Wendy Tagg's Uckfield: Workhouse Runs

Buxted is an attractive village surrounded by farmland. However, not everyone would have been able to work and the parish had 25 workhouse places.

One of the fields to the South East of the village once contained Workhouse Farm. The idea was that inmates would provide some of their own food, reducing running costs. In 1841 the Workhouse Farm was home to eight people, in three groups:

Group 1:

Thomas Berrick, M, Head, age 79, born Sussex
Frances Berrick, F, [Wife], age 61, born Sussex
Charles Berrick, M, [Grand-son], age 16, born Sussex
Edward Berrick, M, [Grand-son], age 8, born Sussex

Group 2:

William Durrant, M, Head, age 40 to 44, born Sussex
Sarah Durrant, F, [Mother], age 80 to 84, born Sussex

Group 3:

Hannah Seymer, F, Head, age 50 to 54, born Sussex
Thomas Turner, M, age 75 to 79, born Sussex; occupation: servant

I think that the numbers are much lower than expected because, in 1841, the authorities were probably already moving inmates to the Uckfield Union workhouse. The 8 people left were mostly very young or old like Thomas Berrick, aged 79, his wife and two grandsons. Were they breaking up families, leaving just the youngest and oldest at the farm? There are a few people with the same surname in the Union workhouse:

John Berrick, M, age 13, born Sussex
Ann Durrant, F, age 50 to 54, born Sussex, possibly the same Anne Durrant that was there 10 years later
Maria Turner, F, age 25 to 29, born Sussex

By 1851, the farm was no longer a workhouse. Those who could not support themselves ended up in Uckfield's Union workhouse.

Buxted's Almshouses

However, a generous act improved the lot of some Buxted people. The Post Office Directory of 1874 tells us:

The Buxted almshouses, containing four tenements, two for single people and two for married couples, were built by Lady Catherine J. V. Harcourt, A.D. 1864.

Plaque showing Lady Harcourt's initials and A.D. 1864

Lady Harcourt who, with her husband, had inherited Buxted House from her father, The 3rd Lord Liverpool.

Ironically, this was the same Lord Liverpool (1784-1851) who, according to Farrant (2001) "ordered the removal of all but one of the houses in 'Buxted Street', so as to enlarge the park and leave in isolation the church and the house immediately to the West of it." The survey of 1798 tells us that there were 10 tenants. According to Taylor (1986) "Lord Liverpool then refused to carry out any repairs to the properties and they gradually fell into decay. The occupants were forced to leave, the houses were demolished and by 1836 there was nothing left to be seen of the old village."

There would have been a cottage between me and the church and more to its right.

In modern times, there are too many people who can relate to these bygone villagers who were living in tumbledown accommodation, which is why I am running to raise money for Shelter.

https://raiseyourrun.shelter.org.uk/fundraising/wendy-tagg-in-aid-of-shelter