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

THE 1920s AT THE GUN INN

The Gun Inn — a sketch by Gerald Lip.

Copyright Valerie Martin 2002.

c. 1920

A familiar sight in The Square during this era was an odd-job man, Alf Brown, the blacksmith's brother. He was often to be seen fetching water from the well at the rear of the inn and delivering two full buckets using a wooden yoke on his shoulders.

The inn at the centre of the village of Findon.

 

c. 1922

The publican at the Gun Inn was Frank Sandell.

The so-called "fire station" was a shed on School Hill behind the Gun Inn. No doubt, convenient for getting water from the well. The equipment comprised of two comparatively short ladders, a fire extinguisher, a stirrup pump and some buckets. Cyril Langridge was in charge. On the death of a parishioner, Mr. Langridge would also toll the church bell. The death bell was rung three times for a woman and twice for a man's death. If a person died at too late an hour to have the "passing bell" on the day of their death, the death knell was tolled on the following morning.

The Gun Hostelry, on the left, in the 1920s.

 

c. 1924

The Gun Inn was owned by George L. Finn. His daughter, Kathleen, was the barmaid. She married Cecil Young, steeplechase jockey and racehorse trainer of The Vale. They had three children, Thomas and Marion, were both born in Findon and went to the village school; and David, who was born after they had moved to Alfriston. David, residing in the U.S.A. made contact with Findon again through finding racing connections with the articles under "Gore & Douglas v Gully".  After living in the States for forty-five years, David has returned to live in Arundel.

  

The Gun Inn when run by Andrew Bryce, pre 1926.

1925 - 1928

Andrew Bryce ran the inn when he was married in 1925. It was busy and flourishing and teas were served on the lawns in summer. Guests regularly visited the inn to walk the Downs and customers called in from the Downs Racing Stables. Andrew Bryce's daughter, Peggy, was born at the Gun Inn in 1926. The family moved to Horsham in 1928. Peggy, now living in Chippingham in Wiltshire, contacted Valerie Martin after reading the articles on the Gun Inn printed in the West Sussex Gazette in 1997.

 

1929

Mains water came to Findon and the well at the rear of the Gun Inn finally lost its use after supplying the drinking water.

Continue if you would like to read An Exciting Journey to the Gun Inn.

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