This website, created by Valerie Martin, contains scenes from her home village of Findon, West Sussex, U.K.

Findon Farm Photo Album — Albert Short Senior

Lunchtime in the harvest field at Findon, pre 1904.

Copyright Valerie Martin 1999.

First published in Along The Furlong in March 2000.

Here is a chance to glimpse some of Findon's past — a rare opportunity to see the village's countryside at a time when its tranquillity was truly thought to be timeless.

I have discovered that tracing the origins of a farm can be difficult and that of Findon Farm is no exception. I have unearthed that in 1785 a gentleman by the name of Charles Coppard was a tenant farmer and leased some 145 acres of land from the Lord of the Manor, William Green. He worked some of the agricultural land that in later years was to become known as Findon Farm. During Coppard's day his farmland comprised of 60 acres of wheat; 39 acres of barley; 25 acres of oats and 21 acres of other crops.

Some of Findon’s produce at this era was taken into Worthing for selling, every vendor having his own delivery vehicle in the days when horses were harnessed up for the task and they all headed out of the village.  It was in 1810, Ann Street in Worthing witnessed the town’s first regular town market authorised by Act of Parliament.  The market extended from Ann Street through to Market Street (at that time the next road to the north) and was approached through elaborate iron gateways facing into each each road.   (These ornate gates remained in position until half way through the Second World War).  It was indeed a model market in its heyday.  The frontage onto Market Street was in red brick and the Ann Street elevation was white.  Inside, there were stalls round all four sides with a water pump as the centre feature. 

On the south side of Worthing Market were stalls occupied by fishmongers every day of the week offering their fresh catches to shoppers. The west side was the domain of the butchers.  Greengrocers and fruiterers took the stalls on the east side, while the poulterers from Findon and Bramber commandeered the northern side for their produce.   Their goods for sale at the market was cried throughout the town each morning by the town crier. 

Saturday was the main market day and farmers from Findon travelled south in their horse-drawn wagons and carts and most  conveniently "parked" outside the Royal George Inn or Anchor Inn and clogged the road.   The smell of sweat and dung was just as pungent, if not as harmful, as today's vehicle fumes.  The Worthing Market had many financial problems but remained popular for several decades and lasted until 1863 (when the whole site was put up for sale and bought by one of the town's oldest firms, Snewin & Son.   It was then used as a builders' yard until eventually being demolished in 1969). 

I understand that by 1839 much of the Findon Parish belonged to the four large estates of the Manor of Findon, Muntham Court, Findon Park and Cissbury Estate.  The majority of the Manor of Findon Estate, comprising Tolmare and Spencer's or Roger's Farm (683 acres) was let to one farmer, but the other three estates were kept in hand.

One smaller estate (later to become Findon Farm), of 111 acres came under the umbrella of George Lyall (1779-1853) whose family were originally London merchants

From 1851, George Hards (born 1812 in Pulborough), and his wife Matilda (born 1814 in Thakeham) farmed some of this agricultural countryside. George held 180 acres and employed four men and five boys on the Findon Farm site.

Ten years later in 1861, his acreage had increased to 560 acres and the number of labourers had increased to twelve men, plus six boys.

A further ten years on in 1871 (when George was 59 years of age) he was described as a landowner and farmer with 590 acres.   He employed sixteen labourers, seven boys and one woman.

By 1881, he had sold off some of the land it seems and was only farming 175 acres and employing five men and three boys.

George's' nephew, Albert Short was born in Ashington in 1845. A turning point in the lad's life came in 1861 at the age of sixteen he was living on his Uncle George's farm. His seventeen-year-old sister, Sarah, was employed by their uncle in the capacity of housekeeper.

The years past and Albert married Jane, a girl from Shipley, born in 1845. Their son, who was to become known by all as Albert Short Junior, was born in 1871. That same year, the farm had increased slightly to 590 acres and now employed sixteen labourers, seven boys and one woman.

George Hards retired from agriculture in 1874 and Albert Short took over the business. In 1881 Albert held 400 acres. The farmyard opened to the village street and it was a typical working farm of the 19th century.

More children followed Albert Short Junior —

John born in 1872

Harry (pictured above) born in 1874 (became a butcher in Hove).

Alice born 1878

Ada born 1878

Arthur born 1879

Walter born 1881

Jemima born 1883

Mary born 1884

Albert Short Senior's youngest son, Frank, was born in 1886. In 1907 he sailed from London on the "Oroya" for Western Australia. He died in the Far East. 

Albert was destined to be married three times during his life time and farmed land at Rogers Farm, Muntham, Tolmare and Kingswood.

Albert Short's water pump on the Gallops — first shown on the Ordnance Survey map of 1899. (Original photograph by John Pelling).

In the early twentieth century many semi-detached villas were built to the south of Findon Farm.

Pre 1903 — the entrance to Findon Farm from Stable Lane.

 

Early 1900s — Here is the Findon Farmhouse with A. Crowe's tea shop in the foreground.

 

A creeper-clad Findon Farmhouse pre 1907.

Continue if you would like to see the Findon Farm Photo Album — Albert Short Junior.

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E-mail: valeriemartin@findonvillage.com