Text first published in the West Sussex Gazette in January 1998

Revised and published in the Findon Valley and Village Directory in December 2007

Text copyright Valerie Martin, 2007

At the beginning of the 1800s, a gentleman by the name of John Evans wrote about nearby Worthing (just to the south of Findon).   His writings were contained in two volumes and the full title of his work was a bit long winded —

"Picture of Worthing:  To Which is Added an Account of the Adjacent Villages, and of the Rides and Excursions in its Vicinity".....

John Evans wrote in 1814 how Worthing was a good spot to bathe all the year round due to its agreeable climate...

This is rather contradicts the fact that in January 1814, the Arundel River (known to us today as the River Arun), froze.   Deer died from cold and lack of nourishment in their dozens at Michelgrove in Findon.  In some places the snow drifts were said to be 20 ft. deep.   To give you some idea of the weather conditions, this was the last year that a Frost Fair was held on the River Thames in London.

The Sussex coast may have sometimes enjoyed a good climate all of the winter ....but not always.

The year 1836 did not begin well in the village. On the 1st February a battering hailstorm started with ice pelting against the windowpanes of the old cottages in Nepcote and the High Street like pebbles. The village was soon deserted. Hail stones rattled down the chimney-stacks, bounced on the hearths and faggots, and danced around the kitchens. They appeared for the entire world like white snowballs and measured some three inches in circumference.

Findon Place, the Manor of Findon at this time, was privileged to have a hothouse in the grounds and this did not escape the wrath of the flying missiles. Here a multitude of panes of glass were cracked and many were completely smashed under the deluge of crystals bombarding the building.

In the spring of 1836, Findon was hit by an extremely hard frost at night and all the ponds were completely frozen over, which was remarkable for the time of year. This was followed by cruel winds on May Day, which ruined the village festivities. The poor school children ventured out as planned. They were beautifully decked with their May garlands but were taken by the gusts, beaten, and blown to smithereens.   The children’s celebrations were quite ruined.

At nearby Broadwater (just to the south of Findon), the inhabitants' Annual October Fayre was curtailed by an unusually heavy snowfall in 1836

The following month, a hair-raising storm ravaged Findon on 25th November 1836 and was worse than any inhabitant could remember.  The weather was described as a two-hour hurricane and caused widespread damage.     A total of one hundred and fifty mature trees were uprooted and deposited on their sides at the Muntham Estate. A local carter on his wagon drove into the teeth of the wind and was completely blown over three times on the highway. A large horse drawn van was also turned over on its way south to Worthing. It is recorded that it was dangerous to be on the streets due to the amount of debris flying wildly through the sky.

In nearby Worthing, a property situated in the High Street and several cottages in Heene lost their roofs.  Slates were whipped off the old Town Hall roof in South Street.  The inclement weather brought down the giant chimney on Carter's Brewery also.  Bathing machines on the shore were smashed to bits. 

The cheerless autumn deepened to an even bleaker December; this was cold and wet. The days were dark and short. There were odd intervals of frost, when the grass glistened and the cottages in the village were steeped in the silver of a weak December sun.

Nowadays it is not widely known that back in the 1830s, there were a group of Findonians who frequented our High Street at Christmas and spreading good cheer were known as Tipteerers (or Mummers).  They met at a predetermined time and place and before setting out they rehearsed their pieces.    They were dressed like our Morris dancers and everyone knew they were coming down the street by the tinkling sound of bells on their ankles and by a resounding pipe and drum.   The leader of the band would enter the garden (or the house if being able to gain admittance), saying.....

"I am old Father Christmas and welcome or not
May old Father Christmas be never forgot."

The group (made up of characters such as St. George, a Turkish soldier etc.. all in suitable attire) then, if encouraged, joined in a dance, afterwards reciting some jocose rather harmless nonsense and concluding with a discordant chorus of "God Save the King".   

A set of lads also visited houses at this era calling themselves Wassailers and these entertained with traditional Christmas carols.

Just prior to Christmas in 2011, David Johnston in Petworth emailed to say ..."Dear Valerie - bygone Christmas - a couple of illustrations belonging to Christmas of old - derived from the worship of our pagan ancestors - burning of the yule log, and the 'mummers, Christmas play.

And, didn't they just, know how to feast and celebrate Christmas in those days! So here's to a Happy Christmas! David"

I told David that I could just imagine a Yule Log being dragged back to say Muntham Court ......by the Findon cottagers.

On Christmas Eve in 1836, the villagers looked out and saw snow falling. A mysterious fuzziness had silently crept up and engulfed the Findon downland. Blasts of wind swept up the valley driving the snowflakes in hurrying multitudes. The snowstorm raged with unabated violence, filling the old buildings with rumblings and grumblings. It was a tremendous snowfall, which practically submerged Findon.

Continue if you would like to read Findon's Christmas of 1836.

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