Equally important is the total absence of any evidence of hedges on the footpath from Hurstpierpoint to Washbrooks Farm. It is simply a narrow bank leading to a narrow bridge not wide enough for a road. It never was a road!
The widespread presence of Field Maple suggests an age of at least 400 years, according to Dr Hooper.
The frequent presence of Spindle, north of Hurstpierpoint, tells us (again from Dr Hooper) that the hedges there are 600 years old and they occur on both sides.
The width between hedges across a new Turnpike should have been regular, in this case about 30 feet, but Cuckfield road has many irregular boundaries.
Elm and Dogwood spread by means of suckers and there are big patches of these species, not something that happens in 150 years! On the west side of Cuckfield road in the village of Hurstpierpoint one house has a front hedge entirely of Elm and two houses share hedges of Dogwood, all old hedge remnants.
One cannot imagine Roses being planted nor Willow, Ash, Sycamore and Spindle. The hedgerow evidence is solid.
Wm. Figg must have given very good value for money since he was asked to draw so many maps but he made mistakes that can be understood when one accepts that in the haste of a railway craze he was just paid for copying though he would include costs for buildings that did require surveying.
Dates to remember. 1st licence – 13th century. 2nd licence -1343
Black Death 1348 A.D .Figg’s maps 1826 A.D. Turnpike Road – 1835 A.D. Railway surveyors draw “New Roads” - ? Railway to Brighton 1840 A.D.
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