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Reasons to move to Newick, East Sussex

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

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

Traditionally an agricultural town, Newick had many other businesses that kept the town’s economy going, including a tannery, two breweries, a tailor’s shop, a bakery and a jam factory. The tanning yard was located to the rear of The Green and was used primarily to service the glove factory on the high street. Newick was truly famous in its day for the high quality of its women’s gloves. This particular property later became a brewery, grain store, and is now a woodworking business.

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

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

The town hall originally known as ‘Derek Hall’ is where the Newick Amateur Dramatic Society (known as NADS) put on 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 pursued a career in acting and eventually became the world famous Dirk Bogarde, star of many movies. Therefore, the room was named ‘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. More recently, Piers Morgan is a famous Newick resident.

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

Newick has two village shops, a fantastic bakery, butcher, pharmacy, post office (only), health centre, two restaurants (people come from miles around for the famous Newick Tandoori), three pubs , a primary school and a nursery. So much to offer for such a small town! My favorite thing about Newick is the fact that it has been maintained as a village should look! It has managed to stay away from too much modernization and has kept its friendly atmosphere. It does, however, have a cosmopolitan feel, perhaps due to the international flags flying from The Green’s six masts.

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

The average price of a property in Newick is 163; 425,000, which will give you a sizable property with 3/4 bedrooms; the area is not cheap, but i think for some it is worth it.

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