The Roads in Dial Post

During the 18th and 19th century, many new houses were built along the main roads of the parish, benefiting from their improvement under turnpike trusts after 1764. Chief areas of settlements at that time were three adjacent hamlets in the East. Jolesfield, Littleworth and Partridge Green and the hamlet of Dial Post in the West.
Honey Bridge crossed a tributary of the River Adur further south. It existed as early as 1538. It took its name from the nearby Estate, which belonged to Durford Abbey. In the early 18th century its repair was charged on occupants of certain neighboring lands in West Grinstead, Ashington and Wiston.
A branch road from Rookcross Farm to Dial Post and Ashington existed in 1724. The Horsham to Steyning Turnpike road was opened through the parish under the Act of 1764 following existing roads, the modern Horsham to Worthing Road as far as a point North of Knepp Castle.
The road from that point, to Jolesfield and to Ashurst by way of
Partridge Green and Bines Bridge. These were all financed from subscriptions
of Merrik Burrell, Lord of West Grinstead Manor and one other person. The road from the North of Knepp Castle to Worthing was Turnpiked under the Act of 1802. Its route originally followed existing roads by way of Rookcross Farm and Dial Post. The section of road North of Rookcross Farm was called Baybridge Lane or Hill in the early 19th century. The straight section of road that bypasses Rookcross Farm was cut soon after 1823. Coaches and wagons to Worthing were using the new turnpike in 1811. The fourth turnpike road through the parish was an entirely new one, from Buck Barn on the Horsham to Worthing Road to Cowfold. It was promoted by Sir Charles Burrell of Knepp Castle, Shipley, to provide a link with his family estates in Cuckfield. It was authorized in 1825 and described as the most convenient East-West route through the Weald. In 1965, much of the Horsham to Worthing Road through the parish was made into a dual carriageway.