To mark 35 years since the construction of the Town Hall, Haywards Heath Town Council hosted a special Open Day on Saturday 9th August, welcoming members of the community into the heart of local governance.
Residents had the opportunity to meet Cllr Duncan Pascoe, the newly appointed Town Mayor of Haywards Heath, alongside their local Councillors and the Town Council staff, including Town Clerk Steve Trice. They were on hand to greet attendees, answer questions, and discuss matters concerning the town. Children were able to enjoy arts and crafts activities while adults caught up over complimentary refreshments, creating a relaxed and friendly atmosphere throughout the day.
A key feature of the event was the pop-up Haywards Heath Museum, showcasing a fascinating collection of historical artefacts that explored the town’s rich history – from its early beginnings and the arrival of the railway, to the evolution of public services, leisure, and local clubs.
One of the highlights of the day was the screening of historical videos and photographs. Screen Archive South East at the University of Brighton kindly provided a series of past videos of Haywards Heath, including rare footage of The Heath Theatre in 1930, Beechhurst’s Miniature Railway in the 1950s, the town centre in the 1960s, the market in 1970, and a lively street party in 1981. Local historian Charles Tucker, who runs the popular ‘Haywards Heath in days gone by’ Facebook group, also attended with a slideshow of his own archive of town photographs. It was a joy to see visitors gathered together, reminiscing and sharing memories sparked by these treasured images. These heartfelt moments of connection and storytelling truly captured the spirit of the day. Our sincere thanks go to both Charles Tucker and Screen Archive South East for helping to bring these moments to life.
Also in attendance were West Sussex Libraries, St Wilfrid’s Church, and local railway enthusiast Philip Ladd, all of whom generously shared their knowledge and passion for Haywards Heath’s past. Their involvement brought an extra depth to the historical experience, and we thank them for being part of the event.
We are also incredibly grateful to those who kindly loaned memorabilia, including: 10th Brownies Haywards Heath, Haywards Heath Baptist Church, Haywards Heath Rotary, Haywards Heath Social Club, Oathall Community College, Princess Royal Hospital, United Reformed Church, and a number of local residents.
The event was a resounding success, welcoming 125 visitors through the doors over the course of just four hours. Feedback was overwhelmingly positive, with many expressing their appreciation for the chance to connect with the town’s heritage in such a meaningful and engaging way.
Our Town Mayor, Cllr Duncan Pascoe, shared his view of the day: “It was great to host our Open Day at the Town Hall, welcoming you all to share an important public space and meet your local representatives. As your Mayor, I thoroughly the enjoyed speaking with many of you about the town and what the town council can do for the area. The pop-up museum was a chance to capture our history and share with old and new residents alike the context and culture of the area we live. I am incredibly grateful to the team at the Town Council for delivering the pop-up museum, particularly Kelly Lewis who led the project and collected exhibits from groups across the community. I hope those that attended our open day useful and enjoyed the ‘trip down memory lane’. We look forward to hosting another open day in the future.”
Thank you to everyone who came and supported our Open Day. We hope to see you all again very soon!
