| Cross-in-Hand | |
|---|---|
 St Bartholomew's Church | |
  Cross-in-Hand Location withinEast Sussex | |
| OS grid reference | TQ562216 |
| • London | 50 miles (80 km)NNW |
| Civil parish | |
| District | |
| Shire county | |
| Region | |
| Country | England |
| Sovereign state | United Kingdom |
| Post town | HEATHFIELD |
| Postcode district | TN21 |
| Dialling code | 01435 |
| Police | Sussex |
| Fire | East Sussex |
| Ambulance | South East Coast |
| UK Parliament | |
| |
Cross-in-Hand is a small village outsideHeathfield town to its west, in theWealden District situated inEast Sussex, England. It is occasionally referred to as Isenhurst.
Cross-in-Hand is situated at the junction the A267 running betweenRoyal Tunbridge Wells andEastbourne, and theB2102 which terminates in Cross-in-Hand but joins theA22 inUckfield.[1] It is the easternmost location of theA272 road, which continues west to theA30 inHampshire. The village has a high street on the B2102 road that links Cross-in-Hand toUckfield. Retail shops include a petrol station, wooden furniture shops, a motorcycle shop, a bakery, and a funeral director's. TheChurch of England parish church is dedicated toSt Bartholomew, and there is one pub, theCross in Hand. Other village facilities include a village hall, rugby football, bowls and tennis clubs.
TheEnglish Place-Name Society gives the earliest reference to the village asCruce Manus, theLatin for Cross-in-Hand, recorded in 1547, which by 1597 was being renderedCrosse atte Hand and by 1656 was being calledCrosse in the Hande.[2] The name is believed to be based on a legend thatCrusaders assembled here before sailing for theHoly Land fromRye to fightSaladin. An alternative explanation is that it is the place where some murderers managed to escape their pursuers by turning to face them with a cross in their hands.[3]
The village historically provided services to theiron trade, and a windmill called the"New Mill" has stood at its current site since 1868, although it was built inFramfield in 1855. The reason for this time delay is that the mill was originally placed a quarter of a mile from its current location in its year of construction, and was moved on the command of the local squire at the time,Louis Huth.[4]
The firstHeathfield Agricultural Show was held there in 1946.[5]
The village had its ownStock Car circuit[6] which opened for racing as a dirt track on 17 October 1965,Chichester's Trevor Carpenter winning the final. A second meeting, two weeks later, was cancelled due to bad weather and then the track remained closed until 20 July 1969 when the new concrete track was used for the first time. Neil Thomas ofAshford won all three races that day with Trevor Carpenter winning one of theSuperstox heats and Del Stickings winning the final. The track closed after protests from local residents and the last meeting took place on 6 August 1972.[7] During the 1971 and 1972 seasons the track had its own Auto Spedeway team called the Cross in Hand Tigers. They were managed by Spedeworth's managing director, Les Eaton and included drivers Dave Pierce (captain), Dave Hindle, Alan Cox, Biffo Sweeney, Art Fowler and Gordon Street.[citation needed]
Media related toCross in Hand at Wikimedia Commons