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Findon Place.... once the Manor of Findon — at the top of the photograph. November 2005. |
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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Findon Place.... once the Manor of Findon — at the top of the photograph. November 2005. |
WILLIAM RICHARDSON— LORD OF THE MANOR OF FINDON — 1787
Copyright Valerie Martin 2004
Published in the Findon News in November 2004
In 1785 William Richardson was listed in the rental of Findon Manor as a humble
copyholder but two years later in 1787 he became Lord of the Manor when he
bought the estate from the executors of the previous Lord of the Manor, William
Green.
William Richardson married Mary Margesson, the eldest daughter of John Margesson
of Offington Court.
Lords of the Manor came and went but Squire Richardson was one who made his mark
on the village. It was not long following his purchase of the Findon estate that
William virtually rebuilt the manor house next to St. John the Baptist Church.
This was soon after his acquisition of the Manorial Estate and his coat of arms
were emblazoned over the porch for all to see.
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It is said that the Lodge at Findon Place (in the High Street) was constructed
during one of the Squire's absences abroad. The building work being supervised
by his agent, whose name was Mr. Bushy. Upon the Lord of the Manor's return and
seeing the property, it did not meet with his approval and his language was
reputed to be somewhat coloured.
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William Richardson is most remembered for establishing the Findon Sheep Fair in
its present form on the 14th September 1790. He employed George Holford Junior
as his carpenter and selected George to manage the fair on Nepcote Green. At
this time the Green was known as the Recreation Ground. A small plot of this
land was granted to George to house the sheep wattles. This measured 50 ft. x 16
ft. (the dimensions of the Wattle House on the Green). This agreement was made
in Court by Squire Richardson and runs thus:
| The Lord of the Manor with the Consent of the Homage at this Court doth grant out of his hands unto George Holford the younger a small piece of Waste Ground on the Common Down near Nepcott Green.
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William Richardson was also known to be a sporting character and became the
famous hunting squire of Findon. I understand that he built Huntsman's House c.
1800. Extensive flint walled stabling was also constructed at the Manor and he
kept a pack of harrier hounds for his own use — the harriers were later upgraded
to foxhounds. In the Squire's absence, Jack Paskins took his place with
the harriers and it is interesting to note that portraits of this gentleman
once hung in Findon Place so he must have been held in great esteem by the Lord
of the Manor.
 This painting is entitled:- Old Jack Paskins |
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 This painting is entitled:- Old Jack Paskins |
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This painting is entitled:- Old Jack Paskins |
It is of some interest to note that there is a note on the back of the above prints stating that John Margesson (1794-1866) saw Jack Paskins and his wife on 26th May 1832 and noted that he had been huntsman to the Margesson family as was his father, but that he was then (in 1832) the huntsman to William Richardson of Findon.
When William Richardson took to hunting foxes, Sharp was his first huntsman and was later succeeded by William Summers, Charles Champion being the Whip.
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The Squire died at the Manor of Findon in 1801 and was buried in the choir at
St. John the Baptist Church. There is a Richardson memorial in the church. An Ifold gentleman, Mr. Napper, who did not favour the use of the Findon downland,
eventually bought the hounds.
His wife, Mary, continued to live at Findon Place as Lady of the Manor and built
"the big room" at the west end of the house — the "ballroom". This was
originally intended for the visit of Queen Charlotte, the wife of King George II
but she was never to arrive.
I have come across an old book written specially
for passengers travelling by coach and horse during Mary Richardson's days. It
could be called a guide for travellers on a weary journey. The book listed all
of the coach routes in Britain and gave both outward and return journeys with
the points of interest noted en route. In the case of the road through Findon,
the point of interest for passengers was "Findon Manor, Mrs Richardson".
Mary Richardson, the Lady of the Manor, continued to live at Findon Place until
her death in 1828.
The Manor of Findon was then bequeathed to William Richardson's nephew, William
Westbrooke Richardson (born 8th August 1788). He was a sporting character too
and his hounds were of the greyhound variety and their speciality was hunting
hares.
William Westbrooke Richardson sold the Manor of Findon in 1861 to Richard Hall
who died on 22nd September 1862 at the age of 57.
His son, Richard Spencer Hall, sold the estate in 1872 to Colonel William George
Margesson.
William Westbrooke Richardson died on 9th February 1871 and was buried at
Ferring.
I have endeavoured to record for posterity the sporting activities of the the past. Back in the year 1888, it is reported that the Warnham Staghounds chased a stag from nearby Ashington over the downland, through Goring Woods to Kingston on the coast. The unfortunate animal sought refuge in the sea. It was chased by boat but all trace of it was lost and it was believed to be drowned by its pursuers. |It was later washed up on Brighton Beach near the West Pier.
Continue if you would like to read about
The Margesson Family of
Findon Place.
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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E-mail: valeriemartin@findonvillage.com |
