Mayfield Palace

Saints and sinners, rogues and rascals, cons and icons including an officer and a gentleman who turned himself into a circus freak, Grey Owl the Sussex-born "Red Indian', Pauline Grant who devotes herself to rescuing animals and Dolly Shepherd, the Edwardian aeronaut who gave parachute displays.

A survey of health and hospital provision from the 1870s to c.1939 and looks at hospital provision, isolation and cottage hospitals and the general background in an age dominated by contagious disease.

Continuing on from last year's fascinating talk about the Oast house buildings.

The story of the world famous author and poet, his strong ties with Sussex and the mystery surrounding his beloved only son. The talk begins with the question: Is the mystery solved?

An intriguing probe into the passport stories behind history - assassins who caused the rules to be changed forever, a spy with a mysterious passport and a traitor hanged by a passport he should never have had.

The prosperity and decline of Sussex agriculture in the early 19th century and the factors that brought about the change and its subsequent revival

A talk delivered in the first person, in costume, about the life of the eccentric Georgian squire.

An update on the research and excavations by the Mid Sussex Field Archaeological Team, on the Long Man.

A chronological study of the wonderful legacy of ecclesiastical architecture in the county.

Early film material, moving on to video and then to digital, by the Director of the South East Film and Video Archive, at the University of Brighton.

Patricia is currently a NADFAS lecturer, and an author of many books, both fiction and non-fiction. This talk tells of fashion, feasting and flirting - all bringinging our predecessors to life.

Elizabeth is the East Sussex County Archivist and will talk to us about the function and value of our very busy Record Office, and how we can make best use of it.

David Martin, F.S.A., M.I.F.A., is an Associate Tutor with the University of Sussex, and both he, and his wife Barbara, are leading authorities on Vernacular Architecture.

This villa has been excavated over the last six years by UCL Field Archaeology Unit and the Mid Sussex Field Archaeology Team, under the directorship of Chris Butler, who will talk to us about this large and fascinating site.

Alan Waters will be talking to us on the subject of charcoal burning which was fundamental to life for so many people, for so many purposes, and for such a long period of time in this area of the High Weald. He has given charcoal burning displays at the Weald and Downland Open Air Museum for over twenty years.

Elizabeth is a professional singer and her long association with Glyndebourne Opera makes her talk on this opera house very personal and interesting.

Lady Teviot is the President of UK Federation of Family History Societies. 'Census Searches' is a family business, established by Lady Teviot who has been involved in family history research for over twenty-five years.

John Booth is the exhibition manager for the Brighton and Hove Museum and the keeper of the Booth Museum of Natural History, Brighton

Pam is going to repeat the extremely interesting talk on the history of Crowborough that she gave at Beacon Community College for the Town Council centenary celebrations.

Helen Poole is the Senior Museum's Officer for the Society

James Gardner, a local historian and author, tells the true story of a notorious murder on the Brighton–London line. He looks at the fascinating character of the man executed for the crime, Percy Leroy Mapleton.

An amusing look at the burial places of the famous and the infamous with anecdotes from their lives by John Vigar, who talked to us two years ago about Sussex churches.

On the 8th April there is no meeting in the Church Hall so we are going to FLETCHING where we are to be given a tour of the ancient church, St Andrew and St Mary the Virgin.
We plan to meet outside of the church at 1845 with the tour commencing at 1900. The tour will last for about an hour and afterwards we are going to the Rose and Crown in the High Street for a drink/meal/snack. If you plan to dine at the Rose and Crown you can make a table reservation by telephoning the pub on 01825 723468
There will be no charge for this Event and the Committee hope as many Members as possible will be able to come along.

Smuggling stories hold a fascination for us all and here in the southeast, with its proximity to London and the Continent, smugglers were leaders in their field.