From Kelly’s Post Office Directory of Essex, Herts, Middlesex, Kent, Surrey and Sussex, 1867
HAMSEY is a parish, 2 miles north from Lewes, 10 from Brighton, and 46½ by road from London, in the Eastern division of the county, Barcombe hundred, Lewes rape, county court district, archdeaconry and rural deanery, Chailey union, and diocese of Chichester. The old parish church of St. Peter, standing on a picturesque knoll, has nave, chancel, and square tower; but, in consequence of the inconvenience of its position, a new church has been erected, also named St. Peter’s, for the parish of Hamsey, in its hamlet of Offham: the building is in the Early English style, and consists of a nave, double aisles, and chancel: it has a square tower, with shingled spire, and greatly owes its origin to the munificence of the family of the incumbent. The living is a rectory, yearly value £570, with residence, in the gift of, and held by, the Rev. Sir George Croxton Shiffner, Bart., M.A., of Christ Church, Oxford; the Rev. Reynold Harwood is curate. The Cooksbridge station of the London, Brighton and South Coast Railway is in this parish, one mile north-west. The area is 2,761 acres, and the population in 1861 was 541.
OFFHAM is a hamlet, one mile west; NORTH END, one mile north; COMBE, a mile and a half west; HEWIN STREET, 2 miles north
Parish Clerk, James Morley.
POST OFFICE.- Mrs. Lucy Pannett, receiver, Offham street. Letters arrive from Lewes at 6.45 a.m. Box closes at 6.45 p.m.; on sundays at 11.50 a.m. The nearest money order office is at Lewes
LETTER Box at Park villa, Cooksbridge, which is cleared at 6.15 p.m.; on sundays at 11 a.m.
Railway Station, Cooksbridge, Alfred Paver, station clerk
Schools:-
National, Offham street, Miss Elizabeth Gunn, mistress
Infant, Offham street, Miss Mary Ann Morley
PRIVATE RESIDENTS.
Guy Mrs. Hamsey place
Koe Rev. Lewis, Rectory
Lyall George, esq. Ofham house; & 14 Gloucester square, London w
Shiffner Rev. Sir George Croxton, bart. M.A. [rector], Combe place
Ticehurst Mr. William, Park villa, Cookbridge
Whitfeld Thomas, esq. Hamsey house
COMMERCIAL.
Andrews Thomas, blacksmith, Offham st
Aylwin Benjamin, miller; residence, West street, Lewes
Aylwin James, farmer, Offham farm
Baker Walter, blacksmith, Cooksbridge
Beck Joseph, Rainbow, & coal dealer, Cooksbridge
Bray Stephen, wheelwright, Cooksbridge
Bristow William, brick maker, Hewin street
Caplen Henry, carpenter & wheelwright, Offham street
Cox Harriet (Miss), grocer, Cooksbridge
Cox William, shoe maker, Cooksbridge
Deadman William, farm bailiff to Mrs. Guy, Hamsey place
Doe Thomas, farmer, Winterlands
Farnes Daniel, butcher & general dealer, Cooksbridge
Guy Dorothy (Mrs.), farmer, Hamsey pl
Harmer John, farmer, Mill Lane
Knight Thomas, farmer, Folly farm
Lenny George, farmer, Ade’s & North End farms; residence, High street, Lewes
Martin Henry, farmer, Mount Pleasant
Martin Mary (Mrs.), miller, Cooksbridge
Merricks Alfred, assistant overseer, Cooksbridge
Merricks George, relieving officer to Chailey Union, Cooksbridge
Norman George, brewer, maltster & farmer, Cooksbridge
Norman Thomas, Blacksmiths’ Arms, & cattle & general dealer, Offham street
Oden Thomas, Station inn, & carpenter & builder, Cooksbridge
Pannett Lucy (Mrs.), shopkeeper & postmistress, Offham street
Thomas Henry, farmer, Beechwood lane
Trower Richard, farmer, Tulley’s wells
Verrall Henry, carpenter, Cooksbridge
Waters James Pennington, farmer, Cooksbridge
Woollard James, nurseryman & florist, Cooksbridge