History
Until the burgeoning of the Wealden Iron Industry in the 16th. century Hadlow Down was a rural farming community with the small population living either side of the main road that runs through it, it was relatively quiet and secluded. The Wealden cannon making industry started at a furnace on the stream at Hoggets Farm situated to the north of the centre of the village. It was here in 1543 that the first cannon in East Sussex was cast by Iron Master Rolf Hogget (Hugget) and is commemorated in a small rhyme: 'Master Hugget and his man John, They did cast the first cannon.' The 'John' referred to is believed to be a French cannon maker by the name of Baude whose family is buried at Wartling on the Pevensey Marshes. It is probable that much of the charcoal needed to fire the furnace would have come from charcoal burners living in the area to the south of Hugget's farm and as far as Blackboys.Clubs & Societies
The Horticultural Society is well supported as is the unique Variety Club. There is also a thriving Short Mat Bowls Club and Book ClubLeisure
Wilderness Wood is a 62-acre (24.6 ha) of woodland, located near the centre of the village,. Tinkers Park is the home of the Claude Jessett collection of traction engines, steam rollers & fair organs is situated at the eastern end of the village. Hadlow Down is well known for its association with steam engines similar to those being used in the local rural farming industries many years ago. Claude bought his first steam engine 'The Tinker' in 1942 and he used it on his farm at Tinkers Park. By the 1950s Claude and his wife Joyce had become interested in the embryonic steam rally scene and, by the early 60's, their collection of steam engines had grown and they were branching out into collecting fairground organs, farming equipment and narrow gauge railways. The first annual Tinkers Park steam engine rallies was held in 1966 in aid of Cancer Research. TheLandmarks
Two Sites of Special Scientific Interest are located within the parish.New Inn pub
The village pub, the New Inn, has an historic pub interior of "national importance" Listed Status: Grade II. This red-brick hotel-cum-pub built in 1885 for the South Down & East Grinstead Brewery retains its plan-form and fittings virtually intact at present. The central entrance has 'Hotel Entrance' etched glass in the doors and to the right are a pair of doors leading to the public bar with one remaining 'Public Bar' etched panel. To be noted is the ceramic button with the figure '1' above the inside of the front doors – a requirement of licensing magistrates. The pub part is small with a long public bar fronting the main street (there was probably a screen dividing it originally) and one small room behind. The spartan public bar fittings are much as they were in Victorian times with a wood-block floor, a long Victorian counter with the front painted cream, bar back fitting with three large cash drawers (note two slots for notes) and four ceramic spirit barrels (note ‘I Whisky’ from the days before the fad of inserting an ‘e’ to distinguish the Irish from the Scottish variety). There are two sections of wall bench seating attached to matchboard dado panelling and a small early 20th century tiled fireplace with decoration on the wood surround and with a log fire. To be noted is the hatch on the left of the servery for customers of the hotel and waiters who would have served the former restaurant. At the rear right is the snug, a small room which now has a carpet and is home to a bar billiards table, The matchboard dado panels have been painted white and service is via the original split doors with a hatch/shelf to the back of the bar. On the front left side of the building are twin currently out of use doors with ‘Hotel Entrance’ etched panels which lead into a corridor and off to the left is the former dining room with further matchboard panelling and an ornate cast-iron fireplace. The pub still retains its outside gents’ and ladies’.Parish council
The council appoints one councillor who is then known as the ''Chairman or Chairwoman''. The current Chairperson is Councillor Sandra Richards. All seven seats of Hadlow Down Parish Council are currently held byCurrent composition
Election history
Hadlow Down Parish Council is made up of up to 7 councillors elected from a single ward. The last elections were in 2015, and resulted in the election of 7 Independent councillors.2015 election
The 2015 Hadlow Down Parish Council elections were held alongside the elections for2011 election
In the 2011 Hadlow Down Parish Council elections only 7 of the 5 seats were contested, these seats were all won by independent candidates.2007 election
In the 2007 Hadlow Down Parish Council elections an uncontested election occurred in which all 7 seats were filled by independents.2003 election
In the 2003 Hadlow Down Parish Council elections an uncontested election occurred in which all 7 seats were filled by independents.References
{{authority control Villages in East Sussex Civil parishes in East Sussex Wealden District