Burgess Hill was, until recently, one of the fastest growing towns in Sussex and has excellent modern facilities. However, along with this recent growth, Burgess Hill is proud of its past achievements and its heritage.
History
The town did not develop until the sixteenth century, initially through farms in and around the former St Johns Common. This was followed by the development of a thriving brick and tile industry and the coming of the London to Brighton railway. The links with this industrial heritage are retained today, as hand made clay tiles are still produced by the Keymer Brick and Tile Company. A Roman Road passes through the town, the route of which is marked with plaques on the pavements.
The town today
A market town with a population of over 26,000, Burgess Hill provides excellent shopping facilities. There is a twice weekly outdoor market (Wednesday and Saturday), a market hall incorporated in the Market Place Shopping Centre, as well as the pedestrianised shopping area, where high street names trade alongside the smaller independent trader.
One of the strengths of Burgess Hill is its lively community spirit. During events such as the Summer Festival, Burgess Hill in Bloom, and the traditional Christmas Shopping Day, the town is alive with activity.
The town has excellent sport and leisure facilities. The Triangle, which was opened in 1999 by Her Majesty the Queen, has been designed to accommodate both professional sports people and families alike. The main attraction is Aztec Waters fun pool, with water cannons, cascade pools, flumes, rapids, lido and competition pool. There are, however, opportunities to enjoy every kind of indoor and outdoor sport, as well as the fully equipped health and fitness club. There are also many other areas in the town for outdoor sports such as tennis, football, cricket etc. St Johns Park, in the town centre, is equipped with children's play areas and an Xtreme Action area for skateboarding, BMXing and in-line skating. The Martlets Hall offers a wide and varied programme of entertainment.
Burgess Hill Town Council has recognised the need to provide a single point of contact for all resident, business and visitor services. The Help Point allows the public direct access to Council Services, Housing Association, Health Authority and Enterprise services and provides tourist information and a bed-booking service. A wide range of publications, brochures, and leaflets are available and fully trained staff are pleased to advise on local attractions, opening times, and transport etc.
A number of national and international companies, such as the Swedish telecommunications giant, Ericssons, have seen the potential of Burgess Hill and based their UK headquarters in the town. The development of a new business park and the refurbishment and upgrading of the Victoria Industrial Estate will provide considerable opportunities for new industry and commercial development in Burgess Hill. Burgess Hill is twinned with Stadt Schmallenberg (Germany) and Abbeville (France).
The countryside
Burgess Hill is surrounded by beautiful countryside and enjoys spectacular views of the South Downs. To preserve the countryside around the town a green crescent has been formed to set an outer limit for development. Incorporated in the green crescent is an area of 33 acres of land known as Batchelors Farm, purchased by the Town Council. The Council proposes that the land be held in perpetuity for the people of the town, enabling them to enjoy the pleasant walks across the land, stopping on a clear day to take in one of the best local views of the South Downs, stretching from Ditchling Beacon to the Hampshire border. Bedelands Farm Nature Reserve, to the north of the town, contains a range of habitats which provide a haven for a wide variety of wildlife.
Getting there and away
Burgess Hill has excellent rail links, with the channel port of Newhaven, and Gatwick Airport both within easy access. The new link road to the A23 has improved this prime commercial location even further by routing traffic directly to the motorway system. Want to know how to get to Burgess Hill? A link to streetmap.co.uk is provided here.
A free and detailed guide to Burgess Hill is available from the Burgess Hill Town Council Help Point, 96 Church Walk, Burgess Hill, RH15 9AS. Tel: 01444 247726.
Want to stay in the area? A link to Visit Sussex is provided here. Once on the site select accommodation and refine your search to the local area around Burgess Hill.
For further information on Burgess Hill, visit their website: www.burgesshill.gov.uk
