Maresfield is a small village lying just north of Uckfield the name is derived from the Anglo Saxon Meresfield meaning a field with a marsh or pool in it. The village was a rural community living on the southern edge of the Ashdown Forest which was a deer hunting reserve of the king. The Parish of Maresfield was quite large and also included the villages of Nutley and Fairwarp until the 1800's. The Wealden Iron Industry was important to the area, as three foundries are nearby, the proximity to Buxted , where the first cannon was manufactured in 1543 by Ralph Hoggett must have helped the businesses locally. One of the foundaries was converted to produce gunpowder in the early 1800's. In 1743 the Chequers Hotel was built as a coaching inn on the Brighton to London stagecoach route. Maresfield camp has been the home to many soldiers through the ages and recently was the home of immigrants during Idi Amin's reign in Uganda and the Vietnamese Boat People.

Services

Maresfield has limited services as it is a small village, but it lies just north of Uckfield with its wide range of services. Uckfield provides the nearest shopping centre , and also the nearest train service providing regular links to london. The bypass has brought peace to the busy village centre, and it is now pleasant to walk through.

Views

Maresfield village centre near to the church is very attractive, and the car park opposite the church provides a good starting point. Near the Chequers Inn is a milestone, which is unusually made of iron, as opposed to the usual stone ones.