We are a group of enthusiastic volunteers who research the historical geography of Ashdown Forest, focusing particularly on the people who have lived and worked there, and their impact on it, and the impact that the forest has, in turn, had on them. Articles by members of the group have appeared in Ashdown Forest News and other publications. We also hold periodic exhibitions of our work and give talks on Forest history. Click here to visit the group’s website.

Publications

The following articles are available for downloading:

• Ashdown Forest in a Time of Change (Ashdown Forest Life, 2014)
• Occupations in a 19^th Century Forest-edge Rural Community
• Who were the Census Enumerators?
• Family Names on the Forest
• Forest Row Men who Died in the Great War
• New Insight into the Origins of the Forest Centre Barns
• Fire on the Forest - A Commoner’s Response
• The Development of Railways around Ashdown Forest before the First World War
• The Turnpike Roads of Ashdown Forest - A Forgotten History?
• Ashdown Forest in a Time of Change: 1850-1914 (Ashdown Forest News, 2017)
• Researching the Men of Ashdown Forest who fell in the First World War.
• Transport Improvements around Forest Row, Sussex, in the 18^th and 19^th Centuries
• Officers and the Ranks who Fell in the Great War - The Kekewich and Maskell Brothers

 

A complete list of publications is available from the Group’s website.

 

World War One – Case Studies

To mark the centenary of the end of the First World War the group has written case studies on all those men who fell in the First World War and who are commemorated on the war memorials at Forest Row, Hartfield and Coleman's Hatch. The studies give details not only of their war service but also their personal backgrounds and links to Ashdown Forest. There are 113 studies in total. A dedicated website has been set up for the project where you can find out more about the project and view the case studies. Click here to go to the website.

 

Interested in joining the group?

The research group meets eight times a year, usually on Tuesday mornings, at the Ashdown Forest Centre. We welcome enthusiastic new researchers who may be interested in contributing to our projects as well as carrying out their own research. If you are interested please contact us at the email address below.

Contacting the group

The group may be contacted by email at [email protected]

Copyright

All the above publications are copyright © Ashdown Forest Research Group.