Location
50°53'N
0°27'E
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Catsfield
(Iron, Railways and Clocks)
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Origin of Village Name |
Catsfield is possibly derived from Cats feld (The field of cats) probably unlikely,
more likely it is from an Anglo Saxon called Catt's feld (The field of Catt). The
Domesday book records it as Cedesfeld and Cedesfelle, later show Catesfeld an
then Catsfield.
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General Details
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Catsfield can be found on the B2204 Battle to Ninfield road.
Its name could have come from the Saxon tribe the Catti, who
settled in the area, or possibly from Saint Cedd who is said
to have built the church here.
In the Domesday book the area was known as Cedesfille, and
was controlled by a Norman priest called Wrenc, prior to
1066 , the area was held by Elfalm, a Saxon. The village
was not destroyed as so many other villages in the area
were during the Norman invasion of 1066 , but its value
was halved, so quite a lot of damage was inflicted.
After the reformation in 1536 the Advowson for the village
was acquired by John Ashburnham from nearby Ashburnham .
At the end of the 1500's, it was purchased by Thomas
Alfraye, the lord of the Manor of Catsfield, a rich and
influential Ironmaster. In the early 18th century the
Ashburnham family who had also become rich re purchased
the advowson.
At the end of the 1600's, Catsfield Manor was purchased
by the London clock and watchmaking family the Markwick's.
In 1791 Princess Lamballe one of Marie Antoinette's ladies
in waiting, was sent with the queens jewels for safe keeping
to Lady Gibbs at Catsfield Place. Marie Antoinette was
executed in 1792 during the French Revolution.
The uncle of Mad Jack Fuller of Brightling , John Fuller
used to own Catsfield house, originally known as Broomham
and Parkgate, which remained in the family until 1865, when
it was sold to Thomas Brassey. Thomas was a railway pioneer
who built lines in India, Canada and Australia, he was
associated with George Stephenson.
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Services
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 Catsfield lies on the B2204 between Battle and Ninfield ,
it has the usual small village services.
Battle is the nearest shopping centre about 3 miles to the
north east, this is also on the London to Hastings main
line train service.
The nearest large shopping centre is at Bexhill , together
with the main line train service to Eastbourne .
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Views
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 Catsfield has some nice views from the Battle road.
The village centre away from the road is quite pleasant,
and the old church is beautiful.
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