Horsmonden Iron Industry Circular Walk

This walk sets of from the village green and is a very peaceful walk taking in some wonderful views, and for parts we will be walking on the High Weald Landscape Trail (HWLT) a 90-mile walking route between Rye & Horsham. The path we take passes through woodland, wild meadows & lakes, onto parkland belonging to Shirrenden with its large white Georgian house visible.

Then on through the grounds of Sprivers a mansion built in 1756 which is now owned by the National Trust.

We continue through hop vines and apple orchards, with some quiet lane walking, we will also have to cross over a main road twice so caution will be required. This walk does have a number of stiles but thankfully these are all in pretty good condition.

Horsmonden was originally called Horsbundenne, indicating a stream but the connection with horses has long since faded into history.

In the past this area was well known for its armaments industry and the manufacture of guns. If you had walked this route in the early 1600s you would have been deafened by the pounding of a giant hammer and dazzled by flames which were visible up to 10 miles away. The iron forge was powered by the head of water from the damming of the stream, the forge owned by John Browne nicknamed "The Kings Gunfounder" sent his cannons all over the world.