Coordinates: 51°04′N 0°10′E / 51.06°N 0.16°E
| Crowborough | |
  Crowborough
Crowborough shown within East Sussex |
|
| Area | 13.6 km2 (5.3 sq mi) [1] |
|---|---|
| Population | 19,988 (2007)[1] |
| - Density | 1,470 /km2 (3,800 /sq mi) |
| OS grid reference | |
| - London | 33 miles (53 km) NNW |
| District | Wealden |
| Shire county | East Sussex |
| Region | South East |
| Country | England |
| Sovereign state | United Kingdom |
| Post town | CROWBOROUGH |
| Postcode district | TN6 |
| Dialling code | 01892 |
| Police | Sussex |
| Fire | East Sussex |
| Ambulance | South East Coast |
| EU Parliament | South East England |
| UK Parliament | Wealden |
| Website | http://www.crowboroughtc.co.uk/ |
| List of places: UK • England • East Sussex | |
Crowborough is a town in the Wealden district of East Sussex, England. It is situated on the Weald and at the edge of Ashdown Forest, in the High Weald Area of Outstanding National Beauty 7 miles (12.8 km) south-west of Royal Tunbridge Wells and 35 miles (56 km) south of London. It has road and rail links, and is served by a town council. It is the largest inland town (by population) in East Sussex.
Contents |
History
Various derivations for the meaning of the town’s name have been put forward.[2] Before becoming a settlement as such, local documents use the names Crohbergh, Crowbergh, Croweborowghe, Crowbarrow and Crowboro. Croh (Old English: saffron or golden-yellow colour and berg means hill. Gorse, growing in profusion in the Crowborough Beacon area, and its yellow flowers might well have contributed to the meaning.
In 1734, a local benefactor, Sir Henry Fermor bequeathed money for a church and charity school for the benefit of the 'very ignorant and heathenish people' that lived in the part of Rotherfield “in or near a place called Crowborough and Ashdown Forest“.[3] The church, dedicated to All Saints, and school (primary) still survive today.
In the late 19th century it was promoted as a health resort based on its high elevation, the rolling hills and surrounding forest. Some[who?] went as far as to call it Scotland in Sussex.
Governance
Crowborough as a place in its own right came into being in 1880, when an ecclesiastical parish was formed from that at nearby Rotherfield; a civil parish was established on 6 April 1905; which in turn became a Town Council on 24 May 1988.[4]
Crowborough shares the headquarters of Wealden District Council with Hailsham, 13 miles (20.8 km) to the south-west; this sharing is due to transfer Hailsham alone by 2010.
Geography
| Crowborough | |
|---|---|
| Elevation | 242 metres (794 ft) |
| Location | High Weald, England |
| Prominence | c. 159 m |
| Parent peak | Leith Hill |
| Topo map | OS Landranger 188 |
| OS grid reference | TQ510305 |
| Listing | Marilyn |
The highest point in the town is 242 metres above sea level. This summit is the highest point of the High Weald and second highest point in East Sussex (the highest is Ditchling Beacon). Its relative height is 159 m, meaning Crowborough qualifies as one of England's Marilyns. The summit is not marked on the ground.
Transport
Crowborough is located on the A26 road between Tunbridge Wells and Lewes. and near the A21 road to London.
Crowborough railway station is on the line to Uckfield which is operated by Southern taking passengers to London Bridge station; the journey takes approximately one hour.
Education
Crowborough is served by one secondary school: Beacon Community College; and by seven primary schools:
- Whitehill Infant School
- Herne Junior School
- High Hurstwood CE (controlled) School
- Jarvis Brook County Primary School
- St Johns CE (aided) School
- St Mary’s RC School
- Sir Henry Fermor (aided) CE School
- Grove Park Special School
There are also two independent preparatory schools.
The town's location on the cusp of the Kent/East Sussex border means that the grammar schools in Kent are available for Crowborough pupils.
Sport and leisure
Crowborough has several recreation grounds, perhaps most notably Goldsmiths, which is the site of the local leisure centre. The Goldsmiths Recreation Ground was given to the parish by private owners in 1937. The town council has since purchased additional land and has developed the ground into a much needed recreation centre for the whole community. The ground now houses a sports centre including a swimming pool and a boating lake.[5]
Crowborough Athletic F.C. and Jarvis Brook F.C. are the town's main football clubs, and Crowborough currently play in Sussex County League Division One. They are the 2007–08 Sussex League Champions.
Crowborough Rugby Union Club won promotion from the Sussex leagues in 2006 and now playing in the London 4th division.
Crowborough Scout Group (third largest in the UK) is actively involved with the Crowborough community and is celebrating 100 years of scouting (1908–2008).
Crowborough mini railway is located at goldsmiths centerand is open form 2:30 to 5:00 good friday to 5th november [1] There is also a boating lake in the middle of the mini railway which was constucted in 2005
Notable people
- Sir Arthur Conan Doyle (1859–1930), the author of the Sherlock Holmes novels and short stories (whose statue stands in the town centre)
- David Jason (born 1940), actor, most commonly known for playing the character Del Boy in the TV sitcom Only Fools And Horses lived in the town during the 1980s.
- Richard Jefferies (1848–1887): writer and naturalist
- British Hip Hop Artist Jehst
- James Dagwell (born 1974), British journalist, currently BBC News presenter \
Luxford House, on Luxford Road at the southern end of town, was once owned by the rock manager Tony Stratton-Smith of Genesis. His own in-house recording studio played host to, among others, Neil Diamond, Genesis and Van Der Graaf Generator, whose "Pawn Hearts" album cover features a photo of the house.
Crowborough is also home of the English Grand Lodge for Europe and Africa of the Rosicrucian Order, AMORC.
Local traditions
A main event in the town's calendar is its celebration of Guy Fawkes Night, held annually on 5 November. An average attendance of 5000 people descend upon Goldsmiths Recreation Ground to witness this town council event. However this is overshadowed by the shenanigans of 'Carnival night' which sees the whole of the town taking to the streets. Donations on the night are traditionally collected by the local Lions Club, and donated to the mayor's charity. The town council also puts on a summer fair and a Christmas fair, for which the dates are agreed annually.
Twin towns
The town is twinned with:
External links
- Crowborough at the Open Directory Project
- Crowborough Town Council
- Crowborough Official Guide
- Local information page from The Crowborough Partnership
- Crowborough on VillageNet
References
- ^ a b "East Sussex in Figures". East Sussex County Council. http://www.eastsussexinfigures.org.uk/webview/. Retrieved 2008-04-26.
- ^ A newspaper article of 1933 suggested that, since iron smelting was carried on here[citation needed], and that the Irish for iron was Croe that explained its derivation
- ^ Historical Notes about Crowborough
- ^ ’’The Weald of Kent, Surrey and Sussex
- ^ Crowborough Official Guide
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