Haywards Heath
Haywards Heath maps (2 available)
Map of West Sussex
Beautifully hand-drawn and coloured, dating from around 1840
See this old map of West Sussex
Personalised maps
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Haywards Heath books (10 available)
- 62 photos on Haywards Heath appear in 2 Frith books - View photos of Haywards Heath
- Read extracts and see photos from these books on Haywards Heath and West Sussex
Haywards Heath memories
Buses
I cannot recall this single-decker Leyland bus on the 29 Route from Lewes. It is worth noting that up to the 1950s most of the local bus routes were serviced by single and double decker laylands (with even a few pre-war 'Gilfords') but the Haywards Heath circular route (no 84) was always serviced by 'utility' GUY double deckers.
Contributed by The Frith Memory Archivist
People in the picture
My family friend Mrs Pat Davey thinks that the people on the right, walking along the pathway are her & her late husband William (Bill) Davey.
Contributed by Sally Mitchell
Shop names
'The Hayward' sign was outside 'Haywards Cafe & Restaurant' which flourished until the 1960s when it successively became 'Delmontes', 'Pieros', 'La Ferola' and now 'The Blue India'. Going down the right hand side of the Broadway facing north, one had immediatelyThe National Provincial Bank (with flats over;Mr Bill Lowings was the last manager to live 'over the shop' in the 1950s), then Evans (electrical) and Miss Warnett's wool shop. On the other side of the road looking north as depicted were Broadley Brothers (tailors), a dairy later a bakers, Mulhollands (shoe shop) and Ballards (grocers).
Contributed by The Frith Memory Archivist
Bus station
It could be an AEC double decker that is running into the bus station in this picture. I think it could be a little later than 1950 because of the 'embryo' roundabout, bnut not much because of the single decker leyland on the station forecourt. 'The Burrell Arms' (centre left), revamped in the 1930s, was once run by the father of cricketer Maurice Tate.
Contributed by The Frith Memory Archivist
More Building Use
As can be seen (also in 252002 & 252006), the 1930's "Psuedo Tudor" block on the corner then contained "Dewhursts" the multiple butchers, 2 (later 3) frontages for "Edward Hodges" an independent tailor and outfitter, then "Sussex Stationers" (manager Bruce Gillett?), The "Copper Kettle Cafe" (owned and run by Mr and Mrs Hyslop) and "Scilla" (hairdresser). The offices of "Vincent Penfold" estate agent, fronted Perrymount Circna and the tile hung building beyond was Commercial House offices of "Bradley and Vaughan", estate agents (see also H252586). I still work in the successor to "Comercial House", the sons of the original Mr Vaughan being my Landlords and the grandson still being an estate agent on the other side of Perrymount Road. By 1960 ...read more here
Contributed by The Frith Memory Archivist
"The Serg"
I was a fairly regular customer at "The Serg" from about 1955 to 1967. Mr Turner was the first landlord I knew and he was succeeded by Stan and Betty Allen who came from "The Charter" at Epsom.
Contributed by The Frith Memory Archivist
The Landlords daughter
I courted Bob Turner's daughter Pauline, and have very happy memories of times spent at The Serg. Where is Pauline now???? Dennis Nichols
Contributed by Dennis Nichols
Sergison Arms
I worked at The Serg in 1970-72, had a lot of great times there - The landlord was Len Henshaw who could enjoy a large gin for breakfast. Many really colourful regulars at that time
Contributed by michael robson
Shops
I suspect this is a little earlier than 1960 (but after 1956) the first building on the right was the offices of "Waugh Brummell and Barron" later Waugh & Co Solicitors and still going strong. The original Waughs were prominent in the C19 not only as solicitors but clerks to the Local Board, Magistrates and the newly formed Council. Further down on the right, up to the 1960's were "Jacksons Ironmongers", "Hoadley and Wickham" (provision merchants), Clarkes Book Shop and the offices of the Mid Sussex Times, Wrights (tobacconists), Cheals (hairdressers), a green grocers and Lloyds Bank.
Contributed by The Frith Memory Archivist
Charles Clarke clock
My Dad put up the clock that used to hang outside his office of Charles Clarke printers in Boltro Road. Does anybody know what happened to it ?
Contributed by Sally Mitchell
The Park
The "Park" - known to us as "The Rec". I walked across this daily to and from my prep school 1945-50 and our scout troup did it's wodcraft here!
Contributed by The Frith Memory Archivist
Shops and businesses
This is the Broadway as I knew it. Both the Middlesex registered Driving School Morris 1000 and the East Sussex registered Morris 1000 truck MPN556 date this to after 1958. On the right beyond Eastman's the cleaners were WF measor (haberdashers), JD Neal (who took over the business of F Butcher, jewellers), James Langridge (the Sussex Cricketer) who ran a toy shop, and beyond that was Ballards the grocers. On the left was mcMillans butchers but this shop was before that run by WE Kenneth Licoln farmer and pork butcher of Wivelsfield and a local magistrate from about 1937. His mother ran a butchers shop in Sussex Square. The building at right angles half way up ...read more here
Contributed by The Frith Memory Archivist
Shops and businesses
By this time Seeboard have taken over the Uptons building but Caffyns still have their garage premises which finally became a furniture salesroom in about 1982. the one way system has still not been created (see H252069), the restaurant is still 'Haywards' and the bank is the National Provincial.
Contributed by Peter Benner
Dinnages Toy Shop
Before George Hilton and Sons took over the buildings on the right as a furniture store (now Robert Dyas) it was Dinnages Toy Shop (a subsidiary of the garage company) where I bought my "Dinky" toys in the 1940's. The shop on this side was J Norton - bespoke outfitters.
Contributed by The Frith Memory Archivist
The Star
This is taken from outside the Star and shows (as does H252583) the system that pevailed before the Star became not jsut a pub but a roundabout eg things could turn right down the Broadway and Muster green north was still a through road. The 36 bus is going to East Grinstead (although the 30 only went to Chelwood Common to connect with another bus).
Contributed by The Frith Memory Archivist
Standard 8 Tourer
This neat little Standard 8 Tourer (DNJ 785 - an East Sussex registration from 1947) could then get down nearly to the pavilion.
Contributed by The Frith Memory Archivist
Spectators
It is possible that amongst the spectators of cricket on the lower tier maybe boys from "Sharrow School" in Heath Road, which I attended from 1945-50 because we played cricket there (see also H252587). If so, it is also possible that the lady standing in the foreground could be Miss Irwin (later Mrs Singer) a mistress at the school.
Contributed by The Frith Memory Archivist
Perrymount Cinema
As a child I went to the ABC minors every Saturday morning, it cost six old pence to get in. I think the last film that was shown at the cinema was in 1971, it was called Shaft and starred Richard Roundtree. I was one of the few there.
Contributed by john king
Extracts From Haywards Heath & West Sussex books
Beyond the bus stop on the left-hand side is the Perrymount cinema, which also housed
a dance hall and a café. It opened in 1936, and was very popular; it was also easy to get
to, being a mere quickstep away from the railway station (off to the right of this view).
Note the people under Edward Hodges` sunblind, which protected the garments
displayed from becoming faded. Possibly some of the merchandise could only be
purchased with the correct quantity of coupons, as wartime rationing had not yet ended.
An extract from from"Haywards Heath Living Memories".
This attractive children`s play area is set amongst pine trees next to the cricket pitch. The children in this photograph seem
to be really enjoying themselves. The central swing boat was popular with younger children, and the little girl in the centre
seems to be anxiously waiting her turn. The couple pushing the pram are possibly keeping an eye on the cricket as well as
admiring the baby.
An extract from from"Haywards Heath Living Memories".
The number 29 bus from
Lewes is probably on the
final part of its journey into
Haywards Heath. Note the
men on their bicycles and
their clothes - only one of
them is not wearing a tie.
The building on the
extreme right is the fire
station. In 1961 the fire
service moved to purpose-
built premises near
Commercial Square, and
this building was
demolished in 1981. Victoria
Gate (shops with offices
above) now stands on the
site. On the left of the
photograph, the parade of
shops remains recognisable
today, though the
proprietors have changed.
An extract from from"Haywards Heath Living Memories".
This photograph was taken from the platform of the railway station and
emphasises the station`s elevated position. The building on the left with the
decorative heraldic badge between the upper windows is the Burrell Arms pub.
Both the pub and the nearby shops were always useful to the increasing
number of people who used the transport links here. The single-storey building
standing on the right of the photograph is where the bus station was built in
1954. The traffic roundabout had only just been completed, hence the title of
this photograph. This view has changed very little during the past 50 years.
An extract from from"Haywards Heath Living Memories".
This photograph was
probably taken on a
Saturday afternoon when
it was possibly the only
time in the working week
when couples and/or
families could go
shopping together. It
certainly would not be a
Sunday, as no shop would
be open for business.
Society was becoming
more affluent - note the
number of private cars in
this picture.
An extract from from"Haywards Heath Living Memories".




