WHEN THE HOUSE ON THE CORNER WAS BUILT

Text first published in Along The Furlong in November 1997

Copyright Valerie Martin 1999.

I know you do not want to hear lots of technicalities, so I will put it very simply.  It is now thought by some that the original property that we see today has the foundations of an open Hall House (this just means with a hall as a distinguishing feature) and as such would have been constructed c. 1400 - 1420.   The initial main structure would have been designed and built by persons now unknown — for a gentleman or gentlewoman of some standing in our neighbourhood.   Fascinating stuff and worth a little further investigation — and there was more to come.   The establishment may have been for the purpose of receiving and entertaining guests, or perhaps even used as a local community centre at this early stage in its life.    A kind of village hall maybe?

I soon learned that the floor area appeared to have been not over large and the property would have been lacking in décor of a pretentious nature (such as elaborate carving carried out in a manor house).   I wonder if this could indicate that it was constructed for, or by, an affluent mercer or yeoman — a villager of the past.   This  form of building would not have fitted the public image of any local aristocracy, rich person of influence and importance.   

One puzzle remains, did the property have a name?   If so, what was this?     This was the one vexing question I could not find the answer to.   It happened all too long ago.

A rather fascinating picture can be pieced together from the jigsaw of slow moving rural life towards the end of the Middle Ages when the house on the corner site in the Square was under construction. As the initial building work was being carried out, other construction work was most likely in progress in the village. The church tower, Norman chancel/sacristy and South Chapel were in the process of being completed in the 15th century.

It is known that a vicarage stood close to the lane leading to the church and the original village of Findon clustered in the field directly to the north. In the fifteenth century, simple dwellings still remained in that area, betwixt and between the church and the present location of the village. There was also another considerable settlement of mellow rustic dwellings situated further to the north at Muntham (now the crematorium site).

In Medieval times, a market place complete with a market-place hedge, a so-called butcher’s shop and a covered cross for the trading of local merchandise and produce, is chronicled as being situated in Findon. This would surely have also been conveniently located within sight of the church and village amenities of the day.

A popular weekly fair, which had been started during the 45th year of the reign of Henry III, was still being conducted in the village at this time. A Charter had been granted much earlier, in 1261, to the then Lord of the Manor, Walter de Clifford, for a weekly fair-cum-market to be held on Tuesdays. The licence was, not surprisingly for that era, written in Norman French. It is believed that these original weekly commercial fairs were of a general nature, sometimes known as pedlary. Again it is likely they were conducted in the locality of the church and habitation.

A larger annual Findon Fair was also held at this period. It was a grander occasion of three days’ duration for the Decollation of St. John the Baptist. This fair had been granted many years before to the same Walter de Clifford, and was held every summer on 28th, 29th and 30th of August.   A predecessor of our own Sheep Fair and Village Festival.

The nearby Findon Manor (Findon Place), in the late Middle Ages comprised of a principal chamber with its own adjoining private chapel. There was also a latrine and an entrance gatehouse to the property. This latter had accommodation incorporated in the structure above. To complete the rural scene, a dovecote graced the grounds of the Manor. At this time Findon Manor also possessed a windmill. This would have been probably situated high on the Downs above the Church and Manor.

Thus a scanty but interesting illustration can be drawn of the pastoral Findon village scene towards the end of the Middle Ages when the foundations of the Gun Inn were laid.  To sum up.  Some unsophisticated abodes still survived near the Church and Manor House. A few simple dwellings had begun to spring up in the vicinity of the new main street area, including the corner property that was to eventually become The Gun Inn.    Regular country fairs were being enjoyed in Findon for business on a weekly basis. Also, one larger annual three-day affair, for the enjoyment and pleasure of the community of Findon, six centuries ago.

Continue if you would like to read more on the Gun Inn in The Muskett Gun.