THIS IS FINDON VILLAGE — these Findon Chronicles are created by Valerie Martin and contain scenes from her home village of Findon,
West Sussex, U.K.    Everyday stories about real people.

THE VISIT TO FINDON OF EDWARD "LONGSHANKS" PLANTAGENET (1272-1307).

Copyright Valerie Martin 2002.

First published in the Findon News, May 2002.

In the fourteenth century, I have discovered that Findon has documentary evidence of a visit from a King. This was Edward I (1272-1307), nicknamed "Longshanks", conqueror of Wales, and well known for his warring with Scotland. He was born on 17th June 1239 at the Palace of Westminster and was later nicknamed Longshanks because of his great height and stature. He became perhaps one of the most successful of the medieval monarchs.

Edward spent a night at the Manor of Findon during a state progress across Sussex and very conveniently issued a Parliamentary Writ, bearing the date of 19th June, 1305. This document leaves us positive proof of his presence in the village. This was two years before his death on 7th July 1307 at Burgh-on-Sands in Cumberland before his body was brought to Westminster for burial.

The King, while in Findon, was presumably the guest of Mary, the widow of William de Braose the owner of the Manor of Findon. Mary was still living in Findon in 1305 and continued to do so at least until 1316.

When the King departed from Findon he ceremoniously proceeded to the nearby prosperous port of Shoreham and was there on 21st June, 1305.

He was in Shoreham at the same time as his Queen, Margaret of France (his second wife). I know this because during the visit a payment of 22s. was made to a Shoreham man for providing grazing for the Queen’s horses.

It would be nice to think that the Queen had, in fact, accompanied Edward when he visited the Manor of Findon but I cannot be sure of this and, therefore, have to refrain from adding her to Findon's list of royal visitors.

King Edward had previously been in the neighbourhood on several occasions. He was over the Downs at Bramber on 21st July 1285, and 28th May 1297. He also visited nearby Beeding on 11th September, 1302, but I cannot discover if medieval Findon was actually on his itinerary on any of these earlier occasions.

Continue if you would like to read about The Great Escape Through Findon.

THIS IS FINDON VILLAGE — www.findonvillage.com is a continually growing record created exclusively for documenting life in Findon.