Ifield
| Ifield | |
| Sussex | |
|---|---|
 St Margaret of Antioch, Ifield | |
| Location | |
| Grid reference: | TQ255375 |
| Location: | 51°7’24"N, 0°12’26"W |
| Data | |
| Population: | 8,882 (2011) |
| Post town: | Crawley |
| Postcode: | RH11 |
| Dialling code: | 01293 |
| Local Government | |
| Council: | Crawley |
| Parliamentary constituency: |
Crawley |
Ifield is a village in the very north of Sussex which has been swallowed up to become a mere neighbourhood within the town of Crawley. Ifield is in the west of the town and is bordered by Ifield West, Horsham, Langley Green to the north east, West Green to the east across the ring road and Gossops Green and Bewbush to the south across the Arun Valley railway line.
The name of Ifield is derived from "Yew-field". There were many yew trees in the parish, and some can be seen in the churchyard of St Margaret's Church.
History
Ifield contains some of the most historic parts of Crawley, and there is a mention in the Domesday Book as Ifelt: the book records "it is and was worth 20 shillings" Locally there is much evidence of Saxon iron works and a stretch of Roman road still exists today known locally as the "Quarter Mile".
St Margaret's Church was built in the 13th century. It contains both the grave of Mark Lemon (the first editor of Punch), and the Holles family vault. Adjacent to St Margaret's Church is the Ifield Barn Theatre. The old parish of Ifield contained most of the western part of modern-day Crawley, and the old village is on the very western edge of the new town. As well as containing two modern churches - St.Leonards in Langley Green and St.Albans in Gossops Green - Ifield Parish also contains a Friends' Meeting House. Founded in 1676 it was the first purpose-built meeting place for the Quakers anywhere in the world.
A V-1 flying bomb landed in Ifield during Second World War. It damaged the village school and wounded one local man who remained slightly brain damaged for the rest of his life.
Denzil Holles was created Baron Holles of Ifield in 1661, after his part in the restoration of Charles II of England. The peerage became extinct after his grandson died unmarried and without issue. Denzil was buried in Westminster Abbey, but his family are interred here.
Ifield Water Mill and Mill Pond
Ifield Mill Pond lies between Bewbush, Gossops Green and Ifield West. It is the source of the River Mole which runs north into Surrey and all the way to the River Thames. In 1683[1] Ifield Water Mill, a corn mill, was built in the north of the pond; it used water from the mill pond to turn its water wheel. It was rebuilt in 1817 and is now being restored.[2] The restoration has been led by a team of volunteers and spearheaded by Ted Henbery MBE, who has spent 34 years on the project after his son discovered the disused site in 1974.[3] A second project to upgrade the Mill Pond concluded in July 2015 after £6.5 million was spent upgrading the dam, finished £1 million under budget.[4] The Mill Pond is considered to be "the most important wetland site in Crawley"[5] and supports a rich bird community.
Ifield Barn Theatre
The theatre is situated in Ifield, to the north of the 13th century church of St Margaret. The theatre buildings were converted from a group of agricultural buildings mainly based on a tithe barn and former Granary.
Ifield Cricket Club
Cricket was first recorded to have been played in Ifield in 1721, on the green.[6] As of the 2022, Ifield CC 1st XI play in the Division 3 East of the Sussex Cricket League.[7]
Outside links
 |
("Wikimedia Commons" has material about Ifield) |
References
- ↑ Bracher, P. (1994). Ifield Water Mill: its Owners and Occupiers. Publication Number 3. Crawley: Crawley Museum Society. p. 8.
- ↑ "Sussex Windmills and Watermills Open to View". Sussex Mills Group website. Sussex Mills Group. 2009. http://www.sussexmillsgroup.org.uk/open2.htm.
- ↑ "History Profile - Ifield Mill - Crawley TV". http://crawleytv.co/crawleyhistory/ifield-mill/.
- ↑ "PHOTOS: Ifield Mill Pond reopened after £6.5 million of work". http://www.crawleynews.co.uk/pictures/PHOTOS-Ifield-Pond-reopened-6-5-million-work/pictures-27544166-detail/pictures.html.
- ↑ "Ifield Mill Pond". Crawley Borough Council website. Crawley Borough Council. 2008. http://www.crawley.gov.uk/stellent/idcplg?IdcService=SS_GET_PAGE&ssDocName=INT010149.
- ↑ "Ifield | British History Online". https://www.british-history.ac.uk/vch/sussex/vol6/pt3/pp53-60.
- ↑ "Ifield CC". https://ifield.play-cricket.com/home.