The Great British Vineyards Guide

Blackboys is a small village in East Sussex. There are several explanations as to the provenance of the name, but the most likely explanation is the meaning 'black wood', so called due to the soot being deposited in the woods from the charcoal burners that were prevalent in the area. The charcoal was probably used to fuel the nearby Buxted foundry, where it is believed the first iron cannon was produced in 1543. Early in the 1800's the main iron producing area moved to the Midlands. The Blackboys Inn was founded in the 1300's, possibly as a resting point for the drivers moving charcoal, and is still going strong today