The village of Burstead was first recorded in 975 as ‘Burghstede’, which means ‘stronghold’.1 It’s not known where the stronghold was.

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It is thought that King Sæberht, King of the East Saxon’s is buried somewhere nearby, around 616.

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Evidence of Roman occupation has been found in the area.  Ovens were found near one of the windmills that stood in the parish, and Samian pottery and possibly some urns have also been found.

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Just over a hundred years later ‘Burghsteda’ was record in the Domesday Book as having 116 households.2  

At the centre of life in the village for around 800 is the Grade I listed St. Mary Magdelene’s Church.

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Mary Magdalene’s is of Norman origin but most of the current church was built in the 1300 and 1400’s.  The porches were built during the 16th Century though one is almost hidden behind a large tree.  Beneath this tree are several graves that have been well preserved by the cover provided by the branches and its evergreen leaves.  One of these graves appears to be of ‘John Reve’ a ‘Citicen and draper of London’ who died in 1665.

 

‘Southwood Greene’ was first recorded in 1593 but had become ‘South Green’ by 1777.

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Christopher Martin was one of a small number of locals that travelled to America on the Mayflower in 1620. Martin was born in the area and was the churchwarden for a time.

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