Publications
Restoration of the Old Watermill (Park Mill) at Batemans, Burwash, by A. J. Haselfoot, published 1976 in Sussex Industrial History (No. 7, article, pp.13-20) accessible at: W.S.R.O. [Lib 16389/7] & The Keep [LIB/506524] Download PDF
Abstract:Park Mill, Burwash, was built about 1750 with two pairs of stones and was operated continuously until 1902. At this date the mill was shut down by Rudyard Kipling who had bought the Batemans Estate, the water wheel was removed and a small water turbine and generator was installed to light the main house. The history of the mill will not be enlarged on here as it is well described in another article in this journal).
The mill as originally built was only one bay wide, about 10' x 20' floor area, and was of two storeys with a pitched roof, with the ridge running East-West, the bin floor being in the roof space. It was driven by a 10' diameter overshot wheel, probably 5' wide, and there was no auxiliary drive or auxiliary machinery, the sack hoist being hand-operated. The building was probably enlarged to its present size in the 1830s when the third pair of stones was installed (the date 1836 is cut in the plaster on the rim of the runner stone). The extension was also of two floors with a pitched roof but the ridge in this case runs North-South and extends over the adjoining mill-cottage which may have been built at the same time or rather earlier. On the cover is a drawing of the East side of the mill, made in 1929, which shows what was presumably the original door to the mill. A wire-machine or dresser (for cleaning and grading the meal) and a smutter (for cleaning the grain) were apparently installed about this time as well as a mechanical drive to the sack hoist, a small crown wheel being fitted below the great spur wheel.
The mill as originally built was only one bay wide, about 10' x 20' floor area, and was of two storeys with a pitched roof, with the ridge running East-West, the bin floor being in the roof space. It was driven by a 10' diameter overshot wheel, probably 5' wide, and there was no auxiliary drive or auxiliary machinery, the sack hoist being hand-operated. The building was probably enlarged to its present size in the 1830s when the third pair of stones was installed (the date 1836 is cut in the plaster on the rim of the runner stone). The extension was also of two floors with a pitched roof but the ridge in this case runs North-South and extends over the adjoining mill-cottage which may have been built at the same time or rather earlier. On the cover is a drawing of the East side of the mill, made in 1929, which shows what was presumably the original door to the mill. A wire-machine or dresser (for cleaning and grading the meal) and a smutter (for cleaning the grain) were apparently installed about this time as well as a mechanical drive to the sack hoist, a small crown wheel being fitted below the great spur wheel.
Excavations 1975: Hailsham, by A. J. Haselfoot, published April 1976 in Sussex Archæological Society Newsletter (no. 18, article, p.81, ISSN: 0307-2568) accessible at: S.A.S. library Download PDF
The Batsford Guide to the Industrial Archaeology of South-East England, by A. J. Haselfoot, published 1978 (153 pp., London: B. T. Batsford, ISBN-10: 0713415614 & ISBN-13: 9780713415612) accessible at: R.I.B.A. Library & West Sussex Libraries & East Sussex Libraries
Review by A. G. Woodcock in Sussex Industrial History, 1979:A. J. Haselfoot in his 'Guide to the Industrial Archaeology of South-East England' has succeeded in producing a book which will appeal to practically everyone no matter what their level of interest in the subject. The past few years have seen a steady growth in public support for industrial archaeology and a book of this nature had been long overdue. This is a book to dip into, for no one can fail to find something of fascination amongst the 573 sites described or in the 65 photographs it contains. John Haselfoot has visited the majority of these sites personally during the course of his researches, and this intimate contact with his subject shows strongly in the text. Let us hope that this book will go someway towards alerting public opinion to the importance of industrial monuments as part of our heritage and stimulate further research and interest in the subject. If there is to be a criticism, then it must be of the book's somewhat high price, which might have the unfortunate effect of deterring the more general reader.
Old Bridges at Newhaven, by A. J. Haselfoot, published 1978 in Sussex Industrial History (No. 8, article, pp.5-10) accessible at: W.S.R.O. [Lib 16389/8] & The Keep [LIB/506525] Download PDF
Abstract:From the 13th to the 18th Century the only means of crossing the River Ouse at Newhaven was by a ferry, from the bottom of High Street across what is now the old arm of the river, to the West of Denton Island. In 1783 the inhabitants petitioned for a bridge to be built and an Act was passed by Parliament in 1784 authorising the building of a bridge on the site of the ferry. Thirteen Trustees, headed by the Earl of Surrey, were appointed and allowed to charge a toll on the bridge. The owner of the ferry, Henry Bates, was willing to the bridge to be built and was handsomely compensated for the loss of the ferry dues.
As the Ouse was navigable above Newhaven and there were several shipyards above the site of the ferry it was decided to make a wooden drawbridge with a 40ft (12.2m) opening in the middle. The fixed approach bridges were 35ft 5 ins (9.9m) on the West side, where a toll house was erected on the quay, and 60ft (18.3m) to the bank on the East side. The two leaves of the centre section were lifted up towards the sides to open the channel for shipping. A sketch of the bridge, which also shows the toll house, is in the Burrell Collection at the British Museum.
In 1847 the L.B. & S.C.R. reached Newhaven by way of a branch from Southerham Junction on the Lewes - Eastbourne line. As the railway was on the East bank of the river, while Newhaven was on the West bank, this resulted in a considerable increase in traffic over the bridge and in 1863 plans were prepared for a new bridge lower down river. This was to be a swing bridge and would be built in conjunction with a new cut across the large S-bend through Denton which would straighten the channel and improve the scour at the harbour mouth. The works were estimated to cost £31000, of which the Railway Company would contribute £5000. In 1864 the old drawbridge was purchased for £4000 by the Trustees of the Newhaven Harbour Board and the Lower Ouse Navigation, and work was started on the new bridge with Henry Grissell as civil engineer and Mr. Jacomb as the Railway Company's engineer.
As the Ouse was navigable above Newhaven and there were several shipyards above the site of the ferry it was decided to make a wooden drawbridge with a 40ft (12.2m) opening in the middle. The fixed approach bridges were 35ft 5 ins (9.9m) on the West side, where a toll house was erected on the quay, and 60ft (18.3m) to the bank on the East side. The two leaves of the centre section were lifted up towards the sides to open the channel for shipping. A sketch of the bridge, which also shows the toll house, is in the Burrell Collection at the British Museum.
In 1847 the L.B. & S.C.R. reached Newhaven by way of a branch from Southerham Junction on the Lewes - Eastbourne line. As the railway was on the East bank of the river, while Newhaven was on the West bank, this resulted in a considerable increase in traffic over the bridge and in 1863 plans were prepared for a new bridge lower down river. This was to be a swing bridge and would be built in conjunction with a new cut across the large S-bend through Denton which would straighten the channel and improve the scour at the harbour mouth. The works were estimated to cost £31000, of which the Railway Company would contribute £5000. In 1864 the old drawbridge was purchased for £4000 by the Trustees of the Newhaven Harbour Board and the Lower Ouse Navigation, and work was started on the new bridge with Henry Grissell as civil engineer and Mr. Jacomb as the Railway Company's engineer.
The Hurst Green Foundry, by A. J. Haselfoot, published 1979 in Sussex Industrial History (No. 9, article, pp.27-30) accessible at: The Keep [LIB/506525] Download PDF
Abstract:The firm of Albert Oakley Ltd., at Hurst Green in East Sussex, was one of the last jobbing foundries and general engineering works in the County and has a long history spanning more than 250 years. According to C. W. (Bill) Oakley, the son of Albert Oakley and last surviving member of the family in Hurst Green, the foundry was started in 1704 by G. Huntley who was probably a wheelwright as well as a smith. It may have been called the Regent Foundry originally as this name was found on the back of one of the forges. In 1722 it was owned by John Huntley and in 1364 by Thomas Page, although it was rented to and operated by Thomas Pierson and later by George Pierson, who is described in Pike's Directory for 1886 as 'Iron and brass founder and general smith'.
Chalk Pits Museum, Amberley, by A. J. Haselfoot, published 1979 in Sussex Industrial History (No. 9, article, pp.31-33) accessible at: The Keep [LIB/506525] Download PDF
Abstract:The Chalk Pits Museum, Amberley, the first Open Air Museum of Industrial Archaeology in the South East of England, was opened to the public on Saturday, 26th May, 1979. The Museum, situated in the old chalk pits at Houghton Bridge, has been set up by the Southern Industrial History Centre who have leased the chalk pits from the West Sussex County Council. The purpose of the Museum, as an educational and exhibition centre, is to demonstrate the varied range of industries to be found in South East England which existed to support the predominantly agricultural nature of the area. Industrial Archaeology in its broadest sense is the study of the working life of past generations by the documentary and physical remains they have left behind - how did they live, how did they travel, what kind of machines and power sources did they use, what were their working conditions - all these aspects will in due course be covered by exhibitions and demonstrations at the Museum.
Old Brewery Well at Hastings, by A. J. Haselfoot, published 1983 in Sussex Industrial History (No. 13, article, pp.21-25) accessible at: The Keep [LIB/506525] Download PDF
Abstract:Breeds Brewery appears to have been established in the early years of the 19th century in High Street in the Old Town at Hastings. In early directories the address is given as 61, High Street up to at least 1826, but in 1881/2 is appears as the Hastings Brewery at 32a High Street; later they seem to have acquired a depot in The Bourne also. In 1939 Breeds Brewery Company was taken over by Fremlins Brewery and the depot in The Bourne closed down; also presumably the brewery at 32a High Street, if it had not been closed down earlier, as the 1940 directory quotes a brewer's stores at this address.
In the autumn of 1982 development of the site of the old brewery uncovered the brewery well which was found to have most of the original pumping and hoisting machinery still intact. The curb of the well was about 8 ft. below the then ground level with a narrow chamber alongside it which was found to lead to another well about 16 ft. away to the west. The machinery in this latter well has unfortunately been broken by concrete debris falling into it and it had fallen down the well and jammed.
In the autumn of 1982 development of the site of the old brewery uncovered the brewery well which was found to have most of the original pumping and hoisting machinery still intact. The curb of the well was about 8 ft. below the then ground level with a narrow chamber alongside it which was found to lead to another well about 16 ft. away to the west. The machinery in this latter well has unfortunately been broken by concrete debris falling into it and it had fallen down the well and jammed.