Beckley, Sussex

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Beckley
Sussex

All Saints Church
Location
Grid reference: TQ852239
Location: 50°59’24"N, 0°38’24"E
Data
Population: 1,037  (2011[1])
Post town: Rye
Postcode: TN31
Dialling code: 01797
Local Government
Council: Rother
Parliamentary
constituency:
Bexhill and Battle
Website: Beckley Council

Beckley is a village and parish in eastern Sussex, adjacent to the border with Kent. It is located on the B2088 minor road above the Rother Levels five miles north-west of Rye and ten miles from Hastings. The northern boundary is also the county border and follows the river Rother.

History

Beckley was part of the Wealden iron industry.[2] An iron furnace was built in 1578, at the small settlement still called Beckley Furnace. A watermill powered the bellows. Production ceased in 1770.[3]

The 1830s saw a mass emigration of Beckley residents to New South Wales. At the time, the developing colony of New South Wales was in need of skilled agricultural labourers, whilst the English labourers were suffering hard times. Various schemes were introduced to provide finance for workers to emigrate. 165 Beckley residents took up the offer and emigrated. Amongst those residents were Thomas and Maria Ann Smith (née Sherwood), the cultivator of the Granny Smith apple.[4] Another of those residents who emigrated at this time was Henry Charles Packham, whose son Charles, in Molong, New South Wales, was the cultivator of the Packham pear.[5][6]

The parish church is the All Saints church, which is located at the far west end of the town. Its isolated position indicates that the main village has relocated during its history.

References

("Wikimedia Commons" has material
about Beckley, Sussex)