Text first published in the West Sussex Gazette 2^nd January 1997

"Meteor"` text published in Along the Furlong in November 2005.

I have ascertained that in 1855 the Findon Windmill and Mill Cottages gained their nearest neighbour, albeit some fields away. Henry Padwick, who was a solicitor, built the Downs Stables as a racing establishment in Stable Lane.

It was in this year that Isaac Sayer, born in 1800 in Nutfield, Surrey, was recorded as the corn miller at the windmill. He lived high on the downs with his wife Elizabeth. They had two sons, Edmund born around 1837, and Henry born sometime near 1843, and both boys helped their father.

On 15th March 1855, Isaac Sayer appeared in the County Court.    He had brought a case against Edward Hayler of Worthing.   It seems that a claim of 6s.8d. for four gallons of flour was made by the plaintiff to the defendant's wife on 22nd April 1854.    Isaac swore he had supplied and delivered the flour to Mrs Hayler and she had not paid him.

The truth of the matter was that he could not find her again for six weeks after providing the goods.   He suspected she had kept out of his way on purpose!  

The Findon man won the day.  His Honour found a verdict in favour of Isaac and ordered the money to be paid forthwith.

From their vantage point high on the Findon downland it is guessed that the miller he and his family could have witnessed a rather splendid meteor on the evening of 7th January 1856.  

It was just a few minutes before 5 p.m. and rather remarkably recorded at the time as still daylight.  A few stars were just appearing when an amazing and beautiful meteor sped along the West Sussex coast — it was said to be very distinct over Worthing just four miles to the south of the Findon Windmill.   It made its appearance from the north west direction and fell towards the south east. 

When about half way from the high point of its course towards the earth, it shattered into hundreds of minute pieces, making it look like a modern-day November rocket.  It was so bright that although daylight, many witnessed the splendid spectacle.   It is said that immediately upon bursting, the phenomenon began to emit a dense vapour, which continued for some distance.  Anyone living on the Findon Downs would have had a front row seat.

Mark Ford the Chairman of the British and Irish Meteor Society wrote to me in September 2005 and said he had discovered a reference to this same meteor in an old book.   The book was called "Pictures of The Heavens" written in 1857 and there was a drawing included of the meteorite.

James Bright (the owner of the windmill site) died later that year, on 10th August 1856 at the age of 64.   In 1861, his wife Harriet was still living at the Mill Cottage.   It is known that she died aged 88 on 13th January 1891.

Isaac remained the miller until 1862.   His sons, Edmund and Henry, took over where their father had left off and were the Findon millers from then on..  Isaac died in 1869. 

By 1871, Henry had left the milling scene and was the brewer and beer house keeper at the Black Horse Inn in the Findon High Street..

Edmund Sayer married the Findon parochial school mistress, Charlotte Domoney in 1865.   By 1881 she appears to have been living with her cousin, Isaac Mayben, in Plumstead, London (without Edmund) and she seems to have not returned to him and remained on her own until her death in 1904.  Her death certificate shows her as widow of Edmund Sayer, flour miller.  I can find no trace of any children by the marriage.

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