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This website created by Valerie Martin, contains scenes from her home village of Findon, West Sussex, U.K.
COLD PIDGEON PYE
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Copyright Valerie Martin 2002
Originally published in the Findon News, January 2002.
A gentleman left the high life of London for the coast of Littlehampton on a Sunday in 1792. He broke his journey at Findon and arrived at the Gun Inn rather fatigued and a little ruffled. I have discovered a reference to his somewhat bumpy journey over the stony Findon Downs and although very weary he recorded his thoughts, which give some idea of the intriguing conditions at the hostelry in the late 18th century. The following is an extract from his descriptive chronicles —
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We found ourselves upon the Downs without any track, and much out of our way: but at length after many enquiries and much unintelligible direction, we arrived at a place called Finden, all of us ready for our dinner. A cold pidgeon pye and the mangled remains of a piece of beef was all the Inn afforded. Our landlord was civil and inclined to accommodate and a butcher’s shop was near, but that resource availed us not, therefore with hunger the very best of sauce we sat down and agreed that even the beef was good in its then worst of all states, neither hot nor cold. Our host’s daughter was drawn out vastly fine, all in white, which we presently discovered was on the occasion of a funeral of a neighbour’s child, which its mother poor woman had unfortunately overlain. It was attended by many young persons, and conducted with much decency and solemnity. |
After his escapades and reminiscences, I guess that the refreshed traveller continued on his journey and eventually safely arrived in Littlehampton with his memories of the Gun Inn.
Continue if you would like to read about The Late 1700s at the Gun Inn.
This is Findon Village — www.findonvillage.com is a continually growing record created by Valerie Martin exclusively for documenting life in Findon.
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E-mail: valeriemartin@findonvillage.com |
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