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Reasons for moving to Newick, East Sussex

There are many good reasons to move to Newick, East Sussex in the Lewes district. It sits like a pear on the A272, six miles east of Haywards Heath, with its fast rail connections to the capital. For a town of 2,500, Newick has a disproportionate share of history and famous residents.

Situated almost halfway between Canterbury and Winchester, Newick was on the main route for passing pilgrims. The distance to these two cathedral cities is listed on the old sign found on The Green. The Bull Inn was used as a stop for pilgrims and dates back to 1510. To this day, The Bull retains many of its period features and is one of only three pubs in the village, although only the Royal Oak serves the Harveys. Local ale from the brewery a few miles downriver from the River Ouse in Lewes.

Traditionally an agricultural town, Newick ran many other businesses that supported the town’s economy, including a tannery, two breweries, a tailor’s shop, a bakery, and a jam factory. The tanning yard was located at the rear of The Green and was primarily used to serve the glove factory that was on Main Street. Newick was really famous in his day for the high quality of his women’s gloves. This particular property was later converted to a brewery, a grain warehouse, and is now a cabinet-making business.

Due to the quality of its soil, Newick became a center for the cultivation of red fruits. Acres of strawberries and the famous dessert gooseberry ‘Newick Leveler’ are now being replaced by modern homes. But in its day, fruit growing was a profitable business. One resident, Clifford Scott even had his own shop on the village green, in fact he came up with the ‘Pick Your Own’ idea. Due to the lack of fruit pickers and the abundance of fruits, it made sense for buyers to come and pick their own!

Newick has seen many other businesses over the years. The blacksmith was located in The Green; F. Bannister was a grocer and haberdashery that was on Allington Road along with the village hospital, which is now a private home. Next to the hospital was where Mrs. Elizabeth Fuller ran her girls’ school. Lady Vernon’s school for girls was located at the top of Fonthill, the boys attended the present-day village school where Mr. Oldaker was the school teacher for 40 years. Oldaker Road is named in his honor.

The town hall originally known as ‘Derek Hall’ is where the Newick Amateur Dramatic Society (known as NADS) performs local productions. It was within this group that a thirteen-year-old boy named Derek Van Den Bogaerde made his acting debut in an adaptation of ‘Journey’s End’. He continued his acting career and eventually became the world famous Dirk Bogarde, star of many feature films. Therefore, the room was referred to as “Derek Hall”. NADS is still going strong and now has a youth group. Another famous person known to have resided in Newick for a time is Roger Moore, who had a house on Lower Station Road. Most recently, Piers Morgan is a famous Newick resident.

Cricket has always played an important role in the life of the town of Newick. It was the rector Thomas Baden-Powell who with his devotion to cricket encouraged the talents of two brothers from the village. James and John Langridge went on to play for Sussex and England. The original cricket ground was where High Hurst Close now stands, the scene of many cricket triumphs. Luke Wright, the Sussex County Cricket Club and player from England, recently bought a house in the village. Newick also has a strong rugby club.

Newick has two village shops, a fantastic bakery, a butcher shop, a pharmacy, a post office (only), a health center, two restaurants (people come for miles to the famous Newick Tandoori), three pubs, a primary school and a kindergarten. So much to offer for such a small town! What I like best about Newick is the fact that it has kept what a village should look like! It managed to stay away from too much modernization and has kept its friendly atmosphere. However, it has a cosmopolitan air, perhaps due to the international flags that fly from the six masts of The Green.

Newick used to have its own train station, which was located on what is now Station Road. They ran services on the East Grinstead line to Lewes, part of this remains on the Bluebell Railway. The next station was Sheffield Park, which is also still used by the Bluebell Railway. For commuting, Haywards Heath station just fifteen minutes away has regular services to Brighton and London.

The median property price in Newick is 163; 425,000, which will allow you to obtain a considerable size property with 3/4 bedrooms; the area is not cheap, but I think for some it is worth it.

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