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

FINDON YOUTH LOSES AN ARM

Copyright Valerie Martin 2003

Originally published in the Findon News in November 2003.

What happened in Findon in 1853?  I know that there was one of the most violent storms ever to hit the area on 7th July 1853.   It is said that there was a barrage of hailstones of a most "incredible size".   The hailstones were said to be the size of hens' eggs.   Some wild birds, rabbits and hares were killed by them and cattle and sheep in the farmers' fields were maimed.   These missiles from the heavens destroyed the crops and in some streets smashed window panes to smithereens.

Thomas Howell was a 41-year-old butcher in the village of Findon in 1853.   Maybe his establishment was situated in The Square as today's butcher's shop is.... perhaps I will never discover its exact location and I can only surmise.

The butcher employed a young apprentice by the name of Thomas Scrace and on Monday, 23rd May 1853 the youth went out into the Findon countryside.   He had a loaded gun under his arm.  

I do not know where he wandered — it may have been over to the Muntham Court estate or perhaps towards Findon Place.... or even towards Cissbury.   On hearing some young rooks cawing in an adjoining meadow, the youth perched his weapon precariously on the hedge and went to look for the birds.

He returned to pick up his firearm but could not see it immediately.  This is where he had left it, where on earth had it gone?  He took a step forward and peered into the brambles.  After a search he found that the weapon had slipped deeper into the hedgerow.   Muttering with annoyance, he leaned forward and stretched out his arm and attempted to retrieve it.  The gun unexpectedly went off.

The sudden explosion mutilated Thomas’ arm.   The pain can only be imagined as he made for home clutching his arm.  Later he suffered more pain as days passed and the limb had to be amputated.

I can't help wondering if young Thomas persisted with his apprenticeship in the local butcher's shop after the terrible accident.

If you would like to continue and read how Thomas Winton's shop started in The Square in 1873, click on Winton's Celebration.

THIS IS FINDON VILLAGE — was launched by Valerie Martin in January 1999 and will grow to be a historical record of life in Findon, West Sussex, U.K.