Under the guiding influence of the Quaker philanthropist William Allen, an allotment colony was established in the 19th century between Haywards Heath and the nearby village of Lindfield. Small cottages with their own land attached were made available to help the poor. The settlement became known as America, an example of how local people considered America was being settled. When the area was redeveloped in the 20th century the local roads were given American names to perpetuate the memory of the colony, such as America Lane, New England Road, Penn Crescent, Washington Road and Boston Road.