Chailey Common Sheffield Park and The Ashes

We start in Red House Common Car park. Chailey Common is one of the largest commons in the south of England. A Nature Reserve since 1966 and a Site of Special Scientific Interest. It stretches over 180 hectares (450 acres) and includes Red House Common, Memorial Common, Romany Ridge Common, Pound Common and Lane End. We head southwest across the common with splendid views to North towards the Ouse Valley, and Ashdown Forest beyond. We take a path that heads down hill, out of the common past Clear Water Lake to Butterbox Lane. We pass a17th Century house called Massetts, Lady Wolseley, the Sussex author and daughter of the Field Marshall, lived here from 1917 to 1927.Leaving Butterbox Lane to join the Sussex Ouse Valley Way which takes us past Waspbourne Manor early 17th Century and grade 2* . We walk alongside the A275 and enter the main parkland of Sheffield Park and head towards the picnic area where we will have lunch. Sheffield Park and Garden is an informal landscape garden, laid out in the 18th century by Capability Brown, and further developed as a woodland garden in the early 20th century by its then owner, Arthur Soames. The National Trust now owns it, and it is Grade 1 listed. After lunch we head toward pass the Southern end of the Lower Womens Pond and enter the East Park. We stop at the gates to the Cricket Pitch. During the time of the1880’s -1890’s the 3rd Earl of Sheffield’s XI played the Australians, five times in the first match of their tour. Two matches were won by either side and the other was drawn. The 3rd Earl also financed England Cricket Team in the 1891/92 tour of Australia. He also gave the Australians £ 150.00 for a domestic trophy which is called the Sheffield Shield. We head south out of the East Park, into the main park, leaving it by a bridge across the river Ouse, then cross Lane End Common and head back to Red House Common Car park