Friars Oak Fields are a local landmark on the north-western edge of the village of Hassocks, in the county of West Sussex, England. They are a group of 3 small wealden meadows in their natural state, divided by ancient hedgerows. The Friars Oak Inn, an old coaching stop where horses were changed, is immediately adjacent to Friars Oak Fields, on the western side. The western boundary of the fields is demarcated by a main river known locally as the "Herring Stream", the fields being a flood plain for this river. The eastern boundary of the fields is demarcated by a high raised embankment carrying the Brighton main line railway. The northern boundary of Friars Oak Fields meets agricultural countryside. Access points to Friars Oak Fields are all located at the southern boundary. The railway and river serve to isolate the eastern and western boundaries of Friars Oak Fields, which created a largely undisturbed environment favourable for wildlife. However, Developer Rydon Homes has since been granted planning permission for 130 plus residential homes for the land at north of Shepherds Walk, Hassocks with access from London Road and a pedestrian tunnel under the railway line. A previous application for the same site, with a footbridge instead of a tunnel, was rejected by Mid Sussex District Council in 2018 as it conflicted with a number of policies in the district plan. The developer had appealed against this decision and inquiry was due to be held in September 2018. However, the council’s development control committee decided to grant outline permission by seven votes to four on Thursday, July 25th 2019. The decision brought an end to a long-running campaign by local residents to save the much loved green space from development.
Excavations at Friars Oak at the end of the 20th Century revealed remains dating from the Mesolithic through to the Middle Saxon periods, including features from an early Roman settlement. A footpath running north/south across the centre of the western fields follows the line of a Roman road which led ultimately to London. A small triangular area adjacent to the southernmost field is named "Bullpit Field" reflecting its use for bull-baiting in the 18th and 19th centuries.
Literature
The Friars Oak Inn and Friars Oak Fields are used as a setting by Sir Arthur Conan Doyle for his novel "Rodney Stone".
