Copyright Valerie Martin 1997.

First published in Along The Furlong in May 1997.

Harriet Thynne, Dowager Marchioness of Bath, did a great deal for the church in the 19th century when she lived at Muntham Court and was a regular attendee at services. I have discovered that George Marsh, Wiltshire born and bred, came to Muntham from Longleat with the Marchioness, (as did an entourage of her servants). He was her gardener and was housed in Muntham Lodge and lived with Charlotte, his wife, and six sons, (three of whom followed in their father's footsteps and became gardeners also) — Francis, known as Frank, William and Charles. The other children were Henry, John and David, who became a groom at the local racing stables.

Many years were spent at Muntham and no doubt George was assisted by attendant under-gardeners as he could not possibly have dealt with the immaculate undulating lawns, parterres of flowers in the formal gardens, shrubbery and kitchen garden on his own.

By 1848 church had a band consisting of violin, bass viol, clarionet and flute.   I do not know who played the violin but it is recorded that the School-master played the bass-viol.     Harry Goodger, the vicar's gardener, was on the clarinet.   Mr. George Marsh, Head Gardener to Lady Bath at Muntham Court, played the flute.     James Miles, aged ten was in charge of the pitch pipe and it has his job to set it to the first note of the hymns to start the singers.   The pitch pipe was a big wooden affair and he records that occasionally it got pushed in just before he blew it.   When this occurred a most discordant noise resounded over the church.    He also leaves us with the thought that nor did he ever forget "the awful sounds usually produced by the instruments".

I have come to the conclusion that when George retired from working on the elaborate grounds of Muntham Court he had to vacate the Lodge to make way for the new gardener. This meant a move to Nepcote Lane where he and Charlotte lived in a cottage.

I am glad to say that his skills did not go to waste. Lady Bath then paid him to tend the grounds at the church. It is said that under his dextrous hand the flowerbeds laid out on either side of the path to the church were delightfully kept and a beautiful picture to behold under his tender loving care. George had scored another success, this time in the shadow of the solemn dignity of the church and this gained him many admirers who visited St. John the Baptist Church.

It was cold in March 1891 and on the 9th there was a snow storm and blizzard causing trains to be snowed up all night at nearby Bognor and the roads in Findon were blocked.    George passed away on 19th March 1891 and his death was registered by a Mr. Newman who was present at the death.

Continue if you would like to read Life at Muntham under Lord Henry Frederick Thynne

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This is Findon Village — www.findonvillage.com is a continually growing record created by Valerie Martin exclusively for documenting life in Findon.