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The side entrance to John Henry's Bar and Brasserie as it was in 2001. The attractive archway was doomed and has now vanished thanks to planning regulations. |
THIS IS FINDON VILLAGE — these Chronicles are created by Valerie Martin and contain scenes from her home village of Findon, West Sussex, U.K.
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The side entrance to John Henry's Bar and Brasserie as it was in 2001. The attractive archway was doomed and has now vanished thanks to planning regulations. |
JOHN HENRY! WHO WAS HE?
First published in the Findon News in January 2003.
In April 2002, Carol Rudd wrote to me following a meal with friends at John Henry's Bar and Brasserie on the site of the old forge in Nepcote Lane. She concluded by asking me who John Henry was. As I have only lived in Findon for a few years, I had to guess.
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1st April 2002. Hi again Valerie,
I thought I'd better drop you a quick
line to reply to your previous e-mail.
It would have been a lovely idea to do a write-up on our walk but, as it turned out, we didn't really stop in Findon Village. That was just our starting point! As our club is a singles/dating agency I think the main aim of it was just to allow people to chat at their leisure while enjoying the countryside! The morning walk took in the old Findon on the other side of the road (and the church) then lunch in John Henry's and, in the afternoon, round Cissbury Ring (where we nearly got blown away)! Anyway, I don't think any walk could give more information or be more interesting than your website! I'm just wondering now who John Henry is or was?!! Well, thank you again for a really interesting site - it has re-awakened my interest in the local area and I'm still dipping into it from time to time!
Regards,
Carol
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Charlie Costello has now been round to see me and all is now revealed concerning his John Henry's Brasserie:-
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16th April 2002. JOHN HENRY! WHO WAS HE? John Henry Costello was my late father who died about eleven years ago. He moved from Peckham, London, S.E.15. in 1954 with my Mum and me. My Dad was a chimney sweep in London before the war taking over my Grandfather's business and continuing after he was demobbed from the army in 1945/46 having served in North Africa, Sicily (where he was wounded), Italy and Greece. He continued chimney sweeping in London until 1958 when he started building in and around Findon. In 1966, I then became involved in the family business, which by then included the hardware shop which we ran at the forge (which also did garden machinery sales and servicing. We also owned and ran Winton's Stores for about two years. In addition to this we acquired a funeral director's in Sompting in 1967, which after adding two more branches in Worthing and Rustington, sold on to H. D. Tribe Limited in 1990. I thought it a fitting tribute to Dad to name it after him as he , as I do, loved Findon. In his retirement years he enjoyed a lunchtime drink with his mates at the Village House or the Gun Inn. I only wish he was around to have drunk at his own pub. Charlie Charlie Costello, Findon Village, West Sussex.
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In October 2002, John Henry's changed hands.
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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Do let me know of anything you hear about Findon - not too controversial. Please note that opinions expressed in the Findon Chronicles are not necessarily reflective of my own thoughts.... but sometimes they are! |
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