Jack Long is remembered as one of Findon's personalities from the past. He was born in Findon in the year 1897 and he died one hundred years later in 1997.

He was the one person of our time who actually recalled seeing the old Findon Windmill standing to the north east of the village, high on the hillside above the racing gallops. Jack could relate how around 1903, when a boy of about 6 years old, he had witnessed the disused windmill gradually being demolished. He also remembered beer being carried up Stable Lane from the Gun Inn to the thirsty workmen during the hard work of demolition.

I have discovered that the Findon Windmill had been standing derelict since the last recorded occupier, Edward Weller, in 1891. He was a Hailsham man and was the last miller to hold the post. After his tenure the mill was a forlorn sight on the hillside, overlooking the valley and directly in view of Muntham Court. It is wondered if the Thynne family grew tired of seeing the dejected industrial site on the hillside opposite their mansion. I believe that they may have considered it a blot on the landscape and this could have been the reason for its ultimate demolition. A windmill abandoned to the elements in those days would not have been considered such a romantic view as today.

One Saturday in 1917 I am told that Jack Long returned to Findon for a brief visit to take out a village girl he had set his sights on. During the outing he called at the Gun Inn in the Square with Harry John Gurd (born 1st April 1881) who was a valet and chauffeur employed on the Muntham Estate and was also in charge of the electric generator and water pump and lived at the East Lodge (owned by the Colonel), opposite North End.   

Harry was the son of Ebenezer and Elizabeth Gurd who lived at Tisbury Wiltshire at the time of his birth.   He had been one of twins but his brother, John, died in April 1881.   By 1901, Harry was working as an agricultural labourer in Broadchalk, Wiltshire and did not come to Findon until c.1901/3 when he married Alice Tugwell, a Findon girl in 1903.

It was while they were supping their pints that Harry ventured to suggest to Jack that he could also work at Muntham. It was to be a turning point in Jack's career and the beginning of many memorable years on the Muntham Estate.  

Jack Long duly arrived at Muntham the next day, Sunday, to be interviewed by Mr. Sutton, the Muntham Farm Manager, and was promptly offered the position of cowman. Jack dared to speak up and tell the manager that there was also his father, mother and his brother, Harry, to find employment for before he could finally accept. A suitable job was then found for his father, who eventually became a shepherd. Mr. Sutton promised that something could be put Harry's way later.

This is how the Long family arrived back in Findon and settled in one of the Muntham Farm cottages. Jack started work as a cowhand, with the added incentive of the prospect of also breaking in a few horses. His varied duties involved driving a horse and cart to Worthing to collect the coke and also coal to stoke the boiler at Muntham Court. Another task was to collect wood for the Well House sawmill on the downs behind the mansion. This timber was cut and eventually stored in the cellars of the "big house".

Mr. Sutton was as good as his word. It was not long before Jack's brother, Harry, was employed as a gardener in the large ornamental grounds at Muntham Court. (Later in life, Harry became a shepherd and lived in Elder Cottage at Nepcote).

Twelve months or so on, Jack joined the army and left Findon once more. His friend, Harry John Gurd from Muntham's East Lodge served in the military as a Private in the 15th Veterinary Hospital, Army Veterinary Corps and later also a Private in the 695th Agricultural Coy. Labour Corps and spent time in Salonica and a year in Malta. He was one of the Findon men destined to not return.   He died in Worthing Hospital on 25th June 1918 aged thirty-six.   From the Worthing Gazette of 10th July 1918:-

Harry is buried in the churchyard of St. John the Baptist.  (His wife lived until she was 70 and died in July 1953).

Following the cessation of hostilities, Muntham slowly began to return to normality. Jack duly arrived back in Findon and found work, this time at Gallops Farm on the other side of the hillside and within view of Muntham. As a sideline he continued to break in any horses required for the Colonel across the valley.

During Jack’s period in the army, a herd of pedigree cows had been installed at one of the Muntham Farms. It later became one of his tasks to take the cattle to and from Worthing Railway station when they attended shows.

In the early twenties Jack received his marching orders from the Muntham Estate after an unfortunate argument with the Colonel's agent. With utter dismay, the Long family had to vacate their Muntham cottage. Jack's mother then rented one of the small dilapidated Mill Cottages close to the old windmill site, (ironically also owned by Colonel Thynne at the time). The row of cottages may have been on a beautiful downland site, but were hardly spacious. Alas, their bits and pieces of furniture would not fit into the new abode. Taking the initiative they resorted to obtaining permission to store some items in a loose box. This was at Findon Place, once the Manor of Findon — on the left-hand side of the lane leading to St. John the Baptist Church. This was how the Long family came to settle into their new abode within sight of Chanctonbury Ring on the windswept hillside overlooking the Muntham Estate.

Because of this last skill, he was still the holder of a key to the Muntham stables. Unfortunately, on one momentous visit he arrived to feed the horses only to encounter the foreman from Cobden Farm face to face. The foreman demanded the stable key be handed over to him. A heated argument followed between the two men that resulted in Jack throwing the key on the ground and telling the foreman what he could to do with it.

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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.