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

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WILLIAM (BILL) WALL OF FINDON

Copyright Valerie Martin 2004

The first mention I can find of  Bill Wall and his confectionary shop in The Square goes back to 1927 and I think that maybe before that the premises was a confectioners and went under the name of Walsh & Wall.   

I understand that at one time, a large stack of bales of straw stood on the site of the now "Willows" complex.  One night in the 1940s it was set alight by two boys and the blaze lit up the Horsham Road and smoke drifted around the Square. It was too much of a coincidence when another haystack went up in flames at the north end of The Oval.  The culprits were discovered blatantly enjoying ice cream in Bill's sweetshop when they were apprehended. 

The shop was known as Wall's Stores by 1951 and was a general store.  Bill  sold everything in those days — cigarettes, sweets, groceries and drapery.  His motto was —

“What you cannot see, ask for”,

and then he would magically find it behind the counter.

Incidentally,  I understand that Bill was, in fact, a famous amateur billiards player.

In October 2004, I was asked if I had come across a Mr. W. Wall who had lived in The Square in 1953.   It took me a while before it dawned on me who this must be.   It was, in fact, William Wall who had run the stores in The Square a few years prior to that date.   The property is next to the old Findon Farmhouse and is now occupied by Findon Financial Solutions.

I was then shown why I had been originally asked the question.  These little teasers are always coming to light to test my powers of deduction.

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I guess that Bill had these pen knives to hand out (or sell) for the Coronation planned for 1936.  Thousands of souvenirs were manufactured for the Coronation that never took place.

I wonder if anyone else has still got their Coronation pen knife?

Gunlacks took over the stores in The Square after Bill Wall.

Continue if you would like to read about a Findon Shooting Party Mystery

THIS IS FINDON VILLAGE — www.findonvillage.com is a continually growing record created by Valerie Martin exclusively for documenting life in Findon.