; and this assertion will be borne out by the fact that more sheep have been penned and have fetched greater prices than any Fair in the County.’ Similarly, in 1882 the Mid Sussex Times commented that the April Sheep Fair ‘was somewhat numerously attended by cattle dealers and agriculturalists. The High Street presented quite an old-time picturesque appearance, so far as the cattle etc. were concerned’ but the confectionery stalls were limited ‘and confined to the north end of the town.’

Nevertheless, the fair was in decline, partly due to the opening of cattle markets.

To read on and discover how the tradition survived turn to page 48 & 49 of July’s Lindfield Life magazine.

The history of Humphrey's Bakery in Lindfield

Humphrey’s Bakery, Lindfield - Richard Humphrey outside his shop

By Richard Bryant with Janet Bishop and John Mills, Lindfield History Project Group

The August local history article in Lindfield Life explained that the Common and Pond uniquely defined Lindfield and challenged that similar features could not be identified elsewhere in the country. It would be remiss not to pay tribute to another Lindfield icon, Humphrey’s Bakery, about which a similar claim could be made. Namely, does any other community have a bakery that traded continuously from the same premises for 223 years?

At 65 High Street, Humphrey’s shop front proudly proclaims the bakery was ‘Established 1796’. Perhaps equally remarkable, it has been run by only three families since that date. Having regard to the bakery’s history, it is appropriately located in one of Lindfield’s oldest medieval buildings; Humphrey’s, Bower House and Carriers were all constructed between 1300 and 1343. Its age is evidenced by the massive arched timber framing on the building’s northern side, into which, rather quirkily, three tiny windows have been cut.

When viewed from the street it will be seen that Humphrey’s shop is the cross wing of No 63 High Street, known as Wyncote. This is also of medieval date, although its age is not apparent having been re-fronted.

The early history of the building is yet to be fully discovered. However, a receipt document dated 1453, found during redecoration in the late 1940s, states the property was then occupied by ‘Thomas atte Ree’, probably a farmer.

He was paying rent of seven marks per quarter to his Lord of the Manor, the Dean of the College of Canons, South Malling. A mark was a unit of currency with a value of about 67p.

Returning to the bakery business, John Meads (1759–1826), a baker, first appeared in Lindfield parish records in December 1791, when with his wife, Ann, their daughter, Mary Ann, was baptised at the parish church.

In 1793, he took on a William Murrell as his apprentice. John Meads appears again in the Poor Rate records as a ratepayer from 1797 at Humphrey’s, which he rented from Thomas Blaker, a cordwainer. Accordingly, the claim that the bakery business at 65 High Street was established in 1796 is fully justified.

[An excerpt from the full article printed in Lindfield Life, October 2019]