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

THE EARLY 1800s AT THE GUN INN

Copyright Valerie Martin 2002

1802

In the autumn of 1802, an application was made to Parliament for an Act that authorised the construction of the Findon Road that was ultimately to affect trade at the Gun Inn.

 

1804

The King's highway that led to London from the coast became an accomplished fact. The "new" Ashington to Worthing turnpike road ran through Findon to Horsham and on to London and was built under the direction of Mr. Heath of Horsham and completed in 1804. Custom dramatically increased at inn.

The nearby seaside resort of Worthing in 1804.

Until now there had only been one coach every other weekday during the season and a weekly wagon to London. The Toll House, (or Paygate), was at the bottom of Bost Hill. The London through to Worthing coaches started operating passed the Gun Inn and continued to do so for almost exactly forty years until the nearby railway to Worthing opened in 1846.

The "Accommodation" coach was the best known on this run.  What a sight it must have been.  It was painted yellow, pulled by four splendid grey steeds, and proved a colourful sight arriving at the hostelry in the centre of Findon, crammed with passengers, inside and on top.... along with luggage!

I believe that another postal service did operate from south of Findon at nearby Shoreham on the coast.   It started up when it was considered stopping the Steyning/Petworth ride.   This was known as "a Fifth Clause post" — a somewhat ambiguous term.   I had no idea what this referred to until I heard from Derek Dainton....

 

27th September 2004

By the mid 1830's penny post offices were operating throughout the entire United Kingdom.

Whereas it was a costly business to send a letter about 30 miles distant or more by the General Post, the local posts were able to provide a splendid service for one penny - and this was a uniform rate for both letters and packages weighing up to 4 ounces.

Even villages and hamlets remotely situated and away from the post roads were helped by a service called a 'fifth clause post', so named after the fifth clause of the Act of 1801, which allowed any village not belonging to a post town to be linked up with its nearest post town - provided it was able to pay for the service.

Derek
 

Derek Dainton, Angmering, West Sussex.

 

I understand that instead a Brighton through to Chichester mail coach was eventually commenced along the coast in lieu.

 

1805

In 1805 James Tribe was paying rent to John Stoveld for the Gun Inn. There were other tenants — Richard Ratley, Mr. Gray, Mr. Sayers and James Bright but the owner was still John Stoveld.

Mr. Stoveld Senior married Jane (Jenny) Ockenden, eldest daughter of Charles Ockenden of Wiston. Jenny died in childbirth in 1799 in Steyning. Jenny's son, John, survived. He was christened at Steyning the same day that he mother was buried. Mr. Stoveld Senior seemed to expect his son, John, to die young as he left contingencies in his Will in case he died before aged 21, or before aged 25, without issue. The estate was £10,000.

Charles Ockenden of Wiston seemed particularly fond and proud of his grandson, John Stoveld, as he made him his Executor and Trustee of his Will in 1820.

The Stovelds were "common brewers". They also had two inns in Steyning plus a malthouse and other lands. John Stoveld was still shown as landowner for the Gun Inn through to 1832.

 

1808

The Manorial Map of Findon dated 1808, drawn up by George Bassett, details the houses and village lanes still familiar today and indicates the Gun Inn in the Square amidst a growing number of properties.

 

1815

The Fifth Clause post (not sure what this term refers to) from Shoreham, through Lancing and Sompting to Findon, was changed into a Penny Post.

 

1817

The worthy parishioners trod "the Bounds of Findon" at 7 o'clock in the morning of 12th May, 1817, and ended at the Gun Inn where their spirits were rallied when the innkeeper met them with their prepared dinner. This was provided at the expense of the vicar, the Reverend Doctor John Hind, and the Parish.

 

1823

The road running from the Gun Inn via Long Furlong to Patching was made a Turnpike Road in 1823.

 

c. 1825

It was around this time that one of the Dukes of Norfolk, while the Earl of Surrey, frequently drove his four-in-hand en route from his home at Surrey House, Littlehampton to London. He purchased the necessary parcel of land to begin constructing The New Cut in Findon. This meant he could join the London Road near Kingswood with his high spirited steeds, and not have to negotiate the notorious right angle bend at the Gun Inn corner.

Continue if you would like to read about the Mid 1800s at the Gun Inn.
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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.

E-mail: valeriemartin@findonvillage.com