Editing Haywards Heath (section)

==History==
{{Main|Battle of Muster Green}}
Haywards Heath's Muster Green was the site of the [[Battle of Muster Green]], a minor battle that took place in early December 1642 during the [[First English Civil War]] between a [[Cavalier|Royalist]] army under [[Edward Ford (soldier)|Edward Ford]], [[High Sheriff of Sussex]], and a smaller (but more disciplined) [[Roundhead|Parliamentarian]] army under [[Herbert Morley]]. Due to the fact that neither side possessed [[Artillery|field guns]], hand-to-hand combat ensued and after roughly an hour of fighting and 200 Royalists killed or wounded, the Parliamentarians emerged victorious  and [[rout]]ed the Royalist army.<ref>{{cite web |url=https://east.sussexliving.com/green-that-turned-to-red/ |title=The Green That Turned To Red |first=Robert |last=Veitch |date=23 August 2015 |website=Sussex Living Magazine |access-date=31 October 2019 |archive-date=1 November 2019 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20191101000339/https://east.sussexliving.com/green-that-turned-to-red/ |url-status=dead }}</ref>

Haywards Heath is located in the east of the ancient parish of [[Cuckfield]]. A separate civil parish and [[Urban district (Great Britain and Ireland)|urban district]] of Haywards Heath was created in 1894. From 1934 to 1974 Cuckfield, Haywards Heath and [[Lindfield, West Sussex|Lindfield]] were combined to form Cuckfield Urban District,<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.visionofbritain.org.uk/unit/10081476#tab02|title=Haywards Heath UD through time {{pipe}} Census tables with data for the Local Government District|website=A Vision of Britain through Time|access-date=5 August 2020|archive-date=2 March 2018|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180302161723/http://www.visionofbritain.org.uk/unit/10081476#tab02|url-status=live}}</ref> but since 1974 the three settlements have had separate councils again.

Haywards Heath as a settlement is a relatively modern development. Following the arrival of the [[London & Brighton Railway]] in 1841, its size increased considerably. [[Haywards Heath railway station]] opened on 12 July 1841 and served as the southern terminus of the line until the completion of [[Brighton railway station|Brighton station]] on 21 September. The position of Haywards Heath, and its place on both this railway and near the [[A23 road|main road]] (A23) between London and Brighton, enables it to function as a commuter town, with many residents working in London, Brighton, Crawley and Gatwick Airport.<ref name="commute"/>

[[Image:SouthRoadHaywardsHeath.jpg|thumb|South Road in Haywards Heath]]
Other noted historical events in the town's history include:
* The opening of the [[St Francis Hospital, Haywards Heath|Sussex County Lunatic Asylum]] (later called St Francis Hospital) in 1859. The superintendent here was, for many years, Dr [[C. Lockhart Robertson|Lockhart Robertson]], later Lord Chancellor's Visitor.
* The opening of Bannister's Cattle Market, the 12th largest in the UK at one point, in 1859. This was closed to make way for a [[Sainsbury's]] supermarket in 1989.
* The opening of [[Victorian architecture|Victorian]] and [[Edwardian architecture|Edwardian villas]] built as early [[commuter]] settlements in 1894
* The opening of the Eliot Cottage Hospital, later King Edward VII Eliot Memorial Hospital, in 1906, named after benefactor, Alice Annie Eliot (1864–1904)
* Schemes in the 1920s helped families on low incomes to become self-sufficient, resulting in the building of Franklands Village in the 1930s.

In the 1960s and 1970s, two light industrial estates were built. Office development has lately resulted in the town being a regional or national centre for a number of national companies and government agencies.

The population has risen from 200 in the early 1850s to 22,800 (2001 census), making it one of the larger towns in West Sussex. The area of the civil parish is {{Convert|974.99|ha}}.

The parish church, [[St Wilfrid's Church, Haywards Heath|dedicated to St Wilfrid]], and the [[Roman Catholic]] church of St Paul are among the churches and chapels in Haywards Heath. Other places of worship include the Methodist church in Perrymount Road and two Baptist churches, St Richards (C of E), the Church of the Presentation (C of E) and the Ascension Church (C of E).

The [[Priory of Our Lady of Good Counsel]] on Franklynn Road was built in 1886 and is Grade II listed.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.britishlistedbuildings.co.uk/en-303028-the-minstrels-gallery-restaurant-the-pri|title=The Minstrels Gallery Restaurant: The Priory Club and Squash Courts – Haywards Heath – West Sussex – England |publisher=Good Stuff|website=British Listed Buildings |access-date=6 May 2015|archive-date=16 February 2016|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160216041819/http://www.britishlistedbuildings.co.uk/en-303028-the-minstrels-gallery-restaurant-the-pri|url-status=live}}</ref>

[[File:Former Priory of Our Lady of Good Counsel, Haywards Heath.jpg|thumb|Former [[Priory of Our Lady of Good Counsel]]]]

Haywards Heath was in [[East Sussex]], but a change to the county boundary in 1974 brought it under the jurisdiction of [[West Sussex]]. [[Haywards Heath Town Hall]] was completed in 1990.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.haywardsheath.gov.uk/_UserFiles/Files/Weddings/WEDDING%20BROCHURE%202020-21.pdf|title=Wedding Brochure|publisher=Haywards Heath Town Council|access-date=27 April 2022}}</ref>