War of the Roses - 1455

Nutley was a rural settlement that was known for its farming and pastoral economy. Its proximity to both Ashdown Forest and other key villages in the Weald made it a notable settlement during the War of the Roses. Nutley’s strategic importance lay in its proximity to Ashdown Forest and its position as a potential supply base. The town was situated on key routes through the forest that could be used to travel between Sussex and Kent. It was known to be a site where Lancastrian and Yorkist forces would often clash over control of this corridor during the early years of the war.