Cuckfield is a large village and civil parish (with a mayor) in the Mid Sussex District of West Sussex, England. It is located on the southern slopes of the Weald, two miles (1.6km) west of Haywards Heath and surrounded on other sides by Cuckfield Rural. Before the modern local government system came in to operation in the late 19th century it was described as being in the hundred of Buttinghill, in the rape of Lewes. The civil parish covers an area of 431.58ha, and has a population of 3266 persons (2001 census).

The origin of the name, Cuckfield (earlier spelled Kukefeld, Cucufeld, and Cucufelda) , is debated but it is generally associated with the cuckoo which is the village emblem. The name is pronounced like "Cookfield" and does not rhyme with the nearby town of Uckfield (pronounced with a short 'u').

The village grew as a market town; and an important coaching stop between London and Brighton, since it lay on the turnpike. In 1820 fifty coaches a day were passing through; but when the railway to Brighton was to be constructed in the 1840s, local landowners objected to its projected route: it was therefore built through neighbouring Haywards Heath instead. The village lost its importance as a result. Today the A272 road also bypasses the village centre. It is however home to Warden Park Specialist School one of the main secondary schools serving the Haywards Heath area.

The Parish Council, Cuckfield Museum and village library reside within the Queen's Hall, built in 1897 to celebrate Queen Victoria's Diamond_Jubilee. The parish church, dedicated to Holy Trinity, has Norman foundations, although the building itself is 13th century. The lych gates are listed buildings and several of the stained glass windows as well as the pulpit and the ceiling painting were designed by Charles Eamer Kempe (1837-1907).

Gideon Mantell found the first known iguanodon fossils close to Cuckfield, near a site where a monument to him now stands. He also features in the town's museum. Other attractions include the Elizabethan stately home Cuckfield Park, to the west of the village. The Cuckfield Bonfire Night celebrations are held here.

Cuckfield is also known locally for its idiosyncratic system of mayoral voting; unlimited numbers of votes can be purchased for the price of one penny each, with the winner receiving the most votes.^* The position is purely honorary.

External links

• Cuckfield Parish Council
• Holy Trinity, Cuckfield (Anglican Parish Church)
• Independent State of Cuckfield
• [http://www.cuckfieldcompendium.co.uk Cuckfield Compendium

Villages in West Sussex