THIS IS FINDON VILLAGE — These Chronicles are created by Valerie Martin and contain scenes from her home village of Findon, West Sussex, U.K.

DEW-POND TO THE WEST OF CHANCTONBURY RING

O.S. 1335 1200

Copyright Valerie Martin 2011

Two ancient dew-ponds are situated on the Chanctonbury hillside. One to the south-east and one to the west of the Ring.

The dew-pond to the west of Chanctonbury Ring was constructed by the Findon sheep farmer George Hampton — a notable breeder of Southdown flocks that we renowned and who lived at North End House for close on half a century.    This dew-pond was originally divided in two by disused railway sleepers and was shared by Mr. Float of the Limekilns in Washington (known as Floaty) and George Hampton.  

Richard Tritton Ade, (who at one time lived in a cottage on the site of The Well House at Nepcote), was a master bricklayer and mason on the Wiston Park Estate. He was instrumental in constructing the original dew-pond in 1872. Gone are the times when heavy horses pulled their wide-wheeled carts, trudging round and round on the base to puddle the dew-pond. The clay was carted from the Ashurst area and the flints were supplied by Short’s Farm in Findon. In later life, Richard Tritton Ade resided at one of the old Mill Cottages, (now demolished), within view of Chanctonbury, and he died there in 1914 at the age of 78.

In December 2007, Teresa Brown in Cambridge emailed to me  ....."Dear Valerie.......I discovered your site some months ago whilst researching my grandmother's family. Her name was Caroline Mary Woolgar and she was born in Nepcote in 1889. Her grandfather was Richard Tritton Ade (who built the dewpond on Chanctonbury Ring) and her mother's eldest sister was Margaret Ade who married John Ockenden - her five daughters were always known in our family as "the Findon girls".

I wondered whether any of your regulars could comment upon the attached photograph.

The man sitting cross-legged in the front row with a favour pinned to his lapel is my great-grandfather Harry Woolgar who was by profession a stone-mason. He lived in Nepcote in the early 1890s and then moved to Steyning where my grandmother grew up. This photo was probably taken about 1900 judging from Harry's appearance. I have often wondered who or what this group were, and have been mystified by the sashes that some of the men are wearing. Maybe there is some sort of masonic connection.

If anyone has seen anything similar or can cast any light on this I should be very interested!!

Incidentally in later years Harry Woolgar kept the Fox and Hounds PH in Small Dole.

I find your website truly fascinating and love all the local views - my grandma was a lucky girl to grow up there!"

Before restoration in recent years by the Society of Sussex Downsmen, the dew-pond was very overgrown and was known locally as the "Rush Pond".

This aerial photograph was taken in 1933......

click on pic to enlarge

It is, of course, Chanctonbury Hill and shows the dew-pond.     Looking north west.   The actual beech trees of the Ring are off the picture on the right.   The South Downs Way runs passed the dew-pond.   Well Bottom is down the dip on the left.

click to enlarge

The dew-pond in 2010.

The Sussex Downs Conservation Board is willing to be involved in reconstructing dew-ponds if there is a demand from local residents. Are there any supporters out there for our dew-ponds? The maximum life of the average dew-pond is said to be a hundred years. Can we not leave a legacy for another generation?

Continue if you would like to read about the Dew-pond to the South East of Chanctonbury Ring.

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