Tourist Information

Ashdown Forest 

Ashdown Forest is a roughly triangular area of land with Forest Row at its apex.  It is all that now remains of the once huge Wealden Forest of Anderida, which in Roman times stretched for 120 miles from Canterbury to Chichester.  Sadly, much of the Forest was felled to make way for agriculture and to fuel the furnaces of the once thriving Sussex iron industry that reached its peak in the 17th century.  Today the Forest comprises 10 square miles of open heath and woodland and provides a unique habitat for wild animals, birds and plants.  At all times of the year it is a place of stark beauty with incredible views in all directions.

The Forest is administered by a Board of Conservators that is responsible for the provision of funds for its upkeep.  The public has a legal right of access to all open land administered by the Conservators who have done much to provide unobtrusive car parks and picnic areas on the edge of the Forest.  No wheeled traffic is allowed on open Forest land and horse riding is by permit only, obtained from Ashdown Forest Centre.

http.//www.ashdownforest.org

Forest Way Country Park

Cycling and horse riding 

Forest Row Village Walks

Central Village Walk
Walk Number 2
Walk Number 3

Neighbouring Villages and Towns 

The neighbouring villages of Hammerwood, Ashurst Wood (part) and Sharpthorne (part) are also in the parish.

Hammerwood lies two miles north of Forest Row and has a population of about one hundred.  The hamlet was once an important centre of the iron industry, but lapsed into insignificance until a banker, Oswald A. Smith, became the owner of what had been the iron master's home.  Having built the mansion, now known as Hammerwood Lodge, he developed an extensive estate, building houses for the workers and one building to serve as a school and a Chapel of Ease in the parish of East Grinstead, Forest Row and Hartfield.  The Vicarage was built in 1875 and St. Stephens Church in 1879.  The development ceased after his death in 1892 and the estate has gradually been broken up.  The school is now three houses.  A strong community spirit continues today and is centred around the church and the village hall.

Ashurst Wood has a population of approximately 2000 with its own Parish Council and falls mainly within West Sussex but a small portion is within East Sussex and the Forest Row civil parish.  The village has its own church (St. Dunstans, part of the ecclesiastical parish of Forest Row), a Village Centre, some fine timber-framed houses, two recreation grounds with pavilions and tennis courts, a primary school, two playgroups and a selection of shops.  In addition, there is a wide range of church, school, social and sporting organisations.

Sharpthorne  The centre of the village of Sharpthorne lies within the County of West Sussex and West Hoathly Parish but the outlying parts form part of Forest Row Parish together with the hamlet of Wych Cross.

East Grinstead  Once a thriving market town, many medieval and timber-framed houses and a Jacobean almshouse, Sackville College, remain as part of its rich heritage.  St, Swithun's Church, in its hilltop position, can be seen from four counties.  A new state of the art Town Museum explains the history of the town. There are many shops, cafes, restaurants and bars in a number of streets as well as a large library in the town centre.  Chequer Mead houses an arts and theatre complex and the town has a cinema.  Not far from the town centre are the parklands and Georgian mansion at East Court where the Greenwich Meridian marks the boundary between the eastern and western hemispheres.  On the outskirts of the town are numerous sports clubs and a swimming pool and leisure centre.
 

Nearby Places to Visit

All places listed are within 15 miles of Forest Row and are open to the public at certain times. Please click on the Place name to visit their web site.

Houses

Chartwell (former home of Sir Winston Churchill), Nr. Westerham (National Trust)  
Chiddingstone Village and Castle (National Trust) 
Hammerwood House, Hammerwood  
Hever Castle, Nr. Edenbridge
Penshurst Place, Penshurst, Nr. Tonbridge
Priest House and Museum, West Hoathly (Sussex Archaeological Trust)  
Standen, Nr. East Grinstead (National Trust)   
 

Gardens

Other Attractions