Bells Yew Green - (The ruins of Bayham Abbey)

General Details

Bells Yew Green in East Sussex lies about 3 miles to the east of Royal Tunbridge Wells , 2 miles north of Frant and about 7 miles west of Lamberhurst. The village is very small, with most houses being of modern design. The name is derived from the medieval french Bels Lieux which meant beautiful place.

Bells Yew Green is within the area of the Bayham woods, which were thick and impassable until the trees were cut down to make charcoal for the charcoal to power the iron industry. In the early 1200's the monks of Otham Priory in Polegate which was built in 1175, moved to settle Bayham Abbey (between Lamberhurst and Bells Yew Green ) together with the monks of Brockley near Lewisham. The abbey was built by the Premonstration Order on the borders of two dioceses hence benefitting from exemption from both. From 1260 the monks were involved in a small scale bullying of the monks at Michelham Priory , and nearly closed the Priory down with the costs of the defense. In the 1400's the monks were accused of robbery, rape and other offenses, but in 1494 this was brought under control by Richard Redman one of the greatest Premonstratensian commissaries. In 1536 - 37 Henry VIII dissolved the monastries and the Abbey was largely destroyed.

Originally there was a settlement at Ley Green about 1/4 mile south of the railway track on the Frant road. This was a farming community, but in the 1500's most of the population were involved in some way with the iron industry , either in the forges at Benhall, Breechers and Dundale ( towards Pembury ), or those towards Lamberhurst , Tollslye furnace and Bayham Forge .

From the early 1600's smuggling was rife in the area, as the iron industry declined, with the area towards Pembury known as Bush House being a distribution centre for the smuggled good from the continent to the towns to the north.

Views

Bells Yew Green East Sussex - Bayham Abbey

Bells Yew Green in East Sussex is out in the country, and has many trees and woods in the surrounding area. The Green is quite attractive, surrounded by trees and cottages.

Bayham Abbey is very old and attractive and is well worth visiting, the road from Bells Yew Green to Bayham is tree lined, and deer are often seen crossing the road.

Services

Bells Yew Green East Sussex - The Village Green

Bells Yew Green in East Sussex has only a public house in the village the nearest major shopping centre is in Royal Tunbridge Wells about 3 miles west.

The village has a station on the main line from London to Hastings which provides an hourly service to the capital, and more frequently during the rush hour.

Map

Bells Yew Green is shown as the red symbol on the map.

Nearby Villages
(click on symbol to see the village page)