Burwash, United Kingdom

The main road through Burwash, today's A265, was improved in the 18th and 19th centuries after it came under the administration of the Ringmer and Hurst Green turnpike trust. The trust was formed by the Hurst Green Road Act 1765 (5 Geo. 3. c. 64) after fifteen petitions were presented to Parliament on 25 December 1764 calling for the road to be turnpiked because it was stated to be "in many places impassable for wheeled conveyances in winter". The highway covered by the trust extended for 23 miles (37 km) across east Sussex from Ringmer, near Lewes, in the west, to Hurst Green in the east, where it met the principal turnpike road from London to Hastings (today's A21). The first section of road to be turnpiked ran from Hurst Green to Burwash; the rest followed three years later. A number of toll gates and bars were erected in the Burwash area on the principal highway and side roads. Although the trust repaired and improved the existing parish roads it was not until around 1830 that entirely new sections of main road were built, including one at Burwash Common. In a parliamentary return of 1840 the trust reported the roads it administered to be in good condition, with the exception of a short branch running from Burwash Common towards Stonegate. The trust was wound up in November 1864.

The road through Burwash was a notorious spot for highwaymen.

Burwash was one of the villages involved in the Wealden iron industry, and there was a forge located at Burwash Weald, close to the site of the historic "Wheel" public house.

A traditional marriage-rhyme includes the archaic pronunciation of the name: "To love and to cherish, / From Battle to Berrish, / And round about Robertsbridge home ..." ("Burrish" is a variant pronunciation mentioned in 1933).