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

THE COLONEL'S SIGNET RING?

Copyright Valerie Martin 2003

Since the demolition of Muntham Court in Findon in 1961 to make way for the crematorium, the old mansion has fired the imagination. 

A couple of years ago I heard from a local antique dealer in Broadwater.  He related that some four years ago he was called to a house in Western Row in Worthing to inspect some antiques for sale.

It transpired that the elderly lady of the house was rather doddery and confused and the dealer could not make out if she was a relative of the Thynne family of Muntham Court, or merely one of the maids that lived-in.   In any event she did have in her possession several items that had come from the mansion in its heyday. 

These included some medals and a rather fine diamond and pearl ring belonging, as she said,

"To the Lady of the House". 

She obviously meant Marjory, who was Colonel Ulric Oliver Thynne's wife.

The most interesting antique was a very fine gentleman's signet ring in 18 caret gold bearing a family crest.   The elderly lady was emphatic that it was the Thynne family crest.   Could this have been the Colonel's signet ring?

She also said she had an album of photographs taken at Muntham but most frustratingly could not locate them at the time! 

The dealer had a wasted journey because, unfortunately, she refused to sell any of the items, saying that they really belonged in a museum.

Sadly the old lady who had connections with Muntham Court passed away.   Her daughter remembered the antique dealer's interest and gave him a bundle of family papers and photographs relating to Muntham, including ones of members of the Thynne family.   One rather special one was captioned "Tea at Muntham".

Time marches on and it is wondered how many other little pieces of Findon history are dotted around the countryside waiting to come to light.

Continue if you would like to read about Muntham in 2004.

This is Findon Village — www.findonvillage.com is a continually growing record created by Valerie Martin exclusively for documenting life in Findon.