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Bob Gore's string of racehorses exercising on the Findon Downs early in the twentieth century. |
THIS IS FINDON — created by Valerie Martin, contains scenes from her home village of Findon, West Sussex, U.K.
Bob Takes George to Court
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Bob Gore's string of racehorses exercising on the Findon Downs early in the twentieth century. |
Copyright Valerie Martin, 1996
Text first published in the West Sussex Gazette, 7th November 1996.
Bob Gore sat down at Downs House in Stable Lane, Findon in 1906 and tried to contain his anger as he prepared his affidavit with care. He stated that he daily exercised some twenty-four horses on the Downs.
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Bob Gore |
In his affidavit he also swore that his stable lad, John Williams, had witnessed George Gully trespassing on the Downs with several horses at 2 p.m. on 9th October, 1906. At that point he had immediately sat down to write in the strongest terms to George Gully. On receiving the letter, George was equally belligerent and stood by his believed right to train on the Downs. He said he had a lease giving him the right to train on he same ground and there was ample space for all to train their horses and erect hurdles.
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This photograph may have been taken on Long Furlong, any ideas? |
On 18th October, the sound of hooves clip-clopping approaching up Steep Lane was heard. A gentleman by the name of Harry Wells hurried to Bob Gore’s flint faced stable yard to report that Mr. Gully’s horses were on their way up to Nepcote Green. Harry was the father of Evelyn Nellie Skinner who was a barmaid at the Gun Inn during the Second World War years. He worked all of his life in racing in the village and he made the jumps and prepared the course for Bob Gore's horses.
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A string of Josh Gifford's racehorses out exercising and proceeding through Nepcote in 1997 — the route travelled by George Gully in 1906. |
Within a few minutes they were on the Two-Mile Gallop. George Gully dismounted and handed his horse to a lad. He then proceeded to dismantle Bob Gore’s hurdles and throw them angrily aside in the bushes. Albert Short's sheep from Findon Farm had been grazing peacefully. They now scattered to a safe distance and stood and stared at the commotion.
George Gully's string of racehorses continued their ride on the downs and returned to Nepcote Lodge Stables via Nepcote.
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Josh Gifford's racehorses in 1997 follow George Gully's path. |
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Nepcote Lodge Stables in March 2000. |
George Gully's handiwork on the Findon Downs that afternoon had been noted and was not to be the end of the story. Continue to read The Court Case.
Back to Racing Stables in Findon Index
THIS IS FINDON —
www.findonvillage.com is a continually growing record created exclusively for documenting life in Findon.
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E-mail: valeriemartin@findonvillage.com |
