IMAGES TAKEN NEAR TO
Lexington Drive, HAYWARDS HEATH, RH16 3UN

The residential road runs from Woodvale Lane to Woodstock Place with this section formerly an access road to a car park located to the immediate east of a playground. Originally an open field called Furze Field on Lindfield's 1845 tithe map that was transferred to Haywards Heath during the 1930s. To the north is what is now the Scrase Valley Nature Reserve, to the south was the original course of America Lane, see Image, whilst to the west was Bent's Wood. During the Second World War the field was turned into allotments and after the conflict the southern end adjacent to the lane was developed with prefabs. This remained the case until the end of the 1960s when a new estate was built. Wilmington Way was another temporary measure designed to last twenty years but ending up being in place for nearly forty, the exception being a set of flats at the northern end that have remained. In 2008 a decision was taken to demolish the estate and rebuild again with the new estate roughly following the old road routes as well as a green strip that has been retained running north-south through the estate. For the former Wilmington Way, taken in 2007, see: Image Image Image For the site after demolition, taken in 2011, see: Image Image Image For the current estate, taken in 2015, see: Image Image Image Image Image Image

Viewed through the gate on Haylind Road. The area was an open field until after the Second World War when a series of prefabs was constructed on the northern side of the lane. This lasted until the late 1960s when the council built Wilmington Way as a stopgap measure to ease the housing crisis. These houses were also prefabricated and designed to last twenty years though in the end they hung around for over forty. A total of 185 new homes and flats will be built on the site with the estate to be renamed expunging Wilmington Way to history. The houses on the left are on Hanbury Lane whilst the trees to the right mark the location of Scrase Valley Nature Reserve. See Image, Image and Image for an old view. For an updated views taken four years later, see: Image Image Image Image Image Image

At the end of a footpath from Hanbury Lane to a small car park next to the playground. The abandoned football boots draped over the telephone line gives the image an interesting border.

Council estate built around 1970 on the eastern side of town. The terraces are interspersed with green areas and paths linking the rows. A local cat keeps an eye on my activities.

I used to play in this playground when I was 5 or 6 and I swear most of the equipment in there is the same today, particularly vivid memories of the snail and train. I'd imagine the playground was placed there when the estate was built circa 1970. The only change I think is the fence that has been added.

A large Elephant Hawk Moth (Deilephila elpenor) caterpillar crossed the pavement in Haylind Road attracting not only my notice but also one of the local moggies who seemed unperturbed by the fact I was standing over them. After a while the cat got bored and walked off and the caterpillar went on its way. The juxtaposition of the cat gives a very good indication of the size of the caterpillar which can grow up to 75mm long.

My inner five year old is pleased to see a snail and train as part of the play area, a nod to the old equipment that served the previous estate for forty years. The play area is located between Woodtsock Place and Plymouth Way. Originally an open field called Furze Field on Lindfield's 1845 tithe map that was transferred to Haywards Heath during the 1930s. To the north is what is now the Scrase Valley Nature Reserve, to the south was the original course of America Lane, see Image, whilst to the west was Bent's Wood. During the Second World War the field was turned into allotments and after the conflict the southern end adjacent to the lane was developed with prefabs. This remained the case until the end of the 1960s when a new estate was built. Wilmington Way was another temporary measure designed to last twenty years but ending up being in place for nearly forty, the exception being a set of flats at the northern end that have remained. In 2008 a decision was taken to demolish the estate and rebuild again with the new estate roughly following the old road routes as well as a green strip that has been retained running north-south through the estate. For the former Wilmington Way, taken in 2007, see: Image Image Image For the site after demolition, taken in 2011, see: Image Image Image For the current estate, taken in 2015, see: Image Image Image Image Image

Built as part of the late 1960s Wilmington Way estate which has now been demolished and is currently in the process of redevelopment beyond the grey board fences on the left. The road is still in use as the flats at the northern end of the estate, see Image, are being kept. Whether the road retains the name is a moot point as the name plate has been removed from the sign at the junction with Hanbury Lane. The small green area to the right was often used as a play area and may still be kept as such.

Viewed through the gate on Haylind Road. The area was an open field until after the Second World War when a series of prefabs was constructed on the northern side of the lane. This lasted until the late 1960s when the council built Wilmington Way as a stopgap measure to ease the housing crisis. These houses were also prefabricated and designed to last twenty years though in the end they hung around for over forty. A total of 185 new homes and flats will be built on the site with the estate to be renamed expunging Wilmington Way to history. The flats on the right are Image the only surviving buildings from the estate whilst the trees beyond mark the location of Scrase Valley Nature Reserve. See Image, Image and Image for an old view. For updated views taken four years later, see: Image Image Image Image Image Image

These new houses replace the previous ones built in the 60's.