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THIS IS FINDON VILLAGE — created by Valerie Martin, contains scenes from her home village of Findon, West Sussex, U.K.
FANNY HOCKHAM AND THE BEES
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Copyright Valerie Martin 2003
Origianlly published in the Findon News in October 2003
Early in the 20th century the ancient Findon Pest House that had started life on the site in Saxon times, was divided into two semi-detached cottages.
In one property resided Thomas Mayne, a gamekeeper, and his family. In the other cottage lived a rather formidable old lady in the above photograph. Her name was Fanny and she was born in 1815 just north of Findon in Wiston. She had married William Hockham of Steyning and was a widow in 1901 and 86-years-old. Her daughter, Charlotte Littlefield, who was born in Findon in 1858, lived with her. Fanny was celebrated in Findon and all around for her delicious honey.
The entrance to her property had a little wicket gate and a path laid with red bricks between flowers that led to the house. It was here that one was likely encounter fluttering butterflies and — also be buzzed by bees because the occupant of the Pest House was a beekeeper. In spring on either side she planted colourful polyanthus and wallflowers that bobbed in the downland breeze. Bright blue forget-me-nots were scattered in a carpet along the side of the narrow path.
It was behind this abundance of flowers that the old fashioned straw skep hives for the bees were kept. (Cottagers provided their hives with an outer thatch of straw or wicker in those days to keep their bees from the cold and wet).
Fanny Hockham was an imposing figure of a woman. She usually sat in an large old-fashioned chair beside her fireplace. The black grate was polished to perfection and there was always a welcoming singing kettle on the hob in readiness for a cuppa tea. On the red brick floor of the cottage were scattered several bright highly coloured rugs weaved from rags by Fanny herself. They were in contrast to their maker who usually wore a drab black dress under her apron.
In September 2003, John Stepney of North End in Findon e-mailed to me following a walk to Cissbury Ring…
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“After parking and crossing the lane we met a couple just returning to their car, they warned us of a swarm of bees further up the footpath. After looking up the hill we saw what they meant, it was the biggest swarm of bees I had ever seen. A massive swarm ― which is unusual for September ― which could plainly be seen above the treetops from about a hundred yards away. You might want to warn any dogwalkers etc. to keep clear of the ring for today and tomorrow. The swarm usually find a "new home" within 24―48 hours of swarming so should be ok soon. Of course they could fly anywhere from Cissbury. I expect they came from the apiary a few hundred yards north of the car park.”
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In June 2004 I saw this sight on Nepcote Green, what was it?
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Closer inspection revealed a swarm of buzzing bees.....
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Not being very sure of why the bees had landed on the Green, I contacted my personal Bee Expert, Peter Archbold (one time inhabitant of our Sussex area and now living in New Zealand) for his explanation.......
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30th June 2004. Valerie, Bees Peter Archbold, Ashburton, South Island, New Zealand.
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Now you all know as much about bees as Fanny Hockham and myself!
THIS IS FINDON VILLAGE — www.findonvillage.com is a continually growing record created exclusively for documenting life in Findon.
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E-mail: valeriemartin@findonvillage.com |
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