Hurst Green, East Sussex

Hurst Green is located on the A21 in the Rother District and is home to some 1500 people. The origins of the name are probably the Anglo Saxon hyrst grene (meaning green wood).

The village has a number of local shops and pubs (The George and The White Horse) which are known for their excellent food and warm welcomes. It is also home to Merriments Garden Centre, a popular garden centre which boasts a stunningly beautiful 4 acres of densely planted borders. The plants grown in the nursery can be seen in a garden context with a truly remarkable depth of imagination.

It is possible that the area known as Burgh Hill, on the south side of the village was the site of a fort built by King Alfred the Great, this is mentioned in the Burghal Hidage , a record of the forts from Alfreds reign. However, the site of the fort has yet to be found.

The Court House, built in 1892 on the site of the old Toll Gate Cottage, has a clock tower, which was erected in memory of Mr Gregory of Boarzell. The clock has 3 faces, each measuring 4ft in diameter, and it used to strike the hours on a bell weighing 200 weight, before local residents complained that it was disturbing their sleep. The building ceased to be a court house in 1973.

There was a Toll Gate and Cottage at the junction of the roads from London, Hastings and Etchingham which had a large lantern maintained by public subscription, the forerunner of local street lighting.