Isfield

Infobox UK place
official_name=Isfield Civil Parish
country=England
region=South East England
static_

static_image_caption=
area_footnotes=cite web |url=http://www.eastsussexinfigures.org.uk/webview/ |title=East Sussex in Figures |accessdate=2008-04-26 |publisher=East Sussex County Council]
area_total_km2 =7.7
population=564 (2007)
population_density= Pop density mi2 to km2|190|precision=0|abbr=yes
os_grid_reference=TQ451170
latitude=50.93
longitude=0.06
post_town=UCKFIELD
postcode_area=TN
postcode_district=TN22 5
dial_code=01825
constituency_westminster=Wealden
london_distance=convert|40|mi NNW
shire_district=Wealden
shire_county=East Sussex

Isfield is a small village and civil parish in the Wealden District of East Sussex in England, located north-north-west of Lewes.

History

The village of Isfield originally grew adjacent to the ford where the Roman road crossed the river Ouse. The village had a very active history through the Saxon, Norman and Tudor eras.Fact|date=April 2008 Local legend has it that King Harold spent the night before the Battle of Hastings at his demesne in the village, located where Isfield Place (north of the village) now stands. Isfield Place became the home of John Shurley (died 1527). The area was heavily involved in the Wealden iron industry from the 15th century onwards. Isfield became a very busy place in the 19th century. Much of its traffic was river-borne: coal and building materials, together with other produce, used the Ouse as its transport. [ [http://www.british-history.ac.uk/report.aspx?compid=51064#s21 Isfield history] ] A paper-mill and a large flour-mill [ [http://www.roughwood.net/PostcardAlbum/Sussex/Isfield/Isfield.htm Isfield mill] ] both made use of the river.

Governance

Isfield Parish Council

Geography

The parish of Isfield, as noted above, stands on the flood-plain of the River Ouse, [ [http://www.sussex-ouse.org.uk/river/index.htm The Sussex River Ouse] ] at its confluence with the River Uck and a convenient crossing point, a ford, which the Romans used; the road through the village crosses the Uck by bridge, and the erstwhile Wealden Line did likewise. The main A26 road, while crossing the parish, runs to the west of the village. The land hereabouts is a floodplain because of all the rivers and streams.

The ancient ecclesiastical parish, which is very similar to the modern civil parish, was 1,822 acres (736 ha) in size. Today's population is relatively small, since much of the parish is rural. The village centre lies adjacent to the river crossing; a more modern part is further south.

Transport

The A26 road, between Uckfield and Lewes, passes through the parish to the east of village. The remnant of the Wealden Line, the Lavender Line Steam Railway, is based here in the old Isfield Station. There is a campaign to reopen the line between Lewes and Uckfield.

Religion

The parish church is dedicated to St Margaret of Antioch. Within the church are tombs to the Shurley/Shirley family. [ [http://www.british-history.ac.uk/report.aspx?compid=51064#s21 St Margaret's church] ]

Leisure, Culture and Sport

"The Laughing Fish" [ [http://www.beerintheevening.com/pubs/s/58/5895/Lau "The Laughing Fish"] ] is a small public house with a garden.

The local cricket team, "WG Gracefully" plays in the East Sussex Cricket League.

References