IMAGES TAKEN NEAR TO
Boston Court, HAYWARDS HEATH, RH16 3PY

Viewed from the mini roundabout which contains the junctions of Bentswood Road on the left and Western Road heading off behind the photographer to the right. For many centuries this roughly marked the parish boundary of Cuckfield and Lindfield with the later only absorbed by the growing Haywards Heath in the 1930s. The lane is named after a small settlement which was created in the 1820s by William Allen, a quaker industrialist and social reformer. The idea was to provide a small cottage with a large plot to chose agricultural labourers who wished to work and stay off the poor rates. The cottages lined the southern side of the road facing Bent's Wood, which then stretched north to Scrase Stream, with the plot, a thin strip attached to each cottage, stretching southwards to the parish boundary adjacent to Petland Wood. Allen's idea was to produce 'Colonies at home' in order to discourage emigration and encourage self sufficiency amongst the rural poor. Initially known as The Colony it was soon locally nicknamed America which stuck. The settlement did well and remained in place up to the Second World War. In the 1930s this part of Lindfield parish had been transferred to Haywards Heath and with it the urbanisation that initially had stopped at this road junction, see http://www.britainfromabove.org.uk/image/epw039524?name=HAYWARDS%20HEATH&gazetteer=HAYWARDS%20HEATH&POPULATED_PLACE=HAYWARDS%20HEATH&COUNTY=West%20Sussex&ADMIN_AREA=Mid%20Sussex&ref=4 for an aerial view of 1932 with the cottages and their plots still in place. A decision was taken during the 1940s to demolish all the cottages which was carried out in 1944 and replace it with a new housing estate which was largely completed by 1950, see http://www.sussex.ac.uk/geography/researchprojects/sussexairphotos/1940/6-3055.jpg for an aerial view from 1947 with the cottages gone, the estate under construction along with the marked out new course of the lane, and the northern part of Image complete. The lane itself originally ran eastwards then turned north up what is now Image then east again along what is now Image The new road which avoided these turns was built in the late 1940s and the eastern end reduced to a bridleway on the construction of Westlands Road in the early 1970s. In the distance are Image and Image

A residential road in the shape of an 'L' with this part leading to America Lane completed by 1947. See also Image

Built in the late 1940s to serve the new estate that was built along America Lane. Currently containing Washington Fish & Chips, the Mad Hacker gents barbers, Strands & Co beauty saloon, McColls local store, a small Boots pharmacy and Saltwerkz cafe. To the immediate east is Image

The residential road is shaped like a square and terminates either side of Image The houses were built in the late 1950s having previously been part of the plots given over to the cottages constructed by William Allen in the 1820s as part of the America settlement.

This side of the roundabout is America Lane, heading straight ahead is New England, whilst Bentswood Road goes off to the right. The junction marks the former parish boundary between Cuckfield and Lindfield with New England Road developed from the latter years of the Victorian era and reaching this point by 1910. Bentswood Road was developed as a large council estate during the 1930s whilst America Lane was home to an early 19th century Quaker self help settlement known initially as The Colony and later as America which survived until 1944 when all the cottages were demolished.

Small private lane off New England Road the houses being developed during the interwar period.

The current estate was built in the last seven or eight years on the site of Pilgrim Court built in the early 1950s as sheltered housing for the elderly. Pilgrims Gardens is located off America Lane with a footpath that runs north to Bentswood Crescent.

Small cul de sac off Western Road developed in the late 19th century initially as an access road to a house called Langridge which still stands to south amongst the trees. On the left are two sets of semi-detached cottages built in the first decade of the 20th century with Canadian Cottages on the immediate left and Quebec Cottages beyond. Between the wars, Adastra and Byways, another semi-detached pair were added beyond the hedge to the right. The garage straight ahead belongs to St Giles which was added in the 1960s, the last residence to built here.

Opened in 2014 on the site of a former pub that began its life as the Pilgrim in 1951 later became the Golden Eagle, see Image, and spent its last years as the Mayflower before closing in 2012. Beyond is Image

The southern part of the 'L' shaped road that provides access to Hanbury Stadium, Haywards Heath Town's football ground. This part was completed after 1947, see also Image