Framfield

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Framfield
Framfield shown within East Sussex
Area^[1]	7.6 sq mi (19.8 km²)
Population	1855 (2007)^[1]
- Density	243/sq mi (94/km²)
OS grid reference	TQ494203
- London	39 miles (63 km) NNW
District	Wealden
Shire county	East Sussex
Region	South East
Constituent country	England
Sovereign state	United Kingdom
Post town	UCKFIELD
Postcode district	TN22
Dialling code	01825
Police	Sussex
Fire	East Sussex
Ambulance	South East Coast
European Parliament	South East England
UK Parliament	Wealden
List of places: UK • England • East Sussex

Coordinates: 50°58′N 0°08′E / 50.96, 0.13

Framfield is a village and civil parish in the Wealden District of East Sussex, England. The village is located two miles (3 km) east of Uckfield; the settlements of Blackboys, Palehouse and Halland form part of the parish area of 6700 acres (2706 ha).

1 History
2 Geography
- 2.1 Blackboys
3 Religion
4 Education
5 Leisure and Culture
6 Economy
7 References

[edit] History

It is likely that Framfield came into existence in the ninth century. Saxon invaders established many settlments along the Weald: the final -field in its name means a clearing in the forest to build such a place. The village is mentioned in the Domesday Book (Framelle); part of the church has Norman stonework.

[edit] Geography

Framfield parish lies on the southern part of the Weald. An ancient trackway, probably used by the Saxons during their invasions, passes to the north of the village. Like many other such places, it was involved in the Wealden iron industry: there are many small streams (including Framfield Stream) which are tributaries of the River Rother on which the mills stood.

[edit] Blackboys

There are two explanations to where the name came from:

It came from the colour of the charcoal burners when they emerged from the woods in the past.
The name means "black wood", from the soot deposited in the woods by the charcoal. This is the more likely explanation.^{[citation needed]}

The Blackboys Inn was founded in the 1300s and was acknowledged as a coaching establishment. It is also possible that the Inn was founded as an overnight staying place for the drivers transporting the charcoal from the local woods to Lewes and other towns.

[edit] Religion

There is a 13th century church, dedicated to St Thomas à Becket.^[2]., although it probably superseded a wooden Saxon one. In the ninth century it passed from the crown to the Archbishop of Canterbury, assuming its nomination as a peculiar. In 1509AD a fire burned out all the wooden parts of the church; and the tower collapsed in the 17th century. In 1891 the church was restored, including the tower, and the bells were rehung^[3]

There is also a Baptist chapel, and a Methodist church at Blackboys.

[edit] Education

Education is provided by two Church of England primary schools: Framfield;^[4] and Blackboys.^[5]

[edit] Leisure and Culture

There are four inns in the parish: The Hare and Hounds; The Rose and Crown, Easons Green; and The Blackboys Inn and The Gun Inn, both at Blackboys.

[edit] Economy

The main charcoal business of the parish stopped in the early nineteenth century when the iron industry moved north to the Midlands with their large deposits of coal.