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THIS IS FINDON VILLAGE — www.findonvillage.com created by Valerie Martin, contains scenes from her home village of Findon, West Sussex, UK.

Winton's Celebration

c. 1894 Thomas Winton's shop in Findon. Thomas is in the doorway of the shop and his son, George is on the far right with the bicycle.

First published in Along the Furlong in March 2000.

I think that the oldest name displayed over a shop in Findon is probably that of Winton and Son. Although the family of that name no longer owns the premises, the establishment still caters for the villagers' needs, just as it did when it first opened in 1873.

I have discovered that Thomas Winton was born in Shoreham in 1845 and was considered a wealthy young man. His father owned a successful grocery business in Warwick Street in Worthing and it is said travelled around with his own carriage and pair. Unfortunately, Mr. Winton Senior was a gambler. Eventually he lost his shop in an unlucky card game of poker.

Thomas arrived in Findon in 1873 at the age of 28 years with his wife, Maria who was one year his senior, and they lived in one of a pair of cottages in The Square.

They established a drapery/grocery and provisions general store in an adjoining small shop and Thomas Winton also became the sub-postmaster in Findon.. This property was, in fact, no more than a lean-to shed attached to the string of shops and cottages in the Square. The origins of the building had been a medieval barn, which in those days encroached across the road in the direction of Grey Point. Perhaps the barn had later been a wagon shed and stabling for horses — now in the dim and distant past. The cellars of Winton's shop still run out under the pavement to the road today.

May Winton outside the Post Office next to Winton's shop in the late 1890s.

A rather glamorous Victorian portrayal of the mail coach to Worthing. Artist unknown.

Findon Post Office c.1900s in the days when William George Margesson was Lord of the Manor of Findon.

In January 2008 I received an email from Joan Blackwell of Findon.......

click on pic to enlarge

"Valerie...... Storm of 1987.....In the old photographs of Wintons there is a large tree next to the shop. This photograph shows what happened to it in October 1987. Joan".

Winton's store c. 1905

To set the scene — at this time Findon Farm was a going concern in the Horsham Road (on the site of The Willows), and was farmed by George Hard. He resided in Findon Farmhouse (now partly occupied by Findon Newsagency), with his wife Matilda and their family. A convenient slaughterhouse was situated behind George Holmes' butcher's shop (now Peckham's butcher shop). During this era William Goater was the publican at the Gun Inn on the west side of the Square. Another thriving business was that of the capable Martha Brown who ran the blacksmith's forge further up Nepcote Lane. The Vicar of Findon at this time was the well-liked Reverend Robert Cholmeley, and Elizabeth Bull presided over the school just up the hill and within sight of Winton's shop.

Pre 1906 — Thomas Winton's shop in The Square, Findon.

By 1881 Thomas was documented as residing at the Post Office, Findon Street, Findon, with his wife Maria. By now the couple had five children —

Thomas	born in 1868, Worthing
Ernest	born in 1873, Findon
Edward	born in 1875, Findon
Maria	born in 1878, Findon
George	born in 1881, Findon

At this time, Thomas Winton was aged 36 and described as a "General Shopkeeper".

The following year, another son was born —

William,

born in 1882, Findon

Thomas Winton made his mark on Findon and eventually expanded into one of the pair of cottages adjoining the shop. During much later the renovations it was discovered that the ancient building was found to have walls constructed of wattle and daub with horsehair.

Thomas Winton.

1909 — The Square in Findon with Winton's shop in the background.

By 1891 it is recorded that the children were all living at home....

Ernest	aged 18	working as an assistant in his father's shop
Edward	aged 15	employed as assistant in the shop
Maria	aged 13	still at school
George	aged 9	at school
William	aged 8	at school

By 1901 when Thomas was 56 years old his occupation was given as "Sub Post Master", as well as acting as Findon Parish Clerk. He was assisted in the Post Office and general store by his wife and three of his children — 23 year old Maria and his two youngest sons — George and William .

George Winton, born 1881.

As time went on the older boys declined to work in their father's store. It was young George who eventually lived at "Mortons" in Nepcote Lane who was destined to follow in his father's footsteps and take over the business in the early 1900s.

George Winton.

However, the local children still made sure that it was Grandpa Winton who served them when he was in the shop. He did not keep his eye on the profits, as did his son. The old man always slipped the youngsters ten peppermint bull's-eyes for their money, while his son only parted with nine for the same price. This did not go unnoticed by the youngsters.

Thomas Winton died in 1914 and his wife, Maria died five years later.

George Winton standing outside the Post Office with May Winton.

The shop was refurbished in 1923.

Winton's store was an Aladdin's cave of provisions. The whole shop was fragranced with the smell of an assortment of delicious aromatic spices. Sugar arrived in bulk in a strong coarse hessian sack and Thomas weighed out the contents and bagged it for waiting customers. A large plywood chest contained loose tea. Assortments of tantalising biscuits were displayed in front of the counter in an array of tins, each with a hygienic glass topped lid. Those not so well off were grateful to buy the cheaper ones labelled "broken biscuits". There was also a cask of sticky treacle waiting for housewives to bring their jars to be re-filled. When a side of bacon was delivered it was taken to the large cellar beneath the property. Later it was cut into rashers and trimmed by hand. The cool cellar also housed the cheeses and everything was kept fresh, even in the hot lazy days of summer.

1936 — George Winton's Shop in The Square.

Sawdust was scattered on the floor each evening and the next night it was replaced with fresh — collected from another local business, that of Ockenden's sawmill in Nepcote.

Winton's stores was run for the convenience of the customers in those days. There were even thoughtfully provided chairs beside the counter for use while waiting to be served.

Buddington Farm, Buddington Bottom

Orders from villagers living at outlying properties, such as Cobden or Buddington, were collected on bicycle. An errand boy did the local deliveries on a tradesman's bicycle with a large high fronted basket, and a Ford van took the heavier deliveries to more distant customers.

Winton's store was also a useful local pick-up point. Packets and parcels from nearby Worthing arrived on the Southdown bus in the Square and were deposited at Winton's shop in readiness for their owners to collect. Bookings for the bus could also be made over the counter. Morning newspapers arrived each day and were sold at the store and this continued right up until after the Second World War.

A bill dated 1946 hung in the tiny office at the side of the shop for many years and indicated the price of goods after the Second World War —

50 cigarettes	5s.10d
4 eggs	8d
bacon	1s. 7d
half pound of tea	1s. 8d

George Winton's car outside the shop c. 1955.

An email in December 2007 explains a little about the sign on the shop next to Winton's in The Square...."Valerie, The name of Blackwell was above the butcher's shop for approximately 45 years from the late 1920s to 1973. George (Bob's father) ran it for many years then Bob took over until 1973.

Bob was born in the cottage adjoining the shop and lived there until he was four years old.

Before the 2nd World War the slaughter house behind the shop was in full use, serving both the Findon shop and one in Tarring Road, Worthing owned by Bob's grandfather.

All the meat was bought from local livestock markets at Chichester, Barnham and Steyning.

One of Bob's earliest memories was that of his mother locking and bolting the back door of the cottage as the cattle was unloaded for slaughter. Joan"

c. 1960 The Square in Findon.

In time, it was George's son, Denis who took over the shop in the Square. The shop went over to self service in 1961. It was his enterprising wife who organised the Winton's celebration a few years after his death in 1969.

Denis Winton with the boat he built and kept at Chichester.

In 1973 it was exactly one hundred years from when Thomas arrived in the village and first opened his grocery business. The precise date is lost but it was said to be at the beginning of the year 1873. Not knowing the actual date did not deter Vera Ann Winton (known as Ann) widow of Denis. She was a lady with a colourful character in the village and had the bright idea of holding centenary celebrations at the shop, which was started by her husband's grandfather. It would put the store on the map and with any luck, increase trade. Did it matter if it was flaming June and not the correct date? At this time she ran the business with the assistance of John Smith who had been in the shop for 23 years. She also employed a full-time assistant, Edna Carter and two part-timers, Ethel Wingrove and Winifred Ayling.

Being an astute shopkeeper, she slashed prices and customers gathered. The specially reduced price goods were on offer during the centenary celebration from the Monday 27th May until Saturday 2nd June and resulted in good business.

Measures of sherry were on hand for all on the Friday, and biscuits and cheese were thoughtfully provided to eagerly waiting shoppers. It was a good public relations exercise and little wonder takings were good for Winton's shop during that week. No doubt, old Thomas looked down and approved of the whole affair one hundred years on from when he first arrived in the Square in Findon.

Vera Ann Winton, who had since remarried and was Mrs Bowers, died in Somerset in June 1999 at the age of 76 years.

If you would like to read about George Winton's wedding day, click on September Wedding Bells in 1906.

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E-mail: valeriemartin@findonvillage.com