THIS IS FINDON — www.findonvillage.com created by Valerie Martin, contains scenes from her home village of Findon, West Sussex, U.K.

Kenseys in Cross Lane.

GUIDED TOUR OF FINDON (4)

Text first published in Sussex Life dated April 1999.

Text copyright Valerie Martin, 1999.

Returning to continue the tour in the centre of Findon, I come to Cross Lane which is an old part of the village and to prove it contains two listed buildings.

KENSEYS is immediately on the right after turning in from Nepcote Lane. This was built in Stuart times, around 1640, and at one time boasted its own well. As one would expect, it belonged to a farmer by the name of Mr. Kensey. There is reputed to have been a passageway from the cellars leading straight to the Gun Inn — no doubt for the easy transportation of contraband. I have been told by the present owner that the damp cellar has since been filled in and no evidence of it remains.

Almost opposite Kenseys is another ancient property called Manor Cottage which obviously at some time had connections with the Manor of Findon. I have seen some of its fascinating timber in the lounge and old brickwork bearing the etched date of 1641.


14th October 2004

Dear Valerie,

Manor Cottage

A further recollection of a visit to Manor Cottage is an occasion when the drains backed up.

One morning "effluent" was seen to be percolating up around a slab to the side of the front garden path.  Investigation revealed that the septic tank/cess pit was full and overflowing.

Recourse to the Council produced a vacuum tanker that afternoon and, after going back for a longer hose, pumping began.  I recall that the tanker crew remarked that they had not pumped this tank before. Their truck was filled and they went off to empty and returned.

The truck was once more filled and no sign of the bottom of the tank.

Another trip with additional reserves of hose still didn't complete the job.

Examination revealed that the tank appeared to be an old well rather than a purpose dug tank and downland wells can be pretty deep - (I recall an abandoned well near some old buildings up towards Cissbury where we kids would drop stones and wait with bated breath for the splash - This sort of pastime I am sure would be greeted with shock and horror in this day and age, but in those days we were admonished to look out for ourselves, as no one else would! O tempora, O mores!)

I don't know the final outcome, but after three or four loads the tanker crew referred the matter to higher authority amidst mutterings as to the possibility of the effluent being contaminated with beautiful pure rainwater, which was a serious offence carrying the penalty of being charged for pumping out!

I do know that my Uncle had been resident for quite a long time before the event occurred. Some pit!

Regards,

Bruce Elston.

Bruce Elston, Bostwana.

 

Two doors down from Manor Cottage is the picturesque eighteenth century MALT HOUSE, standing aloof and protected behind its high flint wall. The house is faced with flints with red brick dressings under a tiled roof and was probably two cottages originally.

The Cottage (Malt House) in 1904.

 

Watercolour sketch by A. M. Griffiths of The Malt House when it was still named The Cottage but with an additional bay window on the front façade.

 

The Malt House in the 1990s with a new front entrance.

Nepcote  contains many interesting old cottages, including COACHMANS dating from the eighteenth century when a smuggler by the name of David Ferrol lived in Nepcote. I believe that he inhabited Coachmans around 1720. The two-storey property is of red brick with alternate grey headers.

Nepcote Green in 1997 showing the boarded-up Wattle House. "Greenside" and "Coachmans" overlooking the Green. The Findon television transmitting station can be seen on West Hill in the distance.

Coachmans’ close neighbour is GREENSIDE COTTAGE, from the early nineteenth century. It is on two storeys and is faced with flints with dressings and quoins of red brick and grey headers.

These two cottages overlook another famous Grade II building on Nepcote Green. The unique and derelict WATTLE HOUSE — originally built for the storage of wattle hurdles in readiness for Sheep Fair Days. Not many people know that on 6th March, 1919, when the Wattle House came up for sale, described as a "brick and flint built and tile healed old-fashioned building", it was sold to Colonel William George Margesson, Lord of the Manor of Findon for the paltry sum of £375.

Threshers in Nepcote in December 1999.

Further down Nepcote on the right and standing alone, fronting the lane, is THRESHERS, faced with flints, which were at one time painted.

Threshers in May 2000.

Around 1945, work on Threshers revealed a fireplace with the carved date of 1664. The property was, therefore, built in the days of King Charles II after he had made his bid for escape through Findon.

Threshers was at one time two cottages.

Panoramic view enjoyed by Threshers across farmland looking westwards towards Church Hill. May 2000.

 

The Lodge, Cissbury, early in the twentieth century.

Turning left at the sharp bend into the Cissbury Estate, I arrive at the residence called CISSBURY, which boasts thirteen bedrooms. 

Cissbury House below the Findon Downs, January 2001.

It stands in seclusion and has been the home of the Wyatt dynasty for two hundred years.

Hugh Wyatt, Lord Lieutenant of West Sussex in February 2002.

The centre core of the east front of Cissbury House was built as an eighteenth century farmhouse. The additions to the west are 19th century.

"Cissbury" c. 1914.

This brings me to the end of my tour of Findon’s fascinating twenty-six listed buildings. The traffic passes by the village, but not through it. The roar and the rush can be heard, but only as a hum. Much has altered but outwardly the years have been gentle on the village of Findon.

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