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

THE UPPER CLASSES DO NOT LIVE IN RED BRICK

First published in Along the Furlong in December 1999.

Just over one hundred years ago at Christmas time, the needy womenfolk of Findon looked forward to the festive season knowing they would receive a useful gift of clothing. On Christmas Day they would emerge from their cottages in a variety of new cosy woven or knitted woollen shawls with gay borders. Some shawls were square in shape, others rectangular and a few were embellished with a fringe. These were gifts each year from one of my favourite Findon characters from the past — Harriet the Marchioness of Bath, the owner of Muntham Court in Findon. I understand that she was forever doing good work and never forgot the poor people of Findon while she basked in her own luxury on the outskirts of the village.

I have unearthed that Harriet was born in 1804 and had American connections. She was the second daughter of Alexander Baring, 1st Baron Ashburton (1774-1848) and her mother was Anne Louisa, the eldest daughter of William Bingham of Philadelphia, Senator of the U.S.A. At the age of twenty-six, on 10th April 1830, Harriet married Henry Frederick Thynne, second son of the 2nd Marquess of Bath. Their son, John Alexander was born on 1st March a year later. He was promptly followed by another son, Henry Frederick, born on 2nd August in 1832 and later by two daughters, Louisa born 1834 and Alice born in 1836.

When the children were still young, their father inherited Longleat and became the 3rd Marquess of Bath on 27th March 1837. Disaster struck, and three months later the Marquess died on 24th June. Following her husband's untimely early death, Harriet Thynne, Dowager Marchioness of Bath continued to live at Longleat with the children until her eldest son, John Alexander, was nearing his twentieth birthday.

The Marchioness began looking for a property and in 1850 it was opportune that Muntham Court in Findon came on the market. The mansion was built of a delicate salmon pink brickwork and comprised around twenty-five rooms, besides other offices. When she clapped eyes on it, the aristocratic lady was immediately horrified and was heard to gasp "The upper classes do not live in red brick".

The re-fashioning of Muntham Court to meet the wealthy Marchioness' desires were eventually completed by 1877. The entire property was refaced with knapped flint stone and the east front emerged as an imposing palace or a Ducal German Schloss. It was agreed by all that the venture had been a successful attempt to recreate an attractive property in the Elizabethan or early Jacobean style.

The Bath family also had their own hymn-books at the church, which were discreetly stamped —

to avoid any confusion with the rest of the congregation and get their hymn books muddled.

In 1887 the chancel screen was painted and gilded, the present altar rails and polished Derbyshire marble steps were provided for the sanctuary. To complete the renovation the Marchioness gave the present metal altar cross set with carbuncles and carved shells from Bethlehem and, among other gifts, she completed the restoration of the font.

The Marchioness went on to supply the glass for the east window in the chancel to replace that previously given by the Lyall family. This was re-set in a window designed by Sir Giles Gilbert Scott for the south wall of the south transept. She also donated two particularly splendid windows of their day, the glass for the window under the Sanctus bell and the rose window at the west end.

In January 1890 there was much sickness in the parish of Findon. On the 12th, the Second Sunday after Epiphany, it was a glorious spring-like day and Confirmation was due to be held at St. John the Baptist Church. This was a special occasion and the Venerable Bishop of Chichester, now in his 88th year, in spite of the epidemic of influenza in the neighbourhood, devoted the whole day to the parish.

In the morning he preached, and in the afternoon "laid hands" on fifty-six candidates for Confirmation and the church was filled with attentive congregations. Many were confirmed – in some cases, mothers with their children. The ages ranged from thirteen to sixty-three years and some of the parishioners literally crawled from their beds. Although many of the villagers, especially the greater part of the choir, were kept away by illness, the services were eagerly received. The sun shone throughout the day and the church and village was said to look extremely picturesque for the time of year. Afterwards the Bishop was the guest of the great lady of Muntham Court, to whose generosity and fine taste the Church owed so much of its beauty.

Six months later, in June 1890, the Marchioness was again feeling generous and gave £50 towards building the south porch at the church. The Reverend William Dennis Allen noted the fact in the parish magazine and went on to suggest (perhaps a little hopefully with an eye to the future) —

In 1892 the Marchioness died and Muntham Court passed to her second son Lord Henry Thynne.

He died in 1904 and his widow, Lady Ulrica, died in 1916.

Their son, Colonel Ulric Oliver Thynne, inherited Muntham Court but following his death in 1957, that was the conclusion of the Thynne dynasty of Findon and the estate was split up.

There is now only one surviving wall of Muntham Court, a reminder of the great house once gracing the site. Perhaps it is right that this should remain as a memorial to the Marchioness who spent her life in doing good deeds. No sick person was allowed to want for anything during her tenure, and her servants were often seen about the village with baskets carrying dainties to some old or sick person, especially at Christmastide.

Continue if you would like to read more about Muntham Court during the reign of the Marchioness in Gardener's Paradise.