THE fire which swept through shops and offices in Uckfield High Street in early September severely damaged what is believed to be the oldest building in the town.
The Grade II listed Olives was the centre of what was a medieval enclave in the heart of the town. Three-quarters of its roof was destroyed; the crown post supporting the roof timbers was badly damaged, and there was extensive smoke damage.
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devastation: The fire in Uckfield High Street
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Ancient and modern: A rear view of Olives as it appeared about 1960
Michael Harker, chairman of Uckfield and District Preservation Society’s local history group, surveyed Olives and other ancient buildings in the area nine years ago.
He believes Olives is at least contemporary with Bridge Cottage, the society’s headquarters, which dates from 1436, and is probably even older, “possibly the late 1300s”.
Olives presents an unremarkable frontage to the High Street, but within is the framework of a far older building.
It was a fortified farmhouse with land extending down to the river, built as an open-hall house, as shown by the decorated roof timbers.
There is also evidence of several periods of additions.
The Snatt family was associated with the early history of the building. William Snatt left a will dated 1595 in which he referred to rooms in the house where various items of furniture were located.
It mentioned a kitchen, a parlour, a chamber over the parlour, a chamber over the hall, and “a chamber next adjoining the gatehouse”.
Mr Harker said that such gatehouses were usually defensive, with arches leading to a courtyard complex.
“At this time the hall was already floored over.
“It is possible that this was to support an extended family, plus seven servants. The building complex would have been quite large.”
The Snatts were yeomen tanners, and were citizens of note in Uckfield.
They were in the area in 1441, when they witnessed documents concerning land, and in October 1543 Thomas Snatt was a juror at a coroner’s court in Uckfield.
A map drawn in 1784 of land belonging to Richard Hart showed Olives associated with buildings. Most of these have survived.
In 1841 Olives farmhouse was purchased by the Earl of Liverpool, and the building was rented out to a number of tenants. The 1851 census showed there were nine inhabitants.
Records show the Olives farm complex appears to have been divided by 1841.
The owner was then William Lidbetter, and the buildings, shown as a row of six cottages, were occupied by John Green and others.
In 1869 Mrs Hobden was listed at “The Olives” under persons letting furnished houses or apartments.
Also listed under Olives were George King, a saddler and harness maker, and Henry King, saddler, shown in the censuses of 1841 and 1851.
T Fisher, another saddler, was living further up the High Street, but by 1858 he had moved into Olives and was listed there until 1891, after which Hilary Cruttenden, a harness maker, seems to have taken over.
Dawn Harker, in a survey of shops on the eastern side of the High Street for Hindsight, the preservation society’s journal, said: “It seems possible that these craftsmen were working in what is now known as Olives Yard, the original yard of Olives Farm.
“Still a working farm until at least the mid 1920s, many of the farm buildings still exist today, including the 17th century barn, which was once Cruttenden’s stables, now the Hop Barn restaurant.
“On the 1784 map of Richard Hart’s land a malthouse is shown and nearby Maltmead Cottage still exists.
“Below this (towards the river) may have been a tanyard, as a parcel of land now fronting the High Street, was once owned by Percival Hart, solemonger and described as Leatherdresser at the time of his will in the early 1760s.
“It seems likely that a minor industrial area had gradually evolved, this being pushed out as the town expanded.”
Scaffolding now surrounds the front of Olives and the adjacent shops which suffered in the fire.
But given traditional skills and craftsmanship, Olives – a half-hidden medieval treasure – should receive the sympathetic restoration it deserves.