From Kelly’s Post Office Directory of Essex, Herts, Middlesex, Kent, Surrey and Sussex, 1867
RINGMER is a village and parish, 3 miles north-east from Lewes, 10 west from Hailsham, and 48 by road from London, in the Eastern division of the county, Chailey union, Ringmer hundred, Pevensey rape and rural deanery, diocese of Chichester, archdeaconry of Lewes, but one of the peculiars under the Archbishop of Canterbury. The church of St. Mary the Virgin is a large and ancient building, with small wooden spire and a fine old porch: it has a chancel, nave, small side aisles, and contains numerous monuments and several brasses, but none of very early date are remaining: a clock has been added, at the expense of the parishioners. The register commences in the year 1560. The living is a vicarage, value about £400 per annum, with residence, in the gift of the Archbishop of Canterbury, and held by the Rev. Edward Symons B A., of Worcester College, Oxford. Here is a National school, and a workhouse school for the Chailey union. Broyle Place, an ancient mansion, of which only a portion remains is supposed to have been built by one of the archbishops of Canterbury. A part of the horse artillery barracks, formerly standing near the village, has been converted into a kennel for the South Down fox hounds. Here is a police station of the Sussex constabulary. On the green there is erected, at the expense of W. P. Boxall, Esq., late of Delves House, a pump, from which the inhabitants are enabled to get the purest water. The Independents have a chapel here. The name of this place is supposed to be a corruption of Regni mere, derived from the ancient inhabitants of this county belonging to Regnum. The area of the parish is 5,626 acres, and the population in 1861 was 1,522.
POST OFFICE.- George Masters, sub-postmaster, Ringmer green. Letters arrive through Lewes, delivered at 7.30 a.m.; box closes at 6.25 p.m. on week days, & 12.25 p.m. on sundays. The nearest money order office is at Lewes
INSURANCE AGENT.- Liverpool & London & Globe & Fire & Life, George Masters, The Green
Sussex Constabulary Police Station, William Elphick, constable
National School (boys & girls), Mrs. Frances Packham, mistress
Chailey Union Workhouse (for the children), Frederick Jones, Master; Mrs. Jones, mistress
Baxter William Edwin, esq. Oaklands
Bodle Mr. George, The Green
Chapple Misses, The Green
Constable Mrs. Middleham
Harwood Capt. The Green
Jenner Mr. Richard, The Green
Jones Mrs. Delves house
Mitchell Mr John, The Green
Paine Mr. Henry William, The Green
Symons Rev. Edw. B.A. [vicar], Parsonage
Williamson Alexander, esq. Park gate
COMMERCIAL.
Banks James, Cock
Barber Joseph, boot & shoe maker, The Green
Bodle Charles, Anchor, The Green
Boniface Wm. Railway inn, Moorlane
Catt Henry, farmer, Clay hill
Catt William, farmer, Wellingham
Chambers Richard, maltster
Champion George, huntsman to the South Down foxhounds, kennel at Ringmer house
Chandler Robt. Wm. butcher, The Green
Coates Edmund, tailor, The Green
Cosham William, carpenter, The Green
Divel Thos. boot & shoemaker, The Green
Durrant Robert, brewer, Wellingham
Earnscombe George, farmer, Broyleside
Edward Joseph, bricklayer, Rushey green
Elliott Thos. corn miller, Glyndebourne
Fiest Charles, farmers, Broyle
French Joseph, baker, The Green
Gibbs George, farmer, Park farm
Gilham Alfred, blacksmith, The Green
Hide William, farmer, Chapel houses, Broyle
Hillman Joseph, blacksmith, The Green
Hobbs William, farmer, Mount farm
Holman & Kenward, millers, Broyle
Holmden Geo. farmer, Old House farm
Huntley Geo. farmer, Broylegate farm
Jones Samuel, wheelwright, The Green
Kirby William, Green Man
Knight John, baker, Elm place
Knight Thos. farmer, Nollington farm
Lively Thomas, farmer, Church farm
Martin John, farmer, Goat farm
Martin Frederick, grocer & drapers, The Green
Martin William Brown, carpenter & horticultural builder, The Green
Masters George, grocer, draper & baker & agent for Gilbey & Co.’s wines & to the Liverpool & London & Globe Fire & Life Insurance Office, & post office, The Green
Miller Joseph, builder, Broyle side
Page John, farmer, Lower Broyle
Paige Theophilus, farmer, Lodge farms, Upper Broyle
Pockney Wm. shoe maker, The Green
Rickman Rachael (Mrs.), farmer, Wellingham
Tapp James, Old Ship
Thorpe Thomas Hart, farmer, Broyle pl.
Turner Henry, farmer & brick maker, Broyle
Vale Sidney, farmer, Plashett
Wallace – (Mrs.), farmer, Broyleside
Waller Henry, shoe maker, The Green
Wickens Stephens, farmer, Clay hill