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Location
50°59'N
0°02'E
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Fletching
(Simon de Montfort and Jack Cade)
Name Derivation
This village is a Saxon village one of the first to be settled by Aelle around 477AD.
Fletching is derived from Flesc(flesh) ing(fort or stronghold) so it translates to
the Flesh Fort. As it is far up the ouse valley in the forest of Andredweald it was
probably where the hunting and slaughtering of deer and boar took place. Its easy
routes via the river to Malling and further south would make it a good location for
this industry .
In the Domesday book of 1086 it is recorded as Flescinges, becoming Fleshing in the
middle 1200's , finally Fletching after the Battle of Agincourt in 1415 .
The place names ending in ing,inge or ings were usually found on higher ground,
or in places which control strategic points, and appear to surround areas first settled
by the Saxons.
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General Details
The village was mentioned in the Domesday Book , but without a church.
It is likely that Fletching was an Anglo Saxon fort which was
founded in the late 400's AD .
The village was a major producer of Bows and Arrows from the 13th Century
and these were used in the Battle of Agincourt in 1415.
(many thanks to Graham Vincent for providing the above details)
The village lies at one of the entrances to the current Sheffield Park ,
and it seems likely the main reason the church was constructed was for
spiritual guidance of the Lords of the Manor. The present church was started
in the late 1100's and was completed in 1230, and is one of the largest in
the area.
In 1264 Simon de Montfort stopped at Fletching for the Bishop of Worcester
to celebrate mass and bless the troops before the Battle of Lewes, in which
Simon defeated King Henry III's troops, who arrived from the east via
Flimwell , Hurst Green and Battle .
In 1450 the great rebellion of Jack Cade effected the village, Peter Denot a
glover and others from the village took part in the uprising, but were
subsequently pardoned.
The church has had its share of famous people associated with it:-
There is a fine brass of Sir Walter Dalyngrigge and his wife in the church from
about 1380 , one of Sir Walters sons Sir Edwards was responsible for building
the last great medieval castle at Bodiam .
The High Sheriff of Sussex and Surrey, Richard Leche who died in 1596 is
remembered by the full size alabaster figures of himself and his wife
Charitye.
The Neville Family who owned Eridge Park left their mark on the church by
leaving some of their armour in the church, this dates from about 1720.
The author Edward Gibbons was buried in the mausoleum in 1794, it was he who
wrote "The Decline and Fall of the Roman Empire".
During the late 1800's hop growing came to the area, and the crops were
carried to the large towns by the railway from nearby Isfield .
This village is associated with the Sussex Bonfire Societies , who provide
noisy processions, unbelievable outfits and fantastic firework displays throughout
the month of November - a spectacle not to be missed.
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Services
 The village has the usual local services, with its nearest main town being
Uckfield , a few miles to the East.
The nearest trains also run from Uckfield .
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Page Last Updated: 2012-02-02 21:17:01
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