furners lane
Furners Lane, also known as Sandy Lane in the early 20th century, is an ancient way that runs east from the north-east end of the High Street to Blackstone - and on, if you wish, to Albourne and Hurstpierpoint - with the road turning into a grassy track at Bylsborough Barn. As you turn into the lane from the High Street, there is a cul-de-sac on the left called Benson Road and, a little further up, a road leading off from the right into the streets which comprise the Furners Mead part of Henfield. Other than that, there are no junctions with any other roads. The map below is in two halves, with the west half of the lane at the top and its continuation east at the bottom.
To walk the length of Furners Lane, start at its junction with the High Street (A) and walk east. The path is marked ........ Walk past Furners Mead on your right - the houses peter out just before the entrance to Backsettown Farm on your right. An empty stretch of road gets you to Field House (C) on the left, with footpaths going north and south. Continue until the road dips down to cross a stream at Pickwell Bridge (D). Walk here at night to see a headless woman spinning on the bridge (so they say). A short rise up from the bridge brings you to a large house called Holders (E) on a mound on your right. A path runs off south through bluebell woods, and another path runs north to Bylsborough and Woodhouse Farm. Continue east until you reach the last house on the metalled lane - Bylsborough Barn (F). At this point, the lane becomes a narrow footpath, overgrown with grass in many places. There is a gate and a style at (G) - cyclists, please note. A long stretch brings you past the chimneys of Blackstone Grange, just visible from the footpath on your left, to Blackstone Village (H). Turn right here to get back down to the main Brighton Road at Woodmancote, or left to join up with the Albourne/Wheatsheaf Road - or retrace your steps.
To walk the length of Furners Lane, start at its junction with the High Street (A) and walk east. The path is marked ........ Walk past Furners Mead on your right - the houses peter out just before the entrance to Backsettown Farm on your right. An empty stretch of road gets you to Field House (C) on the left, with footpaths going north and south. Continue until the road dips down to cross a stream at Pickwell Bridge (D). Walk here at night to see a headless woman spinning on the bridge (so they say). A short rise up from the bridge brings you to a large house called Holders (E) on a mound on your right. A path runs off south through bluebell woods, and another path runs north to Bylsborough and Woodhouse Farm. Continue east until you reach the last house on the metalled lane - Bylsborough Barn (F). At this point, the lane becomes a narrow footpath, overgrown with grass in many places. There is a gate and a style at (G) - cyclists, please note. A long stretch brings you past the chimneys of Blackstone Grange, just visible from the footpath on your left, to Blackstone Village (H). Turn right here to get back down to the main Brighton Road at Woodmancote, or left to join up with the Albourne/Wheatsheaf Road - or retrace your steps.
From the junction with the High Street, the houses on the north side of Furners Lane are:
Seiko, Fenlea, Traumerei, Farthings, Lindens, Portland House, Beare Cottage, Summerfields, Unknown name, Badger House, Paddocks Healthcare Clinic, Furners Keep, Dalblair House and The Old Orchard. After an empty stretch, comes Field House, another empty stretch and then Turnham's Gill.
From the junction with the High Street, the houses on the south side of Furners Lane are:
1-4 North Terrace, 1-4 Woolven's Row, Paddock View, Brewer's Garth, Unknown name, Furners, Furners Cottage, Backsettown Farm, an empty stretch then Bramley House and Furners Farm. After another empty stretch comes Holders - opposite the junction with the lane to Bylsborough - and then, where the lane becomes a track, Bylsborough Barn. Continuing along this track takes you past Blackstone Grange to Blackstone Lane - the road that runs north through Blackstone village, between the Albourne and Woodmancote parishes.
STREETS 4
Furners Lane 1 & 2: These photos show the houses on the south side of Furner's Lane, just inside the junction with the High Street. The red brick houses closer to the camera comprise North Terrace, and the ones further out are known as Woolven's Row.
Furners Lane 3: About 100 yards down Furner's Lane is the junction with Furner's Mead, and then the houses thin out as the road goes further east. This photo shows the junction and the lane on a summer's morning.
COUNTRY VIEWS 1
Furners Lane: This shows the lane as it progresses east - looking more like the old trackway as it runs out to Blackstone village. This view is looking back west from about halfway along the unmade section of the road.
COUNTRY VIEWS 12
Field off Furners Lane: A view north across the countryside from Furners Lane.
Downs from Furners Lane: This view across to the Downs is actually to the west and shows Wolstonbury Hill on the left of the picture.
Path from Furners Lane to the common: This path winds south scross the fields until it reaches the woods on the north of the common, to the west of Swains farm.
COUNTRY VIEWS 13
Cyclists in Furners Lane: The first really hot weekend of 2016 was the weekend of the 7th and 8th May, and this photograph, like the ones below and in Country Views 12 above, was taken on the afternoon of the 8th - a Sunday.
Elder tree in Furners Lane: This magnificent elder was resplendent in its spring foliage, almost forming a tree tunnel across the lane.
Cherry blossom in Turners Gill: A slat missing in the fencing topping the wall around Turners Gill gave me this shot of the cherry blossom in the garden.
Cowfold Monastery from Furners Lane: The monastery spire crops us in several photos on this site as it can be seen from various points in the parish. This photo was taken in mid-May 2016.
STREETS 15
Furners Lane: A hot Saturday afternoon in early June 2016 - the beginning of Furners Lane at its junction with Furners Mead.
COUNTRY VIEWS 24
Pond, off Furners Lane: A footpath leads south down the side of Bramley House in Furners Lane - Bramley House being on the site of the former Gill Orchard farm shop. A large pond stands on the right hand side as you walk south - variable in size, depending on the season. A photo from early April 2019.
Footpath, Henfield woods to Furners Lane: A view of the footpath looking north. The building on the right is Furners Farm. Early April 2019.
Footpath, Furners Lane to Henfield woods: The reverse of the view above, looking south.
Seiko, Fenlea, Traumerei, Farthings, Lindens, Portland House, Beare Cottage, Summerfields, Unknown name, Badger House, Paddocks Healthcare Clinic, Furners Keep, Dalblair House and The Old Orchard. After an empty stretch, comes Field House, another empty stretch and then Turnham's Gill.
From the junction with the High Street, the houses on the south side of Furners Lane are:
1-4 North Terrace, 1-4 Woolven's Row, Paddock View, Brewer's Garth, Unknown name, Furners, Furners Cottage, Backsettown Farm, an empty stretch then Bramley House and Furners Farm. After another empty stretch comes Holders - opposite the junction with the lane to Bylsborough - and then, where the lane becomes a track, Bylsborough Barn. Continuing along this track takes you past Blackstone Grange to Blackstone Lane - the road that runs north through Blackstone village, between the Albourne and Woodmancote parishes.
STREETS 4
Furners Lane 1 & 2: These photos show the houses on the south side of Furner's Lane, just inside the junction with the High Street. The red brick houses closer to the camera comprise North Terrace, and the ones further out are known as Woolven's Row.
Furners Lane 3: About 100 yards down Furner's Lane is the junction with Furner's Mead, and then the houses thin out as the road goes further east. This photo shows the junction and the lane on a summer's morning.
COUNTRY VIEWS 1
Furners Lane: This shows the lane as it progresses east - looking more like the old trackway as it runs out to Blackstone village. This view is looking back west from about halfway along the unmade section of the road.
COUNTRY VIEWS 12
Field off Furners Lane: A view north across the countryside from Furners Lane.
Downs from Furners Lane: This view across to the Downs is actually to the west and shows Wolstonbury Hill on the left of the picture.
Path from Furners Lane to the common: This path winds south scross the fields until it reaches the woods on the north of the common, to the west of Swains farm.
COUNTRY VIEWS 13
Cyclists in Furners Lane: The first really hot weekend of 2016 was the weekend of the 7th and 8th May, and this photograph, like the ones below and in Country Views 12 above, was taken on the afternoon of the 8th - a Sunday.
Elder tree in Furners Lane: This magnificent elder was resplendent in its spring foliage, almost forming a tree tunnel across the lane.
Cherry blossom in Turners Gill: A slat missing in the fencing topping the wall around Turners Gill gave me this shot of the cherry blossom in the garden.
Cowfold Monastery from Furners Lane: The monastery spire crops us in several photos on this site as it can be seen from various points in the parish. This photo was taken in mid-May 2016.
STREETS 15
Furners Lane: A hot Saturday afternoon in early June 2016 - the beginning of Furners Lane at its junction with Furners Mead.
COUNTRY VIEWS 24
Pond, off Furners Lane: A footpath leads south down the side of Bramley House in Furners Lane - Bramley House being on the site of the former Gill Orchard farm shop. A large pond stands on the right hand side as you walk south - variable in size, depending on the season. A photo from early April 2019.
Footpath, Henfield woods to Furners Lane: A view of the footpath looking north. The building on the right is Furners Farm. Early April 2019.
Footpath, Furners Lane to Henfield woods: The reverse of the view above, looking south.