Mayfield and Five Ashes - Mayfield Village

Mayfield Village

The historical notes are taken from The Village Reference

The village name derives from both "Maghefeld" (a field where mayweed grows) and "maid's field"–the village sign depicts a maid. Mayfield used to be a part of the manor of Malling, to the north west of Lewes, which belonged to the Kings of Wessex. Between 823 and 836 CE, King Egbert of Wessex and his son Æthelwulf gave it to Canterbury Cathedral: it became an Archbishop's 'peculiar' in the Diocese of Canterbury, and one of the Archbishop's palaces was built here. It was transferred to the Diocese of Chichester in 1846. On 23 September 1556 four Protestants were condemned here and burnt at the stake in Lewes.

Mayfield was at its height during the boom in the Wealden iron industry, and many of the fine houses date from that time.

During the early 18th century, Mayfield became a centre for owling - smuggling wool for brandy and silk. Gabriel Tomkins was the leader of the local gang: in 1721 he was chased from Burwash to Nutley and then was arrested. The gang had a reputation for not using violence; and also applying their profits to the benefit of the local community, unlike many other such gangs: the Hawkhurst Gang in particular.

The Swing Riots affected the area with army arriving on 15 November 1830. Some local workers were imprisoned or transported.

After the line from Tunbridge Wells opened in 1880, Mayfield used to have a railway station but it was closed following the Beeching Report. There is a cycle route starting from Station Road pointing towards the railway station at Eridge. On 1 September 1897, there was a railway accident on a curved section of track between Heathfield and Mayfield near Clayton Farm. A six-carriage train pulled by the engine Bonchurch was derailed and the driver was killed.