Cuckfield Museum
Celebrating the 60th Anniversary of the Independent State of Cuckfield
The Museum’s Summer display looks at how the village declared Independence in 1966, producing its own currency, stamps and passports.
The original aim of raising money for local causes carries on today with the annual election of an Independent State Mayor who must raise the most money to win.
‘Post Haste’
‘Post Haste’ is our new main display for 2026, looking back at the speed and efficiency of the postal system in days gone by. When the mail coach era came to an end with the coming of the railway to Haywards Heath in 1841, Cuckfield remained a “postal town” with a Post Office established in part of the old Talbot Hotel.
There is a mid-Victorian plea, in response to the expected volume of cards, to post early on Christmas Eve to ensure a timely delivery the following morning and, using examples from our own collection, we highlight the importance to morale during WWI of a fast and reliable mail system.
Some of us may remember when there was routinely a second post at lunchtime but we show examples of how the past impressive frequency of deliveries, sometimes as many as six a day, enabled same/next day arrangements to be made with confidence.
Postcards really were the emails of their day!
Cuckfield Museum opened in 1981 as an independent museum where we aim to provide an insight into Cuckfield’s community, culture and historic past stretching back to pre-history when dinosaurs roamed the area and where, millions of years later, the settlement of Cuckfield was established.
The Museum holds a large collection of postcards and photographs relating to Cuckfield and its people. Here is a small sample.
Follow the links at the top of the page to find out more about our Collection and Permanent Displays. As well as a sample of Cuckfield’s Heritage.
We are run entirely by volunteers and rely solely on donations from our supporters and members. See here for how you can help us. If you’d like to donate an object to the Museum, please complete our Object Donation Enquiry form which can be found here.
A number of Loan Boxes are available for schools. And we run a programme of Talks and Events throughout the year.
Our normal opening
hours are:
Wednesday to Saturday
10am till 12.30pm.
Or by appointment.
You can find us at:
Queen’s Hall, High Street, Cuckfield RH17 5EL
Or contact us on 07857-815880 info@cuckfieldmuseum.org
Admission is free but, as the Museum is solely funded from voluntary contributions, donations are welcomed.
Or join us as a Friend or Patron
