Bibliography - Worth, Mid Sussex District, West Sussex
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Rural Rides, Vol I, by William Cobbett, M.P., published 1830 (406 pp., London: William Cobbett) accessible at: & West Sussex Libraries & East Sussex Libraries   View Online

Parish of Worth, by Thomas Walker Horsfield, published 1835 in The History, Antiquities and Topography of the County of Sussex (vol. I, rape of Lewes, pp.265-268) accessible at: W.S.R.O. [Lib 2396][Lib 3211] & The Keep [LIB/507380][Lib/500087] & West Sussex Libraries & East Sussex Libraries

On the Church at Worth, by Weston Styleman Walford, F.S.A., published 1856 in Sussex Archæological Collections (vol. 8, article, pp.235-249) accessible at: W.S.R.O. [Lib 2093] & The Keep [LIB/500227] & S.A.S. library   View Online

Inventory of Goods, etc, in the Manor of Cheseworth, Sedgwick, and other Parks, the Manor Place of Sheffield, and in the Forest of Worth, with the Iron-works belonging to the Lord Admiral Seymour, at the time of his attainder, taken 1549, by Sir Henry Ellis, K.H., F.S.A., published 1861 in Sussex Archæological Collections (vol. 13, article, pp.118-133) accessible at: W.S.R.O. [Lib 2098] & The Keep [LIB/500232] & S.A.S. library   View Online

Worth, by Mark Antony Lower, M.A., published 1870 in A Compendious History of Sussex, Topographical, Archaeological & Anecdotal (vol. II, pp.273-276, Lewes: George P. Bacon) accessible at: W.S.R.O. [Lib 8946][Lib 3315] & The Keep [LIB/500158]   View Online

Ordnance Survey Book of Reference to the plan of the Parish of Worth, published 1875 (article, London: H.M.S.O. & printed at George E. Eyre and William Spottiswoode)   View Online

Worth Park in Sussex, the seat of Sir Francis Abraham Montefoire, by Country Life contributor(s), published 30 September 1899 in Country Life (article)

The Church of Worth in Sussex: notes on its architectural history, edited by W. P. D. Stebbing, published 1909 (Campden) accessible at: R.I.B.A. Library & West Sussex Libraries

Worth Church, Sussex, by Rev. Arthur Bridge, published 1911 (68 pp., London: Fredk. Sherlock, Ltd.) accessible at: W.S.R.O. [Lib 5012][Lib 2838] & West Sussex Libraries & East Sussex Libraries   View Online

The Accounts of the Ironworks at Sheffield and Worth in Sussex, 1546-1549, by M. S. Giuseppi, F.S.A., published 1912 in The Archaeological Journal (vol. 69, article, pp.276-311)   View Online

History of the Crabbet Estate in Sussex, by Wilfrid Scawen Blunt, published 1917 (vi + 124 pp., London: Chiswick Press) accessible at: British Library

Worth, Sussex, by G. J. B. Fox, published 1926 in Proceedings of the Croydon Natural History and Scientific Society (vol. 10, article, pp.37-42) accessible at: W.S.R.O. [Lib 4979]

Some Saxon Churches in Sussex, by W. Cyril Wallis, F.S.A. (Scot), published 1931 in Sussex County Magazine (vol. V no. 5, article, pp.345-351) accessible at: W.S.R.O. [Lib 2310] & The Keep [LIB/500174]

Worth Priory, published 1 July 1933 in Downside Review (vol. 51, no. 3, article, pp.22-24)

Modern foundation for Catholic monks.

Worth and Three Bridges, Sussex: The Official Guide, by L. Elgar Pike, published c.1935 (Croydon: Home Publishing Co.) accessible at: West Sussex Libraries

Worth Priory, by Vivien F. Hancock, published 1938 in Sussex County Magazine (vol. XII no. 11, article, pp.750-753) accessible at: W.S.R.O. [Lib 2317] & The Keep [LIB/500183]

The Parish Church of Worth, published 1939 (pamphlet, Worth Sussex) accessible at: W.S.R.O. [Lib 4980]

Parish of Worth, edited by L. F. Salzman, published 1940 in The Victoria History of the County of Sussex (vol. 7: The Rape of Lewes, pp.192-200, London: Victoria County History, ISBN-10: 0712905898 & ISBN-13: 9780712905893) accessible at: W.S.R.O. [Lib 7398] & The Keep [LIB/500082] & R.I.B.A. Library & West Sussex Libraries & East Sussex Libraries   View Online

Worth Churchwardens' Accounts, by L. F. S. [L. F. Salzman], published February 1940 in Sussex Notes & Queries (vol. VIII no. 1, note, p.24) accessible at: W.S.R.O. [Lib 8865][Lib 2207] & The Keep [LIB/500210] & S.A.S. library

Guide to the Church of St. Nicholas, Worth, edited by Walter H. Godfrey, published 1952 (Sussex Churches No. 18, 15 pp., Worth: Worth Parochial Church Council) accessible at: East Sussex Libraries

It is very fitting that the Guide to this church should have been produced so soon after that for Sompting, for both of them present the chief glories of Saxon architecture in the County. Save that the apsidal chancel was restored in 1871 in the original style and a tower added, the whole building as we see it is a perfect and complete specimen of a cruciform Saxon church of the tenth century. It contains the original magnificent semi-circular chancel and transept arches, three fine Saxon windows with central pilaster shaft, the original lofty entrance archways, and on the outer walls the vertical pilaster strips of "long-and-short" masonry, with string-course above, so characteristic of the period. All this and much else is, needless to say, most lucidly explained by Mr. W. H. Godfrey. The Guide includes details of the fittings (the fine carved pulpit dated 1557 comes, oddly enough, from Worth, Germany), and a list of the memorials, no less than fifty including the windows. Six illustrations add greatly to its attractiveness, though a better view of the south exterior might have been worth attempting. This issue ought to encourage members to revisit this unusual church, not nearly so well known as its architectural importance warrants.

Worth Church Pulpit, by Peter Blum, published November 1960 in Sussex Notes & Queries (vol. XV no. 6, article, pp.197-198) accessible at: W.S.R.O. [Lib 8233] & The Keep [LIB/500217] & S.A.S. library

Worth Church Pulpit (S.N.Q. xv, 197), by Stanley Godman, published May 1961 in Sussex Notes & Queries (vol. XV no. 7, reply, pp.235-236) accessible at: W.S.R.O. [Lib 8233] & The Keep [LIB/500217] & S.A.S. library

Worth Church Pulpit, by C. T. Chevallier, published May 1962 in Sussex Notes & Queries (vol. XV no. 9, note, p.321) accessible at: W.S.R.O. [Lib 8233][Lib 2982] & The Keep [LIB/500217] & S.A.S. library

The Saxon Doorways of the Church of St Nicholas, Worth, by David Parsons, published 1969 in Sussex Archæological Collections (vol. 107, article, pp.12-13) accessible at: W.S.R.O. [Lib 2192] & The Keep [LIB/500322] & S.A.S. library

The Parish Church of St Nicholas Worth, by A. L-T [Arthur Lloyd-Taylor], published 1971 (leaflet) accessible at: W.S.R.O. [Lib 4977]

Wealden Iron and Worth, by Arthur Lloyd-Taylor, published 1972 (pamphlet, 26 pp., Brighton: Southern Publishing) accessible at: W.S.R.O. [Lib 4345] & The Keep [LIB/502226] & East Sussex Libraries

A Brief Guide to St Nicholas, Worth, published 1979 (pamphlet, St Nicholas Worth) accessible at: W.S.R.O. [Lib 7155]

Down Memory Lane - Worth and Three Bridges, by T. J. Laker, published 1979 (pamphlet, published by the author) accessible at: W.S.R.O. [Lib 7438] & West Sussex Libraries

Pauper Migration to Worth, by Emlyn G. Thomas, published May 1979 in West Sussex History, the Journal of West Sussex Archives Society (no. 13, article, p.3) accessible at: W.S.R.O. [Lib 16404/13] & The Keep [LIB/500479]

Worth Parish Apprentices, 1614-1741, published June 1981 in Sussex Genealogist and Family Historian (vol. 3 no. 1, article, pp.30-33) accessible at: W.S.R.O. [Lib 8892] & The Keep [LIB/501189] & CD SXGS from S.F.H.G.

A Shield of Arms at Worth, by John B. Threlfall, published June 1982 in Sussex Family Historian (vol. 5 no. 2, article, pp.65-67) accessible at: W.S.R.O. [Lib 9174] & The Keep [LIB/501257] & CD SFH40 from S.F.H.G.

Early Private Estate Water Supply (Worth Priory), by Worth School Lower VI Form I.A. Group, published 1983 in Sussex Industrial History (No. 13, article, pp.13-15) accessible at: The Keep [LIB/506525]   Download PDF

The following is a precis, prepared by Mr. A. G. Allnutt, of the prize-winning project submitted for the Schools Project of 1982 organised by the Sussex Industrial Archaeology Society. The original manuscript was profusely illustrated by photographs, copies of old drawings and descriptions of various types of pumps and rams, but lack of space has necessitated their omission from the precis. The area concerned in the project is mainly wooded country on the Tunbridge Wells sands intersected by streams and draining south; these have cut valleys down to the Wadhurst clay and are fed by springs from the interface. It is typical Wealden Iron country, there having been iron workings at the hammerpond (TQ 328323); slag may be found in the stream bed below the dam.

1851 Census: Worth (Three Bridges), edited by Brenda Young, published 1987 (Crawley Museum Library) accessible at: W.S.R.O. [Lib 9923][Lib 9924] & West Sussex Libraries

Religious Survey 1851 - East Grinstead district, edited by John A. Vickers, published August 1990 in The Religious Census of Sussex 1851 (Sussex Record Society, vol. 75, pp.59-65, 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

East Grinstead district incl. Withyham, Hartfield, Forest Row, Worth, Crawley & West Hoathly

Worth - Land Tax 1785, edited by Roger Davey, published 1991 in East Sussex Land Tax, 1785 (Sussex Record Society, vol. 77, pp.226-229, 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

Observations on the Church of St Nicholas, Worth, 1987-1988, by Frederick G. Aldsworth, published 1991 in Sussex Archæological Collections (vol. 129, article, pp.39-44) accessible at: W.S.R.O. [Lib 11694] & The Keep [LIB/500295] & S.A.S. library

East Sussex Census 1851 Index: East Grinstead, Worth, Crawley & West Hoathly, by June C. Barnes, published 1 April 1991 (vol. 18, booklet, 104 pp., C. J. Barnes & printed at Battle Instant Print Ltd., ISBN-10: 1870264177 & ISBN-13: 9781870264174) accessible at: W.S.R.O. [Lib 11108][Lib 11246] & The Keep [LIB/503434] & West Sussex Libraries & East Sussex Libraries

The Sixteenth-Century Forge at Blackwater Green, Worth, West Sussex. Excavations 1988, by Christopher Place and Owen Bedwin, published 1992 in Sussex Archæological Collections (vol. 130, article, pp.147-163) accessible at: W.S.R.O. [Lib 11918] & The Keep [LIB/500289] & S.A.S. library

Warren Furnace, Worth, Sussex, by J. S. Hodgkinson and R. G. Houghton, published 1992 in Wealden Iron Research Group (Second Series No. 12, article, pp.16-23, ISSN: 0266-4402) accessible at: W.S.R.O. [Lib 16400] & The Keep [LIB/506560]   Download PDF

This survey was carried out in 1979 and particular thanks are owed to Tony Weaver and Ken Housman for their advice and assistance, and to Mr. Peter Curties, the owner, for permission to examine the site over a long period. When the survey was undertaken the site lay in woodland consisting of a few mature oaks and wild cherries amid a low undergrowth of ash saplings. Since the storm of 1987 the site has become virtually impenetrable.

Barbara Who?, by Vee Willis, published December 1994 in Sussex Family Historian (vol. 11 no. 4, article, pp.123-125) accessible at: W.S.R.O. [Lib 14878] & The Keep [LIB/501263] & CD SFH40 from S.F.H.G.

Barbara Hands (1795-1878), daughter of Richard Hands and Elizabeth Mitchell, married David Goring and they had six children at Worth. After David's death at age 39, Barbara married Jonathan Collins in 1834 and they had three children at Worth.

Worth Abbey, published 1995 (pamphlet, Worth Abbey) accessible at: W.S.R.O. [Lib 13661]

A Remembrance of Men of the Parish of Worth, Sussex, 1914-1918, by R. C. W. Gore, published 1996 (booklet, published by the author) accessible at: W.S.R.O. [Lib 13450] & West Sussex Libraries

Field Notes: Rowfant Supra forge, Worth, Sussex, compiled by J. S. Hodgkinson, published 1996 in Wealden Iron Research Group (Second Series No. 16, report, pp.2-6, ISSN: 0266-4402) accessible at: W.S.R.O. [Lib 16400] & The Keep [LIB/506563]   Download PDF

M23 Slip Road, Worth (NGR: TQ304361) - evaluation report, by Steve Ford, published January 1996 (Reading: Thames Valley Archaeological Services)   View Online

The Accounts of the Constable of Worth, by Kay Priestley, published September 1996 in Sussex Family Historian (vol. 12 no. 3, article, pp.101-103) accessible at: W.S.R.O. [Lib 14879] & The Keep [LIB/508810] & CD SFH40 from S.F.H.G.

Constable Richard Page's accounts at Worth in 1647 during the Commonwealth

Prehistoric Flintwork from the Paddockhurst estate, Worth, West Sussex, by Christopher Butler, published 1997 in Sussex Archæological Collections (vol. 135, shorter article, pp.298-300) accessible at: W.S.R.O. [Lib 13642] & The Keep [LIB/500290] & S.A.S. library

Worth Horticultural Society: in celebration of the 100th summer show, by Eric Dawes, published 1998 (booklet) accessible at: W.S.R.O. [Lib 15523]

Worth - 18c. Schools, edited by John Caffyn, published 1998 in Sussex Schools in the 18th Century (Sussex Record Society, vol. 81, p.271, 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

An outline history of Woolborough Manor, by Michael J. Burchall, F.S.G., published September 2001 in Sussex Family Historian (vol. 14 no. 7, article, pp.254-262) accessible at: W.S.R.O. [Lib 14881] & The Keep [LIB/508823] & CD SFH40 from S.F.H.G.

The history of Woolborough manor in the parish of Worth from 1296 when William de Wolbergh paid a subsidy 3s 6d, to Thomas Welbergh who died in 1350, to Elizabeth the widow of Sir Thomas Uvedale holding Wolborough Manor in 1476, to 1570 when the Manor was settled on Thomas Mitchell and in 1574 when it was acquired by Henry Bowyer. Before 1652 the Manor had been transferred to Thomas Whitfield and then through marriage the Manor transferred Sir William More in 1670.

Crookford Furnace: not Cotchford but Worth, by B. G. Awty, published 2003 in Wealden Iron Research Group (Second Series No. 23, article, pp.21-23, ISSN: 0266-4402) accessible at: The Keep [LIB/506570]   Download PDF

James Weller of Rusper, Horsham and Worth, by Michael R. Weller, published March 2004 in Sussex Family Historian (vol. 16 no. 1, article, pp.3-9) accessible at: W.S.R.O. [Lib 15860] & The Keep [LIB/508834] & CD SFH40 from S.F.H.G.

James Weller (1772-1853) married Jane Burstow in 1795 and then Ann Chatfield in 1808. This article records the family history back to William Weller of Horsham who married Sarah Chase in 1639

Christ Church (United Reformed), Pound Hill [Worth]: Fifty Years Not Out, by D. J. H. Clifford, published 2005 (booklet) accessible at: W.S.R.O. [Lib 15480]

Inholms, The Forge, Balcombe Road, Worth, by Nadine Hygate, published 2005 (Crawley Museum) accessible at: West Sussex Libraries

Worth, St. Nicholas - Church monuments, edited by Nigel Llewellyn, published 2011 in East Sussex Church Monuments, 1530-1830 (Sussex Record Society, vol. 93, pp.417-423, 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 long line of Thomas Brookers, by Phillipa Brooker, published September 2011 in Sussex Family Historian (vol. 19 no. 7, article, pp.304-307) accessible at: W.S.R.O. [Lib 15860] & The Keep [LIB/508848] & CD SFH40 from S.F.H.G.

In the past there were many BROOKER families to be found in the Worth area (ref. www.thesussexweald.org) the first BROOKER entry in the parish register, the baptism of John son of William and Agnes, bears the date 17 August 1572. BROOKER is an old Sussex surname meaning 'dweller by the Brook'. Worth was a parish of scattered farms and woodlands with two large estates Crabbet or the Manor of Worth (owned successively by the SMITH, GALE and BLUNT families) and Rowfant (owned by the WHITFIELD, GOODWIN, BETHUNE and LAMPTON families). It was a centre for the charcoal/iron industry in Tudor and Stuart times. Leonard GALE who purchased Crabbet in 1698 was the son of Leonard GALE the ironmaster of Tinsley forge. Robert WHITFIELD also an ironmaster had Rowfant forge in 1574. The BETHUNEs held the advowson and produced three generations of vicars in the 18th and 19th centuries (Revd George BETHUNE, Revd George Maximilian BETHUNE, Revd George Cuddington BETHUNE). From 1699 for the purpose of rate assessment the parish was divided into three parts: West End, Middle and Burleigh Arches. There were usually two overseers appointed for each part. The population in 1835 was 1,850 and the acreage 12,400.

The Parish Church of St Nicholas, Worth, published (no date) (pamphlet, St Nicholas Worth) accessible at: W.S.R.O. [Lib 4978]

Worth Abbey, published (no date) (pamphlet, Worth Abbey) accessible at: W.S.R.O. [Lib 7294]

Worth Parish Register, published (no date) by the Sussex Family History Group and Parish Register Transcription Society (Ref: SXW121, CD-ROM)

Baptisms, Marriages and Burials 1559-1900, Banns 1653-1658, 1754-1782, 1801-1812, 1840-1901. Indexed Transcription. Includes 38 photographs. Vol.121.