From Kelly’s Post Office Directory of Essex, Herts, Middlesex, Kent, Surrey and Sussex, 1867
HURSTMONCEUX (or Herstmonceux) is a parish and town, in the Eastern division of the county, union of Hailsham, county court district of Hastings, Foxearle hundred, Hastings rape, diocese of Chichester, archdeaconry of Lewes, and rural deanery of Dallington, 4 miles east from Hailsham, and 10 south-west from Battle. About a mile from the Hastings and Brighton road, and situated in a valley, stands the magnificent ruin of Hurstmonceux Castle: this castle, surrounded by a moat, now dry, was built in the reign of Henry VI. by Sir Roger de Fiennes, treasurer of the royal household, who obtained from his royal master a licence to embattle and fortify his manor-house of Hurstmonceux, and to enlarge his park, 600 acres of land: the castle is of brick, with window-cases, door-cases, and water-tables of stone, and is one of the oldest brick mansions in the kingdom: the interior was pulled down about the year 1770, before which time it was one of the finest of our castellated relics: the outward walls and towers are yet standing; those of the gateway, when perfect, measured in height 84 feet; the south or grand front is 206 feet long; the east and west sides 214 feet long. The church of All Saints is a quarter of a mile from the castle, and is a large building in the Early English style; it contains a splendid monument to the memory of Thomas Lord Dacre and his father, descendants of Sir Roger de Fynes, or Fiennes: under a richly worked canopy are the recumbent figures of two men in armour. The living is a rectory, yearly value £1,054, with residence and 160 acres of glebe land, in the gift of, and held by, the Rev. Robert Louis Wild, M.A., of Oriel College. Oxford. Here is a National school for boys and girls, supported by subscription; also an Independent chapel. The area is 5,039 acres, and the population in 1861 was 1,287.
GARDNER STREET is a populous hamlet of Hurstmonceux parish, on the road from Battle to Hailsham.
BODLE STREET GREEN is an ecclesiastical district, formed out of the parishes of Warbleton, Hurstmonceux, Wartling, and Dallington. The church of St. John is in the Gothic style, and consists of nave and chancel. The Rev. St. Job Dearsley, M.A., is the incumbent. A National school for boys and girls, with a residence for the teacher, has lately been erected in this district.
Parish Clerk, Charles Morris.
POST & MONEY ORDER OFFICE & POST OFFICE SAVINGS BANK.- Mrs. Mary Dawes, postmistress, Gardner street. Letters arrive from Hurst Green at 7.45 a.m.; dispatched at 6.45 p.m.
INSURANCE AGENTS:-
Liverpool & London & Globe, James Harmer, Gardner st
Provincial Fire & Life, Edward Beeny
National School, Gardner street, James Richard Winham, master; Mrs. Elizabeth Oxley, mistress
CARRIER.- Levi Baker, to Battle, thursday; to Hastings, tuesday & saturday; to Hailsham, monday, wednesday, friday
Arkcoll Thomas, esq. J.P. Limehouse
Dearsley Rev. St. John, M.A. Bodle Street green
Durrant Misses, Gardner street
Gotobed Thomas, esq. Milland house
Griffin Rev. Alfred [Independent]
Harington Rev. Charles Sumner, M.A. Hurstmonceux place
Harington Mrs. John, Hurstmonceux pl.
Ironsides Mr. Edmund, Stunt’s green
Luard Col. Wargroves
Musgrave Charles, esq. Flower’s green
Tate Mr. George, Windmill hill
Warren Rev. Albert J. M.A. [curate]
Wild Rev. Robert Louis, M.A. [rector]
Wilkinson Mr. John
COMMERCIAL.
Andrews William, farmer, Brick house
Baker Levi, farmer & carrier
Beeny Edward, miller & farmer
Beeny Edwd. jun. fancy basket manufacturer
Brown Edward, saddler, Gardner street
Burchett Ann (Mrs.), milliner & dress maker, Gardner street
Carley Benjamin, boot & shoe maker, Gardner street
Chapman Wm. grocer & drapr, Gardner st
Coleman Ephraim, carpenter
Coleman John, farmer, Lime End & Parsonage farms
Collins Jesse, butcher, Lime cross
Cornford John, road surveyor
Dallaway Saml. miller & farmer, Cowbeech
Davis Amos, farmer, Windmill hill
Dennes George, blacksmith, Gardner st
Duly Wm. watch & clock maker, Gardner st
Edmonds Chas. wheelwright, Gardner st
Ellis William, boot & shoe maker, Cowbeech
Elphick William, nurseryman & seedsman, Gardner street
Faulconer Thomas, farmer & hop grower, Blackford
Firrell Aaron, blacksmith, Stunt’s green
Gorham Caroline & Elizabeth (Misses), Woolpack, Gardner street
Haffenden Richard, farmer
Harmer George, painter, plumber & glazier, Chapel row
Harmer James, brewer, maltster & coal merchant, Gardner street
Harmer John, bricklayer, Gardner st
Harmer William, farmer, Rock’s farm
Histed Thomas, tailor, Lime cross
Hobden Valentine, saddler, Gardner st
Holman David, boot & shoe maker, Gardner street
Kenward Edwin, farmer, Dudeney’s farm, Windmill hill
Lambert Henry, farmer & hop grower, Cowbeech
Martin Chas. beer retailer, Gardner st
Martin William Scott, boys’ school, Windmill hill
Miller Elizabeth (Mrs.), shopkeeper, Windmill bill
Moon William, tailor, Gardner street
Morris Charles, boot & shoe maker
Newington John, farmer & hop grower, Cowbeech
Payne Richard, farmer, Flower’s green
Puttock William, grocer, Gardner st
Sampson Thomas, farmer & hop grower, Stunt’s green
Smith Edwin, farmer, Church farm
Smith Thomas & Sons, Royal Sussex prize medal basket manufacturers, Gardner street
Smith Jesse, jun. farmer Cherry croft
Soper Thomas & Eliza (Miss), grocers & drapers, Gardner street
Stevens David, cooper, Gardner street
Sweetman Thomas & Job, fellmongers, Gardner street
Tayler Edward, farmer, Windmill hill
Verrell Edward, blacksmith, Cowbeech
Watson Edward, farmer, Old house
Winchester David, wheelwright, Cowbeech
Winchester Henry, farmer & fly proprietor, Gardner street
Winchester Samuel, carpenter, Cowbeech
Winchester William, wheelwright, Windmill hill