Bibliography - Burwash, Rother District, East Sussex
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Parish of Burwash, by Thomas Walker Horsfield, published 1835 in The History, Antiquities and Topography of the County of Sussex (vol. I, rape of Hastings, pp.577-580) accessible at: W.S.R.O. [Lib 2396][Lib 3211] & The Keep [LIB/507380][Lib/500087] & West Sussex Libraries & East Sussex Libraries

Burwash, by Charles Francis Trower, M.A., published 1869 in Sussex Archæological Collections (vol. 21, article, pp.108-137) accessible at: W.S.R.O. [Lib 2016] & The Keep [LIB/500239] & S.A.S. library   View Online

Burwash, anciently Burghersh, by Mark Antony Lower, M.A., published 1870 in A Compendious History of Sussex, Topographical, Archaeological & Anecdotal (vol. I, pp.90-92, Lewes: George P. Bacon) accessible at: W.S.R.O. [Lib 8946][Lib 3314] & The Keep [LIB/500159]   View Online

Ordnance Survey Book of Reference to the plan of the Parish of Burwash, published 1874 (article, London: H.M.S.O. & printed at George E. Eyre and William Spottiswoode)   View Online

Prodigies at Burwash, by F. H. Arnold, published 1898 in Sussex Archæological Collections (vol. 41, notes & queries, pp.237-238) accessible at: W.S.R.O. [Lib 2126] & The Keep [LIB/500259] & S.A.S. library   View Online

Batemans, by Country Life contributor(s), published 15 August 1908 in Country Life (vol. 24 no. , article)

Rambles about Burwash, by R. Thurston Hopkins, published 1921 in Kipling's Sussex (Chapter I, pp.21-46, London: Simkin, Marshall, Hamilton, Kent & Co.) accessible at: W.S.R.O. [Lib 16008][Lib 17091] & The Keep [LIB/504753] & West Sussex Libraries & East Sussex Libraries   View Online

Burwash, by John F. Tattersall, published 1927 in Sussex County Magazine (vol. I no. 13, article, p.574) accessible at: W.S.R.O. [Lib 2303][Lib 8326] & The Keep [LIB/500137]

Rambles about Burwash, by R. Thurston Hopkins, published 1929 in Kipling's Sussex Revisited (pp.203-225, London: H. Jenkins Ltd) accessible at: W.S.R.O. [Lib 15871][Lib 17092] & West Sussex Libraries & East Sussex Libraries

The geology of Etchingham and Robertsbridge, Sussex. Weald Research Committee Report, No. 11, by A. A. Fitch, A.R.C.S., B.Sc., published 1930 in The Proceedings of the Geologists' Association London (no. 41 issue 1, article, pp.53-62)   View Online

The area described is 24 square miles in extent; it forms part of the Central Weald of Sussex and Kent, and constitutes Sheet XXX, Sussex, and part of Sheet LXXVIII, Kent, of the Ordnance Survey Six-Inch Series: the geological map is Sheet 5 of the Old Series (one-inch). It includes four towns or large villages - Burwash, Etchingham, Robertsbridge and Salehurst.

An Early Rector at Burwash, by S.N.Q. Contributor, published February 1931 in Sussex Notes & Queries (vol. III no. 5, note, p.163) accessible at: W.S.R.O. [Lib 8952][Lib 8221] & The Keep [LIB/500205] & S.A.S. library

The Church of St Bartholomew, Burwash, Sussex, by J. E. H. Sawyer, published 1933 (pamphlet) accessible at: W.S.R.O. [Lib 9239] & West Sussex Libraries

Rudyard Kipling's Village, by William A. Ramsay, published 1934 in Sussex County Magazine (vol. VIII no. 4, article, pp.228-232) accessible at: W.S.R.O. [Lib 9329] & The Keep [LIB/500177]

Burwash Rectors and Vicars, by H. Burgess, published May 1935 in Sussex Notes & Queries (vol. V no. 6, query, p.190) accessible at: W.S.R.O. [Lib 2204][Lib 8223][Lib 8862] & The Keep [LIB/500207] & S.A.S. library

Batemans, the late Mr. Rudyard Kipling's Sussex Home, by Country Life contributor(s), published 25 January 1936 in Country Life (article)

Iron Fire-Back [at Burwash], by Rev. Sir Henry Denny, published May 1937 in Sussex Notes & Queries (vol. VI no. 6, note, p.189) accessible at: W.S.R.O. [Lib 12537][Lib 8863][Lib 8224] & The Keep [LIB/500208] & S.A.S. library

Property in Burwash, by Unknown, published February 1942 in Sussex Notes & Queries (vol. IX no. 1, query, pp.19-20) accessible at: W.S.R.O. [Lib 8227][Lib 2208] & The Keep [LIB/500211] & S.A.S. library

Bateman's, by C. W. Parish, published August 1942 in Sussex Notes & Queries (vol. IX no. 3, query, p.72) accessible at: W.S.R.O. [Lib 8227][Lib 2208] & The Keep [LIB/500211] & S.A.S. library

Burwash, Sussex: illustrated article on village largely "modernised" ca. 1700, by Country Life contributor(s), published 22 February 1946 in Country Life (article, pp.348-351)

Rampyndene, Burwash, Sussex, the property of Mr and Mrs Robert Tritton, by Country Life contributor(s), published 1 March 1946 in Country Life (article)

Sussex Church Plans LXXXI: Parish Church of St. Bartholomew, Burwash, by W. H. G. [W. H. Godfrey], published November 1947 in Sussex Notes & Queries (vol. XI no. 8, article, pp.167-168) accessible at: W.S.R.O. [Lib 8229][Lib 2210] & The Keep [LIB/500213] & S.A.S. library

Burghersh: facts and fancies concerning the church and village of Burwash, by Clement Woodbine Parish, published 1949 (39 pp., published by the author) accessible at: East Sussex Libraries

The Author - a Churchwarden of Burwash and a member of our Council - has published at his own charge in aid of the Burwash Repair Fund what he describes as "Facts and Fancies" concerning the Church and Village of Burwash. It is in no way intended to be an exhaustive history of the Church or Parish but in the nature of an aperitif to whet the appetite for more and is most successful in doing so. It is a very readable little book and all that the ordinary visitor requires. Mr. Parish perhaps draws too gloomy a view of the serf or villein - after all, being tied to his holding gave him some security of tenure (he could not be sold away from it) and the Lord's powers were limited by custom and the Manor Court must have afforded considerable protection, particularly after the 13th century when the Royal Justices were only too pleased to have a pretext to interfere to curb the Lord's (often assumed) powers.

The Burwash-Etchingham Parish Boundary, by G. D. J. [G. D. Johnston], published November 1952 in Sussex Notes & Queries (vol. XIII nos. 11 & 12, article, pp.229-234) accessible at: W.S.R.O. [Lib 8231] & The Keep [LIB/500215] & S.A.S. library

Burwash and the Sussex Weald, by James Goodwin, published c.1960 (170 pp., published by the author) accessible at: & West Sussex Libraries & East Sussex Libraries

Bateman's Sussex, published 1965 (The National Trust) accessible at: The Keep [LIB/502466]

The Church of Saint Bartholomew, Burwash, Sussex, by J. E. H. Sawyer, published 1965 (A. H. Butler) accessible at: West Sussex Libraries

Withernden Farm-House, by R. H. Wood, published November 1966 in Sussex Notes & Queries (vol. XVI no. 8, article, pp.260-261) accessible at: W.S.R.O. [Lib 8234] & The Keep [LIB/500218] & S.A.S. library

The Wealden Ironmasters Bateman's, Burwash, published 1970 (The National Trust) accessible at: The Keep [LIB/502469]

Portland Cottages, Burwash, by David Martin, published 1972 in Sussex Archæological Collections (vol. 110, article, pp.14-30) accessible at: W.S.R.O. [Lib 2195] & The Keep [LIB/500319] & S.A.S. library

Portland cottages, Burwash, by David Martin, published 1973 (Hastings Area Archaeological Papers no. 4, 19 pp., Robertsbridge and District Archaeological Society) accessible at: R.I.B.A. Library & East Sussex Libraries

Bugsell Romano-British Settlement Salehurst, by David Martin, published 1973 in Sussex Archæological Collections (vol. 111, shorter notice, p.111) accessible at: W.S.R.O. [Lib 2196] & The Keep [LIB/500318] & S.A.S. library

Chateaubriand, Burwash, by David Martin, published 1974 in Sussex Archæological Collections (vol. 112, article, pp.21-29) accessible at: W.S.R.O. [Lib 5960] & The Keep [LIB/500317] & S.A.S. library

Bateman's, Sussex, published 1976 (pamphlet, The National Trust) accessible at: W.S.R.O. [Lib 12576]

Bateman's, Burwash, Sussex: a property of the National Trust, published 1976 (pamphlet, The National Trust) accessible at: W.S.R.O. [Lib 17035] & The Keep [LIB/502468]

History of Park Mill, Burwash, by M. Beswick, published 1976 in Sussex Industrial History (No. 7, article, pp.7-13) accessible at: W.S.R.O. [Lib 16389/7] & The Keep [LIB/506524]   Download PDF

An example of a small country watermill.
Park Mill is only one of hundreds of its kind which existed all over England from medieval times until 100 years ago or less, but its history is set down here because it probably typifies in broad outline that of many other water-driven cornmills. The changes in its fortunes fit into a pattern, closely related to variations in local agricultural and economic conditions and the consequent fluctuations both in the amount of corn to be ground and the number of mouths to be fed in the locality.
In this connection, the large number of other cornmills which existed at one time in the district must be noted. Park Mill itself stands on the south bank of the river Dudwell to the south-west of Burwash village (TQ 671 236). Less than half a mile downstream is Dudwell Mill (TQ 677 238) and about a mile upstream is Willingford (TQ 655 226) where in 1610 there were two mills operating at the same time. Cox's Mill (TQ 653 203), on a right bank tributary of the Dudwell, is also in the parish of Burwash and there was at least one windmill on the ridge on which the village stands. In addition, there may have been a mill, or mills, in the valley of the Rather which forms the parish boundary to the north.
Burwash is known to have been a place of some importance during the Middle Ages. It was granted a market in 1252 and so would have had a substantial population of tradesmen and craftsmen as well as yeoman farmers and peasants. The population increased further in the sixteenth century with the growth of the Wealden iron industry, as a number of furnaces and forges were located in the Burwash area. It seems probable, therefore, that if there was ever a time when all the cornmills were operating simultaneously, it would have been in the 1500s. Indeed the immediate predecessor of Park Mill may well have been built at about this time.

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

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.

John Collen: His Hammer-Forge in Burwash, 1524-6, by J. Pettitt, published 1978 in Wealden Iron Research Group (First Series No. 14, article, p.10) accessible at: W.S.R.O. [Lib 16400] & The Keep [LIB/506558]   Download PDF

Cast iron plates from Burwash, by C. F. and M. Tebbutt, published 1984 in Wealden Iron Research Group (Second Series No. 4, article, pp.3-4, ISSN: 0266-4402) accessible at: W.S.R.O. [Lib 16400] & The Keep [LIB/506559]   Download PDF

In November 1983, after a message from Hastings Museum, we visited Mrs Watson, Poundsford Farm, Burwash (TQ 637225) who had some massive cast iron objects of unknown use. Their shape was puzzling, but we surmised that they must relate to a furnace, forge, or possibly lime kiln. Later we learned that Mr W. Beswick had inspected them some ten years previously but was not certain as to their use.

The Ashburnham Limeworks at Glaziers Forge, Burwash, by W. R. Beswick, published 1985 in Sussex Industrial History (issue No. 15, article, pp.18-21) accessible at: W.S.R.O. [Lib 16389/15] & The Keep [LIB/506525]   Download PDF

The limeworks of the Ashburnham estates were important during the eighteenth and early nineteenth centuries, not only as a source of family revenue but as a supply of lime to the surrounding Weald. At this time, the iron smelting industry was beginning to phase itself out so that wood fuel for such operations as this, would once more become available and at an economic price. It therefore made good sense to exploit the limestone of the Purbeck bed which ran in a north-westerly direction, across part of the estate from Orchard Wood near Battle, to Poundsford Farm in Burwash Parish.

A Post Office Petition, 1820, by Brian Harwood, published June 1985 in Sussex Genealogist and Family Historian (vol. 7 no. 1, article, pp.15-16) accessible at: W.S.R.O. [MP 6277] & The Keep [LIB/501193] & CD SXGS from S.F.H.G.

by the Freeholders, Farmers and Tradesmen of the parishes of Ticehurst, Wadhurst and Burwash

Rev. James Hurdis, D.D. (1763-1801), by Ronald Tibble, published June 1986 in Sussex Family Historian (vol. 7 no. 1, article, pp.8-13) accessible at: W.S.R.O. [Lib 10461] & The Keep [LIB/501259] & CD SFH40 from S.F.H.G.

A brief biography of James Hurdis, priest, poet and professor. Article covers the years 1710 - 1802

East Sussex Census 1851 Index: Burwash, Ticehurst (inc. Flimwell and Stonegate), Etchingham (inc. Hurst Green), by June C. Barnes, published May 1989 (vol. 11, booklet, 84 pp., C. J. Barnes & printed at Battle Instant Print Ltd., ISBN-10: 1870264118) accessible at: W.S.R.O. [Lib 11240] & The Keep [LIB/503433] & East Sussex Libraries

The Descent of the Manor of Burghersh, by Derrick N. Steward, published 1990 in Sussex Archæological Collections (vol. 128, historical note, pp.262-264) accessible at: W.S.R.O. [Lib 11106] & The Keep [LIB/500301] & S.A.S. library

Religious Survey 1851 - Ticehurst district, edited by John A. Vickers, published August 1990 in The Religious Census of Sussex 1851 (Sussex Record Society, vol. 75, pp.44-50, ISBN-10: 085445036X & ISBN-13: 9780854450367) accessible at: W.S.R.O. [Lib 10578][Lib 13824] & The Keep [LIB/500452][LIB/507827] & West Sussex Libraries & East Sussex Libraries

Ticehurst district incl. Burwash, Etchingham, Salehurst, Wadhurst, Lamberhurst & Frant

Burwash - Land Tax 1785, edited by Roger Davey, published 1991 in East Sussex Land Tax, 1785 (Sussex Record Society, vol. 77, pp.43-47, ISBN-10: 0854450386 & ISBN-13: 9780854450381) accessible at: W.S.R.O. [Lib 11681][Lib 13075] & The Keep [LIB/500454][Lib/507860] & West Sussex Libraries & East Sussex Libraries

Militia Lists for Burwash (1831), Pevensey (1810) & Rottingdean (1797), published 1992 by PBN Publications (Ref: PBN85, CD-ROM) accessible at: The Keep [LIB/503589]

Victorian Village: The Diaries of the Reverend John Coker Egerton, curate and rector of Burwash, East Sussex, 1857-1888, by late John Coker Egerton and edited by Roger Wells, published 26 November 1992 (384 pp., Stroud: Sutton Publishing Ltd., ISBN-10: 0750902744 & ISBN-13: 9780750902748) accessible at: The Keep [LIB/503797] & West Sussex Libraries & East Sussex Libraries

The Kings of King's Hill Cottage, by Albert King, published December 1995 in Sussex Family Historian (vol. 11 no. 8, article, pp.291-292) accessible at: W.S.R.O. [Lib 14878] & The Keep [LIB/501263] & CD SFH40 from S.F.H.G.

William King (1784-1763) was the second of seven children of Thomas King who married Mary Stoneham on 1 May 1781 at Burwash. William married Sarah Green in 1808 and they had a family of eight children, two of whom emigrated to Australia.

William Mackenzie c. 1758-1840, by Ronald F. Newman, published March 1997 in Sussex Family Historian (vol. 12 no. 5, article, pp.187-188) accessible at: W.S.R.O. [Lib 14879] & The Keep [LIB/508812] & CD SFH40 from S.F.H.G.

William Mackenzie (c.1758-1840), rector and vicar of Burwash, married first Christian who died 1822 and second Anne.

The Pagden Family - Tailors of Burwash. Part 1., by Sue Ginman, published September 1997 in Sussex Family Historian (vol. 12 no. 7, article, p.249) accessible at: W.S.R.O. [Lib 14879] & The Keep [LIB/508814] & CD SFH40 from S.F.H.G.

Henry Pagden married Emma Weston on 22 June 1839 at Hastings. They had seven children and settled in Burwash.

The Pagden Family - Tailors of Burwash. Part 2., by Sue Ginman, published December 1997 in Sussex Family Historian (vol. 12 no. 8, article, p.292) accessible at: W.S.R.O. [Lib 14879] & The Keep [LIB/508815] & CD SFH40 from S.F.H.G.

Henry Pagden married Emma Weston on 22 June 1839 at Hastings. They had seven children and settled in Burwash.

Burwash - 18c. Schools, edited by John Caffyn, published 1998 in Sussex Schools in the 18th Century (Sussex Record Society, vol. 81, pp.75-77, ISBN-10: 0854450424 & ISBN-13: 9780854450428) accessible at: W.S.R.O. [Lib 13825][Lib 13828] & The Keep [LIB/500458][Lib/507864] & West Sussex Libraries & East Sussex Libraries

Field Notes: Two bloomeries in Burwash, East Sussex, compiled by J. S. Hodgkinson, published 2002 in Wealden Iron Research Group (Second Series No. 22, report, pp.2-5, ISSN: 0266-4402) accessible at: The Keep [LIB/506569]   Download PDF

Field Notes: Park Wood, Burwash, East Sussex, compiled by J. S. Hodgkinson, published 2003 in Wealden Iron Research Group (Second Series No. 23, report, pp.2-6, ISSN: 0266-4402) accessible at: The Keep [LIB/506570]   Download PDF

Burwash: Domesday to Millennium, by John Barkshire, published 2008 (228 pp., published by the author, ISBN-10: 0953825914 & ISBN-13: 9780953825912) accessible at: The Keep [LIB/503795] & East Sussex Libraries

Documentary and literary evidence relating to Burwash Forge and Wynhamford Mill, East Sussex, by Kate Mees, published 2010 in Wealden Iron Research Group (Second Series No. 30, article, pp.10-29, ISSN: 0266-4402) accessible at: The Keep [LIB/506577]   Download PDF

This article has been adapted from a desk-based assessment, conducted as part of the MA in Landscape Archaeology at the University of Bristol in February 2009. The area of study consisted of a 1km plot, approximately 1.5km southwest of the village of Burwash. It incorporates the sites of Burwash Forge (TQ 6631 2313), which lies within the parish of Burwash, and Wynhamford Mill (TQ 6560 2235), across the parish border in Brightling. Documentary research has revealed much about the nature of the industrial activities that took place at these sites in the medieval and post-medieval periods, and about the families and individuals who were involved in these enterprises.
Research was carried out at the East Sussex County Record Office (ESRO), Lewes, at Hastings Library and online via the National Archives (www.nationalarchives.gov.uk/a2a).
The author is grateful to the following for their assistance in the production of this article: Jeremy Hodgkinson, for reading numerous versions of the text and making valuable suggestions; Lesley Mees for help and support; Christopher Whittick, senior archivist at East Sussex Record Office, for locating relevant sources in the Ashburnham Family Archive (ESRO ASH/200a).

Burwash, St. Bartholomew - Church monuments, edited by Nigel Llewellyn, published 2011 in East Sussex Church Monuments, 1530-1830 (Sussex Record Society, vol. 93, pp.58-63, ISBN-10: 0854450750 & ISBN-13: 9780854450756) accessible at: W.S.R.O. [Lib 17926] & The Keep [LIB/500470][LIB/507876] & West Sussex Libraries & East Sussex Libraries   View Online

A bloomery site in Burwash, East Sussex, by David Brown, published 2012 in Wealden Iron Research Group (Second Series No. 31, article, pp.3-4, ISSN: 0266-4402) accessible at: The Keep [LIB/506579]   Download PDF

Further investigations in the Dudwell Valley, by David Brown and Tim Smith, published 2013 in Wealden Iron Research Group (Second Series No. 33, article, pp.5-7, ISSN: 0266-4402) accessible at: The Keep [LIB/507841]   Download PDF

Continuing the search of the Dudwell valley for signs of ironworking, this foray covered the upper reaches of the river, concentrating on the southern side of the valley, the northern side having revealed no evidence of ironworking at all. Since the bloomery site previously found in this valley had been some distance from the Dudwell close to the upper (southern) limit of the limestone, an effort was made to cover the area between the river and the interface between the limestone and the Ashdown Beds. On the ground this was revealed as a series of depressions accompanied by spoil heaps, presumably the result of mineral extraction.

The Great Storm at Burwash, by Barbara Heavens, published September 2014 in Sussex Family Historian (vol. 21 no. 3, article, pp.141-142) accessible at: The Keep [LIB/508853]

In the Sussex Family Historian of December 2009 (the first I received), Kath McGurl recommended the British Newspaper Archives website. At the first opportunity I visited the site and amongst my first discoveries was an article which mentioned my three times great grandfather, Richard BARROW. Richard was born in Hawkhurst, Kent but moved to Ticehurst in the 1820's where his younger children were born, including my two times great grandfather Joseph.
The article described how a great storm struck Burwash in August 1839 which brought down many trees in the area and did considerable damage to crops.

Bateman's Park Mill, published (no date) (pamphlet, The National Trust) accessible at: W.S.R.O. [Lib 12578]

1841 Census vol.06 - Burwash area, published (no date) by PBN Publications (Ref: BPCF, CD-ROM)