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

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.

click to enlarge

The view is of Findon Place looking south in the days when it belonged to Squire William Richardson 1789.   

The artist is Samuel Hieronymus Grimm (1733-1794).   I am beginning to wonder if Samuel Hieronymus Grimm perhaps lived comparatively locally to have undertaken two commissions for consecutive Lords of the Manor of Findon....William Green and Squire Richrdson?

 You will also observe how barren the hillside still is.....but there are a few more trees than in the days of William Greene, the previous owner. 

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.

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.

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 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.

The Squire's 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.

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.