From Kelly’s Post Office Directory of Essex, Herts, Middlesex, Kent, Surrey and Sussex, 1867
WITHYHAM (or WITHIAM) is a parish, 8 miles south-east from East Grinstead, and 7 south-west from Tunbridge Wells, in the Eastern division of the county, Hartfield hundred, East Grinstead union and county court district, Pevensey rape, Chichester diocese, and Lewes archdeaconry. The new line of railway from East Grinstead to Tunbridge Wells, has a station about three quarters of a mile from Withyham. The church of St. Michael is a stone building, with square tower containing an excellent peal of 6 bells: in 1844 the interior was entirely renovated, and a new south aisle added: attached to the church, on the north-eastern side, is a private chapel, belonging to the ancient family of Sackville: here are the banners and arms of that family, beneath which is the vault, which for many centuries has been their place of burial: there are three fine monuments, executed by Nollokens, Flaxman and Chantry: in the north window, in stained glass, is the genealogy of the family, from the time of the Norman Conquest. The register dates from the year 1663. The living is a rectory, worth £700 per annum, with residence, in the gift of the Earl De La Warr, and held by the Rev. Thomas Frederick Rudston Read, M.A., of University College, Oxford. Not far from the church are a tower and other portions of buildings, which are the remains of the ancient house of Buckhurst, where the Lord Treasurer of Queen Elizabeth lived, and who was afterwards made Earl of Dorset: the heiress of that family is the Countess De La Warr (Baroness Buckhurst). Buckhurst Park, the residence of the Earl and Countess De La Warr, forms a beautiful feature in the picturesque scenery in this parish: the mansion is in the Elizabethan and Tudor styles. A fair is held yearly on Michaelmas Day. Earl De La Warr is lord of the manor and chief landowner. The area of the Parish is 8,086 acres, and the population in 1861 was 1,597.
CROWBOROUGH is a hamlet, partly in this parish, 3 miles south from the church, where there is a chapel of ease (St. John the Evangelist), with parsonage and school house adjoining, near to which are almshouses for six aged persons (widows and widowers), erected a few years since by the Countess De La Warr.
GROOMBRIDGE, 3 miles, north-east, is principally in the parish of Speldhurst, and county of Kent, a small portion only being in this parish. The new line of railway from East Grinstead to Tunbridge Wells has a station here. There is a Wesleyan chapel.
Parish Clerk, Francis Box.
POST AND MONEY ORDER OFFICE AND POST OFFICE SAVINGS BANK.- Thomas William Wilson, postmaster. Letters arrive by mail-cart from Tunbridge Wells at 5.45 a.m.; delivered at 7 a.m.; dispatched at 6.55 p.m.
INSURANCE AGENT.- Phoenix Fire, H. Hale
SCHOOLS:-
Pritchard, master; Mrs. Pritchard, mistress
St. John’s, Crowborough, Samuel Reader, master; Mrs. Reader, mistress
CARRIERS TO:-
LONDON – Thomas Streatfield’s van, every wednesday morning to the Nag’s Head inn, Borough, returning thence every friday night; Robert Jarvis’s van, from Crowborough & Withyham, every tuesday, to Queen’s Head inn, Borough, returning thence every thursday
TUNBRIDGE WELLS – George Gilham’s cart, from East Grinstead, every tuesday, thursday & saturday, returning same days
De La Warr The Right Hon. Earl, Buckhurst park
Cooke, – esq. A.K.A. near Groombridge
Fell Mrs. Beech Green park
Huchings Samuel, esq. Park grove
Jeffrey Henry, esq. Summerford
Lang Thomas Bisland, M.D. Fielding house, Groombridge
Oswell William Cotton, esq. Florence
Perry Rev.George Booth, B.A. [curate], Crowborough
Pryce John, esq. J.P. Penn’s rocks
Ramsbotham James, esq. Crowborough warren
Whitelock Rev. Benj. M.A. Groombridge
Wilson Lieut. R.N. Groombridge
COMMERCIAL.
Adams John, shopkeeper
Ashby Robert, farmer, Lodge field
Ashdown Thomas, Half Moon, & wheelwright, Friars’
Avis John, farmer, Hunt’s farm
Balcombe Thos. blacksmith, Lye green
Barton -, farmer, St. John’s
Box Francis, blacksmith
Cook Jonathan, farmer, Hole farm
Crowhurst Robt. farmer, Salehurst farm
Crowhurst Wm, farmer, Pound farm
Dadswell Edw. farmer, Tanyard farm
Davison George, grocer & draper
Fairbrother John, land agent to Earl De la Warr
Foulds George, farmer & auctioneer
Goodwin William, farmer, Sherlocks
Hole Henry, farmer, Hale farm
Hall Alfred, miller
Hall -, farmer, Ducking’s farm
Hall John, farmer, Hendal farm
Harding Wm. miller, Blackham mill
Harris James, Dorset Arms inn
Heath James, seedsman
Hooker George, farmer
Jeffrey Henry, farmer
Kember Wm. farmer, Summersales farm
Kennard Chas. farmer, Blackham court
Killick John, farmer, Groombridge
Killick Thomas, farmer, Lye green
Killick William, farmer
Lang Thomas Bisland, M.D. surgeon, Fielding house, Groombridge
Langridge Henry, farmer, Little Stoneland farm
Miles Richard, wheelwright
Moon William, shopkeeper
Parris John, farmer, Ham farm
Patching Thomas, farmer & landowner, Alkesford farm
Payne John, farmer, Old Buckhurst farm
Ralph Richard, farmer, Friars’ gate
Richards T. Spencer, shopkeeper, Groombridge
Richardson Daniel, farmer & landowner
Scott William, carpenter, Groombridge
Scott William, Junction hotel, Groombridge station
Streatfield Thomas, carrier
Wallis Joseph, cooper, Crowborough
Webb Henry, shopkeeper
Webb Robert, Sussex Oak, Blackham
Wells Elizabeth (Mrs.), beer retailer, Groombridge
West John, boot & shoe maker, Groombridge
Wilson Thos. William, grocer & draper
Young William, baker, Groombridge