THIS IS FINDON VILLAGE

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

GUN TO GUN

Get your boots out. Here is a longish tramp for the intrepid walker. It is perhaps some eight miles in length....... and rather undulating. Be prepared for mud if you attempt it during winter months.

The Gun Inn is the starting point and cannot be missed in The Square in Findon Village.

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Proceed from the Gun Inn heading south along the High Street. On the right just after the Village Hall, take a twitten that leads diagonally over a field. Traffic can be heard on the A24 over the distant hedge.

Cross the A24 and proceed up the drive to the old Manor of Findon (Findon Place); it is on the left just before St. John the Baptist Church. At the church, go right through a kissing gate and proceed to walk a track beside the edge of a wood below Church Hill. Traverse two stiles (watch out for horses in the fields you cross) to the A280, Long Furlong Road above the Findon Cricket pitch .

Cross the A280 into the Tolmare Farm entrance and head straight on (not downwards to the farm). You will walk past the Muntham Clump on your right where members of the Thynne family and their servants are buried. Follow the track, rising, then falling to a cross track. Turn right for 60 yards, then go left along the edge of trees. Follow a hedge, then, above Highden Barn, turn right on to a track that falls to the Windlesham School complex.

On the driveway (on the left), is an old hand-operated petrol pump. When you see it, you know you are on the right track.

The above is a sketch dated 30th July 1791 of the large two-storey Highden House — the seat of Colonel Sir Harry Goring (1679- 1731). I believe this is by J. C. Nattes? The property later became known as Windlesham House School.

Opposite the school sports field bear left up a track to reach a metalled section of the South Downs Way above Washington Bostal. (The old English word bostal, indicates a hill path — so proceed uphill). The surface ends at a gate; drop right into the trees on a steep path that is the alternate route for the South Downs Way.

Leave the trees to join a wooden fence above earthworks of the A24. The fence leads to a farm bridge over the A24 with traffic roaring below.

Cross this bridge and walk past St Mary's Church at Washington. Turn left into School Lane for the Frankland Arms public house. Ignore the path opposite the inn, and follow the road southwards for some 150 yards. Go left, across a stream, past a farm then veer across a field to a junction of paths below the hill.

Turn right for some 80 yards then left into the woodland.

Now climb up (with stops for breathers) and as you emerge at the top, bear right. Go through the gate next to the cattle grid (the dew-pond to the west of Chanctonbury is off to the right if you wish to make a diversion).

Continue down this prehistoric track (do not take the righthand turn back to Washington). Follow the track overlooking North Farm and the A24 to your right.

At a crossing of tracks, turn left down into the valley bottom.

Take the gate on the right (if you reach the Pest House you have gone too far) and climb diagonally across the field (watch out for the horses) and over the lane and through a further field (watch out for horses again!) and across the track at the top. This will lead you to Gallops Farm.

Walk down the drive past the farm. The village of Findon is ahead towards the right. The Mill House stands isolated (without its windmill) to the left.

At the end of the drive turn left at the rear of Downs House (Gifford racing yard). Climb again up the stony track and take the first right turn down the edge of the Findon Gallops.

On reaching Nepcote Green, turn right down Nepcote Lane. You will see the the ancient Wattle House on your left on the Green.

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Head down into Findon Village and the Gun Inn in The Square ..... or make a beeline for the hostelry of your choice! I consider this walk may be too long for dogs, but they are welcome at John Henry's Bar in Nepcote Lane.

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

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Do let me know of anything you hear about Findon - not too controversial. Please note that opinions expressed in the Findon Chronicles are not necessarily reflective of my own thoughts.... but sometimes they are!