Coultershaw is on the Rother Navigation also constructed by the 3rd Earl Egremont in 1794. Visitors can enjoy a pleasant walk round the mill pond below the sluices, a pool where canal boats were turned, to the restored stables where the canal horses were rested. Taking care of traffic, visitors can inspect a derelict lock chamber. Several other working pumps are exhibited at the visitor centre, including some which can be operated by children.

Coultershaw Beam Pump is open to the public from 11 am to 5 pm on the first and third Sundays and Bank Holiday Mondays from April to September. There is an admission charge for adults children are admitted for free. Opening at other times and group visits by arrangement with the Curator.

[Text : Robin Wilson]       Click here to go to the start of this article

Rolf Rowling has compiled the following from the book "Place names of Sussex" by Judith Glover and from other sources.

	Old English CUÓHERES HÓH			CUTERESHO	1240
	COUTERSHO	c. 1280		COWTERSHALL	1535
	COWTERSHAWE	1564		COULTERSOLE	1716
	COWDERSOLE	1779		COWTERS HALL	1795
	COULTERSHAW	1800

The place lies on a tributary of the River Avon (the Western Rother). So described in 1800.

The lands around Coultershaw belongs to the Leconfield Estates.

The River Rother (Western). This is a comparatively modern name, being a back-formation from ROTHERBRIDGE. Originally the river's name meant "bright or clear" (OE. SCIR) and is recorded as:-

Scir

956

Scyre

975

Schire

c. 1160

Sire

c. 1270

Shyre

1413

Rotherbridge (Farm) (Tillington) Cattle Bridge : Bridge over which cattle are driven (OE. hrÿdõer brycge)

Rutherbrig

c. 1280

Rotherbridge

c. 1550

This was the meeting place of the Rotherbridge Hundred, and gave its name the Western River Rother.

Coultershaw Web Site