The Abandoned Waterfall Walk. Sussex Map Mysteries: Episode 7

Old maps often have curious things on them, which lead us back to a different age. Join me as I discover what some of these things were, and what is left today.
Chelwood Vachery is an early 20th century country house in the middle of Ashdown Forest. Today, after various uses in the second half of the 20th century, it and the surrounding cottages, are private housing.
I believe it was built around 1902-1906 and owned by an MP and banker called Sir Stuart Samuel, when the formal gardens were constructed. Around 20 years later it was owned by FJ Nettleford and, using limestone that he had brought in from Cheddar Gorge, he created his own "gorge" along the path of a stream that falls from a spring around the same level as the house, to the valley below.
The conservators purchased the woodland and gardens in 1994 and they have worked to maintain them in a semi-wild state since. You can see the old ponds and weirs, and the "Folly Bridge", but the best feature for me is the gorge and its waterfalls.
On the old map there are references to "Hydraulic Rams" up the side of the valley. I try and find these and discover one of them is still in use today (I mention Victorian engineering, I suspect it may actually be Edwardian, but due to the dates on the map I can't be sure!), supplying water to something (no idea what, I'd imagine that the estate is on the mains these days).
As always, I'm not an historian, so this video probably contains glaring inaccuracies, but, if you want to visit the area, hopefully it gives you some background.
Parking is available at Millbrook East, Vachery, Trees or Long Horseshoe car parks on the A22, 'tween Nutley and Wych Cross. The area is quite boggy at the time of filming in March, but nothing that a stout pair of boots or wellies can't deal with. For quickest access follow the bridleway down from the A22 (streetmap.co.uk/map?x=543720&...) to the Folly Bridge (streetmap.co.uk/map?x=542850&.... The hydraulic ram is at TQ431297 streetmap.co.uk/map?x=543130&...

[@JimNicholls]

As a Sussex man exiled for the last 50 years in New Zealand, I greatly miss the countryside and the history of my homeland. Here you combined both, and I wish I had the chance to re-visit the Ashdown Forest and many other parts of the county. Hearing that hydraulic ram still working was quite amazing, and I certainly never came across that part of the forest in my visits long ago. Thank you, and I shall now watch your other videos, having just discovered your channel.

[@tomlee812]

Enjoyed this one and it's a walk I've done several times. Thank you.

[@drewski363]

Many thanks for posting this interesting video, Steve.

[@ansomeBob]

Very good Steve, I enjoyed that. I don't think I've ever been there.

[@cliffordbaylis5540]

I've always assumed that the series of ponds was built to filter the water for the house. And maybe the 'Folly' bridge was in fact to link the grounds over the bridleway which was fenced off to delineate private property.

[@whereinsussex]

Good points, you may well be right about them bring for filtering and also the bridge being for that... somewhat OTT though!

[@MrGreatplum]

Very interesting stuff - it reminds me of a very wild leonardslee! I used to live at a prep school that was in an old mansion in st Leonard’s Forest and it had what we called “the secret garden” which had a very abandoned stream that once flowed to the lake - all sorts of stone around that wasn’t local to the area.

[@yiabwstetienne7474]

Was that Forest Grange? or Cottesmore school?

[@MrGreatplum]

@@yiabwstetienne7474 - Forest grange - my dad was the last headmaster there before seaford college sadly pulled the plug on the whole place

[@WanderingwithWatto]

Hi Steve. Found your channel on Kevin’s rambles group. Really enjoyed your video. A lovely wander and great info. Feel free to hit my group and share your videos. I am definitely a new fan here and will be checking out your earlier videos. Good work mate. 👍🏻👏🏻👏🏻🚶🏻‍♂️🚶‍♀️. Cheers Watto.

[@whereinsussex]

Will look it up, always pleased to support fellow wanderers!

[@misskskrazyadventures2510]

This looks cool.... I want to go here when I'm better 😎

[@noonkhouri5449]

Hi, thanks for this video! could you please drop the google maps links to where the water falls/ ponds are

[@whereinsussex]

Park here maps.app.goo.gl/ET3NDuL5zzsjgNma8 Go up the bank and head off towards maps.app.goo.gl/XjXYcWDYmQDJyCHB8 There you can either follow the track to the left around the outside of the estate or go straight down through the grounds of the house via the public bridleway. Ultimately you want to get to here maps.app.goo.gl/NBmtGxNmJiDD6fnc7

[@sussexwalker8167]

Good to see someone is still doing walks in Sussex... unless you are thinking of diversifying in to a unfunny comedy peasant too 😂

[@drewski363]

A very valid comment. I love seeing these videos of little-known Sussex gems. There's a number of other KZbin channels that are straying away from the content that attracted viewers in the first place. Thankfully, Steve is keeping it real and posting interesting material about Sussex. Looking forward to the next one.