The village of Highbrook is a ridge-top settlement characteristic of the High Weald landscape, with a historic smokery that has been recently renovated.
Location: near West Hoathly, Sussex
Grid Reference: TQ361300 (OS Map)
OS Map: 135 (Explorer, 1:25,000)
Information Available: An Interpretation Board has been installed at the Smokery.
What can I do there?
Visit The Smokery, which is believed to date from around 1780 and sits in the heart of the village, next to All Saints Church. It was originally built to smoke meat: to preserve a valuable food commodity long before the days of refrigeration.
Highbrook is situated in the western end of the High Weald AONB near West Hoathly. It is 123m above sea level, on a sandstone ridge 1.5 miles south of the Medway/Ouse watershed. The public footpath that runs between the Smokery and the Church connects the Sussex Border Path (1.6 km to the East) and the High Weald Landscape Trail (1 km to the West). Seating has been installed at the Smokery and it is hoped that walkers will stop to take respite and admire the view!
Site Enhancements 2009-2012
Unused and becoming derelict in the late 20th century, the Smokery was gifted to the village of Highbrook and became managed by the Highbrook Village Hall Management Committee. Vernacular buildings, such as the Smokery at Highbrook, are an essential component of the High Weald and the Committee fundraised to renovate the building and open it up to public access. This long, community-led process was completed in late 2009, when public access to the inside of the building was also granted.
The Smokery was formally opened in spring 2010: in the presence of councillors and representatives from the renovation's funders - the Heritage Lottery Fund, Mid Sussex District Council, West Sussex County Council, West Hoathly Parish Council, the High Weald Joint Advisory Committee, and the residents of Highbrook.
T
he project was funded by the Weald Forest Ridge Landscape Partnership Scheme with support from the Heritage Lottery Fund.
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