Haywards Heath
From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
| Haywards Heath | |
  Haywards Heath shown within West Sussex |
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| Population | 22,800 (2001) |
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| OS grid reference | |
| Parish | Haywards Heath |
| District | Mid Sussex |
| Shire county | West Sussex |
| Region | South East |
| Constituent country | England |
| Sovereign state | United Kingdom |
| Post town | HAYWARDS HEATH |
| Dialling code | 01444 |
| Police | Sussex |
| Fire | West Sussex |
| Ambulance | South East Coast |
| European Parliament | South East England |
| UK Parliament | Mid Sussex |
| List of places: UK • England • West Sussex | |
Coordinates: Haywards Heath is a town in the Mid Sussex District of West Sussex, England. It is situated 12 miles (19 km) north of Brighton and 15 miles (24 km) south of Gatwick Airport. Being a commuter town, many of the residents commute daily to London, nearby Crawley or Gatwick for work.
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[edit] Town history
The name Hayward comes from Old English meaning hedge enclosure. There is a local legend that the name comes from a highwayman who went under the name of Jack. This legend is almost definitely apocryphal. Haywards Heath as a settlement is a relatively modern development. Until the late 19th century, it was little more than wasteland belonging to the Manor of Hayworth. However, following the arrival of the London & Brighton Railway in 1841, its size has increased considerably. Haywards Heath station opened on July 12, 1841 and served as the southern terminus of the line until the completion of Brighton station on September 21. The position of Haywards Heath, and its place on both this railway and near the main road (A23) between London and Brighton, enables it to function as a commuter town, with many residents working in London, Brighton, Crawley and Gatwick Airport.
Other noted historical events in the town's history include:
- The opening of the Sussex County Lunatic Asylum (later called St Francis Hospital) in 1859
- The opening of Bannister's cattle market, the 12th largest in UK at one point, in 1859. This was closed to make way for a Sainsbury's supermarket in 1989.
- The opening of Victorian & Edwardian villas built as early Commuter settlements in 1894
- The opening of the Eliot Cottage Hospital, later King Edward VII Eliot Memorial Hospital, in 1906, named after benefactor, Alice Annie Eliot (1864-1904)
- Schemes in the 1920s to help families on low incomes to become self-sufficient, resulting in the building of Franklands village in the 1930s.
In the 1960s and 1970s, two light industrial estates were built. Office development has lately resulted in the town being a regional or national centre for a number of national companies and government agencies.
The population has risen from 200 in the early 1850s to 22,800 (2001 census), making it one of the larger towns in West Sussex. The area of the civil parish is 974.99ha.
The parish church, dedicated to St Wilfrid, and the Roman Catholic church of St Paul are among the churches and chapels in Haywards Heath.
Haywards Heath was in East Sussex, but a change to the county boundary in 1974 brought it under the jurisdiction of West Sussex.
[edit] Bolnore Village
In the late 1990s, planning permission was granted for 780 new homes on a greenfield site now known as Bolnore Village, located to the south west of the existing town. Plans for this development, led by the house builders Crest Nicholson in conjunction with several other companies, have since expanded to 1,600 new homes. Construction works are currently focused on the south side of Bolnore Village (known as the Village Heights), but a planning application has recently been submitted for the final phases of the development, located to the north of the village adjacent to central Haywards Heath.
The decision to grant planning permission for Bolnore Village was somewhat controversial, since the Ashenground and Catts Woods on that site formed a Site of Nature Constion Importance (SNCI).
As a condition for planning permission, the developers are required to build a relief road for the town, often referred to as Haywards Heath bypass, which will re-route the A272 south of the town centre. Although the first section of the relief road has already been built, it remains incomplete as there are issues with land ownership and the road has to cross a railway line which involves protracted negotiations with Network Rail.
[edit] Future
The Mid Sussex district council are planning to further modernise the town centre, and has recently published its "Haywards Heath Master Plan" which includes renovation plans for the train station, Broadway and main shopping streets. The consultation period for the Master Plan has recently closed, and amendments will now be made in view of comments received. Once formally adopted by the district council, the plan will be implemented over a 20 year period.
The ongoing development of 1,600 new homes in Bolnore Village is expanding the town at a reasonable pace.
Once complete, the Haywards Heath bypass will divert the A272 traffic south of the town, which should improve the current traffic situation through the town centre.
[edit] Transport links
[edit] Rail
Haywards Heath railway station is a major station on the Brighton Main Line. Some of the train services divide at Haywards Heath before continuing their journey to the south, or join other services before continuing north.
[edit] Road
Haywards Heath is primarily served by the A272 road, which runs through the centre of the town. Following the A272 to the West, it joins the A23 road which runs both to Brighton to the south and London to the north.
[edit] Local attractions, culture, and facilities
- Bars and restaurants in Broadway
- Victoria Park
- Clair Hall - community centre and event centre
- Olympos Haywards Heath Leisure Centre
- Borde Hill Gardens
- Beech Hurst Gardens
- Haywards Heath Recreation Ground
- Haywards Heath Library
- "Town Day" - celebrated in early September each year including fireworks in the evening at Victoria Park
- Walking - one of the best known walks close to the town starts just north of the railway station and runs to Ardingly Reservoir, approximately 2.5 miles (4 km) north of the town.
[edit] Education
[edit] State Schools
- Central Sussex College - sixth form college
- Oathall Community College
- Lindfield Nursery School
- The Acorns Nursery School
- Heyworth Primary School
- Harlands Primary School
- Court Meadow School
- Blackthorns C.P School
- St Joseph's Catholic Primary School
- Northlands Wood Community Primary School
[edit] Private Schools
- Ardingly College
- Tavistock And Summerhill School
- Great Walstead School
[edit] Twin town
Haywards Heath is twinned with:
Bondues, Nord-Pas-de-Calais, France
A major road in the Bolnore Village area of the town has been named Traunstein Way.
[edit] Famous residents
Noted celebrities with connections to the Haywards Heath area include:
- Brett Anderson
- Robert Kazinsky
- Mat Osman
- Jamie Theakston
- Matthew Waterhouse
- Eddie Shah of Today Newspaper fame went to Oathall School
- Frank Reginald Carey
In fiction, Haywards Heath is also the home of the Jennings' family.
[edit] See also
- Haywards Heath Living Memories, Author: Wilfrid Jackson, ISBN 1-85937-913-3. Published by Frith Book Company Ltd.
[edit] External links
- Haywards Heath Council website
- Mid Sussex Times History of Haywards Heath
- Haywards Heath Town Masterplan
- Neighbourhood help for Haywards Heath
- ThisIsHaywardsHeath.com - Satirical website about Haywards Heath
- Bolnore Village residents' website - website about Bolnore village with link to residents' forum
- Haywards Heath Rugby Club - The leading club in sussex rugby
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