From Kelly’s Post Office Directory of Essex, Herts, Middlesex, Kent, Surrey and Sussex, 1867
BALCOMBE is a parish, situated on the London, Brighton and South Coast Railway, 18 miles north from Brighton, 33 south from London, and 4 north from Cuckfield, in the Eastern division of the county, Buttinghill hundred, Cuckfield union and county court district, Lewes rape, archdeaconry and rural deanery, and diocese of Chichester. The church of St. Mary is a small stone building, consisting of nave, chancel, and south aisle, with a low tower and small spire, containing 3 bells: there are 5 windows of stained glass. The register dates from the year 1540. The living is a rectory, yearly value £450, with residence and 69 acres of glebe land, in the gift of the Rev. T. J. Torr, and held by the Rev. Henry Rule Sarel, M.A., of Trinity College, Cambridge. Here are Parochial and Infants’ schools, Balcombe Place, the seat of J. A. Hankey, Esq., J.P. is a handsome stone building in the Tudor style, standing on an eminence commanding fine woodland scenery. Balcombe House, the residence of Francis Benjamin Robinson, Esq. is also a handsome villa. J. A. Hankey, Esq. J.P. and Sir Percy F. Shelley, Bart are the principal landowners. The soil is mixed. There are stone quarries. The parish comprises 4,786 acres, a great portion of which is wood and forest; the population in 1861 was 880. The inhabitants are chiefly employed in wood cutting. Highbeach Warren has an area of 1,180 acres, included in Balcombe.
Parish Clerk, William Steel.
POST OFFICE.-John Ireland, postmaster. Letters arrive from Cuckfield at 7.30 a.m.; dispatched at 6.30 p.m. Cuckfield is the nearest money order office
INSURANCE AGENT.- Liverpool & London & Globe, John Ireland
SCHOOLS :-
Parochial, Miss Catherine Wingenroth, mistress
Infants’, Mrs Sarah Turner, mistress
Railway Station, Noah Smith station master
CARRIER TO LONDON.- William Steadman’s waggon, every monday & thursday, to the Half Moon inn, Borough, returning every wednesday & saturday
Hankey John Alexander, esq. J.P. Balcombe place
Robinson Francis Benjamin, esq. Balcombe house
Sarel Rev. Henry Rule, M.A. Rectory
Wetherall Rev. Hen. Rose, B.A. [curate]
COMMERCIAL.
Bates Benjamin, tailor
Beeching John, farmer, Bowders
Bridger Alfred, butcher
Brown Mary (Mrs.), blacksmith
Comber John, butcher
Comber William, land steward to J. A. Hankey, esq. Stone hall
Gibb John, plumber & glazier
Gibb Thomas, plumber & glazier
Godsmark Henry, Railway inn, & coal merchant
Goring Charles, beer retailer
Ireland John, grocer & draper
Kenward James, farmer
Knowles Edward, coal dealer
Marchant William, baker & shopkeeper
Newnham William, farmer, White house
Pickard Henry, farmer, Woodard’s farm
Sahinston Frederick, shopkeeper
Steadman William, carrier
Tester Charles, coal merchant & farmer, Green Trees farm
Tester Chas. jun. farmer, Sherlock’s farm
Tester John, farmer, Yewtree farm
Tester William, farmer, Westup
Turner Alfred, farmer
Turner Thomas, boot maker
Turner Thomas, farmer
Webber John, wheelwright & blacksmith