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The Hailsham Town Crest was originally designed by a parish
councillor (unknown), and adopted by the Town Council for use on
all official documents. It was created by a local resident in the
form of a shield, which was presented to the Council, and now hangs
in the Town Council Offices, Inglenook, Market Street, Hailsham.
The resident responsible for painting the shield was Mr. P.V. Collings,
a retired heraldic artist  to
the Royal Family. The shield is divided into four sectors. The upper
left of these shows the six gold martlets and crown of the armorial
bearings of the County of East Sussex. The remaining three quadrants
each depict a facet of the town’s history or culture. The
upper right shows a sheaf of corn, crook and rake, to illustrate
the agricultural, rural connection, from which Hailsham derived
its status as a market town. The lower right shows a mill, of which
Hailsham originally had several of this type - although it is believed
that this represents the last surviving mill - Hamlin’s Mill
in Mill Road (the remains of ancillary buildings can still be seen)
and again represents Hailsham’s close connection with the
farming industry. Finally, the lower left quadrant depicts a ball
of twine and rope “dolly”, representing Hailsham’s
later entry into light industry, in the form of ropemaking, which
supported several factories and numerous “ropewalks”
within the town’s boundaries. These have now all but disappeared.The
insignia so described has become generally accepted as Hailsham’s
official Town Crest, and is sported by many of  the
town’s clubs and societies, as well as on the Badge of the
Town Mayor, worn on all official occasions, and at local functions.
Hellingly’s Crest was adopted following a competition amongst
local residents. The shield is divided into four quarters. The upper
left depicts the Village school, the upper right the church tower,
the lower left the Cuckoo trail and the lower right the Water Mill
all prominent local land marks. The crest now appears on all Parish
notepaper and official documents.
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