IMAGES TAKEN NEAR TO
Gwynne Way, HAYWARDS HEATH, RH17 7BW

The name of the field according to Wivelsfield's 1843 tithe map viewed from Southdowns Park. The buildings below belong to Hospital Farm whilst the South Downs are just visible through the haze on the horizon. This field is earmarked for development and will have housing built upon as the Haywards Heath relief road is constructed to the south.

Former farmhouse that dates back to the 17th century. The original family called Hurst set up the farm in the medieval period and had become successful brickmakers by the 16th century building this house with the both their technical expertise and money they had made from that trade. Known as Hursthouse Farm until the 1860s when land to the north was sold to facilitate the construction of the Sussex County Lunatic Asylum. The farm was renamed Asylum Farm when acquired by it in order to provide provisions and employment for the patients in keeping with the Victorian ideal of self sufficiency. When the asylum became a mental hospital in 1919 the farm also changed its name to Hospital Farm and continued being part of the hospital until a new law was passed in 1970 forbidding patients from any employment within the hospital. The farmhouse and outbuildings were sold off in 1978 with the latter becoming a business park, Image, with the farmhouse eventually reverting to its original name having become a private residence. Viewed from the access road to Hurstwood Grange.

The name of the field according to Wivelsfield's 1843 tithe map whose days are numbered as the Haywards Heath relief road is due to built in the next few years. Its projected route will run from the right of Hospital Farm in the dip below and head straight through the point where I am standing joining the A272 at the current junction with Hurstwood Lane.

This is Hurstwood Lane, a bit of a 'rat run' and also used as overspill parking from the Princess Royal Hospital around the corner.

Small recently built estate constructed next to the Princess Royal Hospital. The long gap between Hurstwood Lane and the beginning of houses suggests it was built in the late 1990s as the plans for the Haywards Heath relief road, which will travel through that gap, were being formulated. Although originally part of Wivelsfield parish the land here was transferred in 1934 and is now part of Haywards Heath.

The hospital was constructed on land once farmed by Hurst Farm and in time the former came to own the latter in order to provide both provisions and work for the patients, all part of the Victorian drive for self sufficiency. This remained the case until 1970 when the law was changed forbidding hospitals using patients for employment and the farm was eventually sold in 1978. The track is private and no longer seems well used.

Originally part of St Francis Hospital and used as an isolation unit. Currently awaiting redevelopment.

Home to St Francis Rangers who play in Sussex County Division One. The club began life as St Francis Hospital and were admitted to the Sussex County League in 1983. They became St Francis in 1999 after the closure of the hospital and merged with Ansty Rangers in 2002 to become St Francis Rangers. The ground belongs to St Francis Sports and Social club which has its origins as the former hospital's staff sports club which runs a number of different sports from the grounds including cricket, stoolball and hockey. They also run a bowls club and own Image The area has been landscaped out of three former fields which according to the Wivelsfield tithe map of 1843 were Russell Field, Acre Plot and Four Acres.