Heathfield

Heathfield is a market town sited on a ridge in the High Weald in an Area of Outstanding Natural Beauty.

Heathfield lies on the route of an old Roman Road, but it was the iron industry that catalysed the growth of Heathfield and the clearance of some of the thick Wealden woodland which surrounded it.

Heathfield became famous for its cannon and guns. The Heathfield Iron Works were also the source of the wealth of Jack Fuller, the benefactor of Brightling.

The town is well known for its Cuckoo Fair which marks the end of winter.

Places of interest around Heathfield

Interesting places in and around Heathfield include:

• Cade Stone at Cade Street, which is a memorial to Jack Cade, the rebel struck down by Alexander Iden, the Sheriff of Kent in 1450;
• Heathfield Park once owned by Lord Heathfield, the former governor of Gibraltar who successfully repelled Spanish attacks in the 18th century - look out for Gibraltar Tower, a monument to Lord Heathfield's achievements;
• The Martyr's Memorial at Punnett's Town near Heathfield, remembering the Protestant martyrs burned at Lewes.
• All Saints Church, Heathfield is a large 13th century church built to replace an older church which had burned down

More about Heathfield

In 1815 the great artist JMW Turner painted a scene of Heathfield in his painting The Vale of Heathfield. But his composition is made up of different local features that could not possibly be in the same scene.

The Heathfield Show is one of the largest agricultural shows in south-east England.

Heathfield travel notes

The main roads serving Heathfield are the A267 and the A265.

The nearest railway station is at Buxted.