Out and About - Ashburnham
Tue, Jul 21st 2026 at 6:00 pm - 9:00 pm
Short Walk starting 18:10 - meet at The Ash Tree country pub at Brownbread Street, Ashburnham by 18:00
Meal at The Ash Tree starting 19:00 for 19:30.
District members please log in for more information.
Bexhill Rotary Club Explores Ashburnham’s Industrial Past
Guided walk takes members through historic Ashburnham, Brown Bread Street and the legacy of the Wealden iron industry Bexhill Rotary Club members enjoyed an absorbing tour through the East Sussex countryside, visiting Ashburnham village and Brown Bread Street to explore the area’s rich local history, historic buildings and remarkable industrial heritage.
The walk was guided by James, whose knowledgeable commentary brought the landscape to life. Along lanes, paths and village landmarks, he explained how this peaceful rural setting once played an important role in the Wealden iron industry, with iron works, a blast furnace, forge and brickworks all contributing to the working life of the district. A particular focus of the tour was Ashburnham’s ironworking past. The area was once home to one of the important Wealden ironworking sites, where water power, local ore, woodland charcoal and skilled labour supported furnace and forge activity. The Ashburnham furnace was among the last in the Weald to cast iron before finally closing in the early nineteenth century, while the associated forge and surrounding works remained part of the area’s industrial story for many years.
Members also learned about the former brickworks, another reminder that Ashburnham’s history was shaped not only by agriculture and country estates, but also by manufacture, transport, craft and trade. The buildings, tracks, watercourses and surviving landscape features helped the group picture how busy the village and its surroundings would once have been.
Ashburnham Place, the former seat of the Ashburnham family and now a well-known Christian conference and prayer centre. Its presence provided a striking contrast with the industrial remains, highlighting the varied history of this part of East Sussex, from estate life and village settlement to furnace ponds, forges and brickmaking. After the walk, the group rounded off the outing with a convivial meal at The Ash Tree pub, giving members the chance to reflect on what they had seen and to thank James for an informative and enjoyable tour.
The visit proved a memorable opportunity for Bexhill Rotary Club to discover more about the hidden history of Ashburnham and Brown Bread Street, and to appreciate how much of East Sussex’s industrial and social heritage can still be traced in today’s rural landscape.
