Hailsham
Hailsham maps (2 available)
Map of East Sussex
Beautifully hand-drawn and coloured, dating from around 1840
See this old map of East Sussex
Personalised maps
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Hailsham books (20 available)
Hailsham Photographic Memories
Paperback
Crawley Town Walk Guide
Paperback
Hastings - A History and Celebration
Hardback
- 30 photos on Hailsham appear in 2 Frith books - View photos of Hailsham
- Read extracts and see photos from these books on Hailsham and East Sussex
Hailsham memories
Be the first to add a memory of Hailsham.
You can also read memories of nearby places in East Sussex below.
East Sussex memories
When My Children Were Young.
We lived in Eastbourne at this time and would always come out to Pevensey Bay on summer days and spend time on the beach. It was so peacefull and there was very little traffic. There were many privately owned small shops and Pevensey Bay had a wonderfull village atmoshere. There was the Butchers shop, Greengrocers,Hairdressers,Do-It Yourself shop, who also sold wood e.t.c
Coast Road was rarely used by traffic, except to go to Normans Bay. The children used to love calling in to the Pet shop, who stocked Chinchilla, Rabbits, birds and other animals. We now live in the Bay and after all these years still loveit, although it has sadly changed,--- like most lovely ...read more here
A memory of Pevensey Bay contributed by Vera Otto
Our first home together.
In September 2007 my partner Alan and I moved into a first floor flat on Tideswell Road directly opposite the church. The fact that the lounge windows overlook the church was the clincher for me when I was viewing the flat for rental. I love the fact that we are not overlooked by other properties which is very unusual for a town centre property. The church itself is a very attractive building and a great piece of architecture. The gardens are smart and well maintained, although small boys sometimes get told off for playing football on the grass. There are now some trees on the pavement around the church which were really pretty when we moved in, dark green and covered ...read more here
A memory of Eastbourne contributed by angela green
Proposal
This is where Alan asked me to marry him on a beautiful moonlit evening in January. The weather was mild and the moonlight was shining on the sea making it all silvery. There weren't many people around, just the odd jogger and dog walker as it was a Monday night.
I guessed what was happening as he was so nervous, but due to some advice from my friend Simone I kept quiet for once. He took my hands in his and gave a lovely speech about the year we have spent together and then got down on one knee and asked me to be his wife.. and of course I said yes. The mischievous side of me was dying ...read more here
A memory of Eastbourne contributed by angela green
Eastbourne flower gardens
My Grandad was foreman of the Carpet Gardens on Eastbourne seafront. He took over from his elder brother who had taken over from their father. They had, as a family, looked after the Carpet Gardens for over a century.
The family name was Cottington. Grampy always told us that when digging over the flower beds they uncovered Roman mosaics. As a tribute to them they copied the design in the flowers.
Just a simple family memory from long ago.
A memory of Eastbourne contributed by yana askaroff
Extracts From Hailsham & East Sussex books
Hailsham, an old market town, lies about seven miles north of Eastbourne. For about 200 years its main industry was rope making, which was started by Thomas Burfield; his shop was in the High Street. In the late 19th century over a hundred people were working in the industry, and a central warehouse was also located in the High Street.
An extract from from"Sussex Revisited Photographic Memories".
Now past the North
Street junction, Frith’s
photographer is looking
north past the covered
wagon with its load of
barrels and sacks towards
the pedimented gable of the
1868 Wesleyan church on
the right; the police station
and court house of 1861 are
beyond. All the buildings in
this view survive, although
the shop fronts have been
renewed, while the building
on the left is boarded up
and looking sorry for itself
(January 2004).
An extract from from"Hailsham Photographic Memories".
Looking along George Street from Market Square, the timber-framed building and Ellis’s were replaced in 1910 in
Jacobean style by Market Chambers and a bank. This view captures the flavour of old Hailsham, nicknamed The
String Town for its Victorian industries of sack, rope and twine manufacture.
An extract from from"Eastbourne Photographic Memories".
The railway originally
ended at Terminus Place
(which is hardly surprising),
and housing was laid out
along the old lane onto
the common: this became
Western Road, with Summer
Heath Road a turning off in
the distance of this view. All
the houses on the right, apart
from the one in the middle
distance with two hipped-
roofed bay windows, have
since been demolished. The
1960s library, together with
modern housing estates, have
replaced them. The survivor
is now a Citizens Advice
Bureau and a working men’s
club. The recreation ground
is on the left.
An extract from from"Hailsham Photographic Memories".
One of the earliest
references to the
church in Hailsham
is in 1229, some
thirty years before
Henry II granted the
already existing town
a market charter.
However, the town
was served originally
by a chapel-of-ease
from Hellingly parish,
which may explain
why Hailsham’s
church is built behind
the High Street rather
than within it. This
view, from the south
east near Vicarage
Road, shows a
heavily Victorianised
medieval church; it
further suffered in
1943 when a bomb
blast destroyed all its
stained glass.
An extract from from"Hailsham Photographic Memories".






