Lynchmere Social History

by Peter Searight
​The Aboriginals, among the most ancient indigenous people in the world, have a tradition of strong connection with the land and only taking what they needed to survive. Our commons may have also been occupied by hunter-gatherers with a similar mindset, but the first archaeological evidence of occupation dates to the Neolithic period – about 5000 years ago – and it is likely that they have been continuously occupied ever since. So our landscape is a purely human construct reflecting its use for thousands of years.

Why does this matter? It is because, to be authentic, our restoration work needs to reflect the history of the activities and people that created the habitat that, in times gone by, allowed now endangered species to thrive. Creating a ’living museum’ understanding the lifestyle, culture and activities of our forebears can inspire people to protect a rare habitat for the future.
Many features of the commons and meadows in our portfolio can be traced back to feudal times and reflect subsistence needs, agriculture, crafts and large scale industry. The Fernhurst Furnace is just one of the many iron making concerns in the Sussex Weald and supplied canon to the Tudor navy, while the Burton Mill, down the road, is believed to have sold cannon balls to the Spanish! Thousands of acres of forest were required to create the charcoal needed to fuel these furnaces.
At the other end of the scale, heather was systematically harvested to provide fuel and raw materials for the poorest families. Scores of Broom Squires worked the Sussex heaths harvesting birch and heather to create besoms - ‘witches brooms’ - that were sold as far afield as Portsmouth and beyond.  Harvesting the commons for these resources continually, and systematically, regenerated the habitat need to support rare wildlife.  The commons also bear the scars of two World Wars, and the interwar and post war periods, which saw the large scale destruction of ancient woodland, meadows, hedgerows, and many other important habitats, in the scramble to meet the needs of the times.

The ancients’ philosophy of connecting with the land and using only what you need seems particularly prescient at this point in our history. Many traditional crafts still exist and we hope to highlight these and explore the history of the people – often colourful - that occupied the area to deepen our understanding of why our work will matter to future generations.

If you have a particular craft skill or perspective on the history of the area that could help us bring the past to life for a modern generation, please contact [email protected] to let us know

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You can volunteer with us by getting stuck into practical conservation work or by doing surveys and other less strenuous tasks. Everyone is welcome, you do not need to be a member to volunteer. Register here and we can inform you of coming events and opportunities.
Picture
Photography by Peter Searight. The Remarkable Studio
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