Heathfield is a modest market town in East Sussex, England. The town lies near the crossroads of two main roads: the A267 in between Tunbridge Wells and Eastbourne; and the A265 from Hawkhurst. It is roughly equidistant from Tunbridge Wells and Eastbourne: roughly 16 mi (26 kilometres). In the past, Heathfield lay on an ancient trackway (The Ridgeway), linking the South Downs with the Weald. Its market charter was awarded in February 1316 during the reign of Edward II. The Wealden iron brought prosperity to the town throughout the 16th and 17th centuries; the arrival of the railway (the Cuckoo Line) in 1880 gave it another new lease of life. The latter was not a financial success and the branch line in between Eridge and Polegate closed in 1968. The trackbed is now called the Cuckoo Trail, part of the National Cycle Network. The initial village, referred to as Old Heathfield, is now only part of the town, which has expanded with time. The town runs an annual fair called the Heffle Cuckoo Fair each April, and the annual Heathfield show takes place each May in the summertime. There is an Anglo/French market called Le Marché held every year on the August Bank Vacation and a fair that visits during the course of the Summer. There is a rather sizeable football field and a little play area. At Cross-in-Hand there is a rugby club for adults and kids. Within the town, there are 2 flower designers, various churches, a couple of hair and beauty parlor, 2 boutiques, an electrical store, 2 bookshops, 2 ironmongers, 5 charity stores, 2 clubs, a green grocer, a butcher, a baker, 2 antique shops, a grocery store, and a range of banks, estate agents, and eateries. For all your home renovations, make sure to identify reliable contractors in Heathfield to make certain of quality.