The
Weald is an area in
South East England situated between the parallel
chalk escarpments of the
North and the
South Downs. It crosses the counties of Sussex, Hampshire, Kent and Surrey. It has three separate parts: the
sandstone "High Weald" in the centre; the
clay "Low Weald" periphery; and the
Greensand Ridge, which stretches around the north and west of the Weald and includes its highest points. The Weald once was covered with forest, and its name,
Old English in origin, signifies
woodland. The term is still used today, as scattered farms and villages sometimes refer to the Weald in their names.