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The Square in 1939 — showing the property now known as the Village House. |
THIS IS FINDON VILLAGE — these
Findon Chronicles were created by Valerie Martin and contain scenes from her home
village of Findon,
West Sussex, U.K. Everyday stories about real people.
In fact a potted history of the village.
ROBBERY AT THE SCHOOL
Valerie Martin copyright 1999.
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The Square in 1939 — showing the property now known as the Village House. |
First published in the Findon News in January 2001.
One winter’s morning the Gun Inn narrowly missed being burgled. The date was Sunday the 11th January, 1835 when an unpleasant robbery was committed right in the centre of Findon. It happened while the Morning Service at St. John the Baptist Church was being conduct and I suspect that the thief deduced that the villagers would be absent from their dwellings at this time on a Sabbath.
The obviously dubious character was first noticed persistently knocking at the back entrance of the property at the foot of School Hill (now known as the Village House Hotel). When the door was not answered, he was observed suspiciously bending down and having the audacity to peer through the keyhole. Finally he placed his ear to the door to listen to see if he could hear any movement within.
Something, or someone, seems to have deterred the snooper because he then purposefully walked up the hill and skirted the premises of the Gun Inn (perhaps the inn showed too much sign of activity to be trespassed). He lingered at the School House, where the new establishment at this time catered for thirty-one boys and fifty-six girls.
The raider proceeded to enter by an insecure window and being undisturbed he rummaged around making a thorough search. He stole watches and slipped them into his pocket and also parcelled up items of clothing belonging to the master and mistress of the school. Unfortunately for him, he was spotted departing with his questionably large packages of goods.
The intruder promptly made off in all haste to the top of the hill and over Long Furlong heading westwards... by this time hotly pursued. After a desperate chase he was at last apprehended and taken into custody at nearby Arundel.
Continue if you would like to read about Findon's Mounted Postboy of 1771.
THIS IS FINDON — was launched in January 1999 and will grow to be a historical record of life in Findon Village and sometimes beyond.
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Do let me know of anything you hear about Findon - not too controversial. Please note that opinions expressed in the Findon Chronicles are not necessarily reflective of my own thoughts.... but sometimes they are! |
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