Bridleway, Haywards Heath

Image: © Simon Carey Taken: 12 Apr 2015

This section links Turners Mill Road and Burrell Road. The bridleway is the remnant of a former medieval highway that linked Cuckfield to Lindfield. It left Cuckfield via Hatchgate Lane through Blunts Wood a section that also still survives. Once it reaches Haywards Heath it follows Blunts Wood Road to the junction with Penland Road where it originally crossed the grounds of what is now Haywards Heath College that was originally Harlands Secondary School. This was removed in the 1960s along with another section that has been built over by Turners Mill Road before rejoining this surviving section which originally led to a junction with the road to Mill Green which was also rerouted in the early 1840s when the railway was built. The route to Lindfield follows the course of College Road and Gander Hill where it led out onto Lindfield's West Common then continued on the eastern as Denmans Lane to the High Street. The route was still in existence in 1638 as it is marked on an estate map and called The Whappell Way, whapple being another term for a route used by horses. However, by the 1813 OS map the track ended at Harlands Farm which still lies beyond the fence to the left though is now part of a cul de sac called Bridgers Mill. Beyond the fence to the right is the private Nuffield Hospital.

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