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

WORTHING'S FURTHER CONTRIBUTION T0 THE WINDMILL SCENE

(and a ghost story)

Copyright Valerie Martin 2005

At one time neighbouring Worthing could boast that it had many windmills and most of these would be visible from the Findon downland.   Much much cheaper grain and imported flour combined to bring about a rapid decline in their use.   Now only the High Salvington Windmill on the downland above Findon remains in our area.

The earliest record of a windmill in Worthing is to a Mill Furlong in the town's East Field.   This is mentioned as early as 1616 and again in 1635.   John Pelling says he has this listed as a Tide Mill.

The name of Mill Field appeared in 1718.

A post windmill was constructed at some point between 1805 and 1807 on the south-west corner of Teville Common and rather confusing for me was known as by various names.   Such as the WORTHING MILL  in 1810...... the TEVILLE MILL in 1814 and after that the CROSS STREET MILL.   In 1881, this windmill was moved east of the town to a site later covered by Seamill Park Crescent.   I have not been able to find an image of this windmill.

Between 1806 and 1813 a tower windmill was built on the western side of the Ham Road — at its southern end (known as Ham Lane in those far off days).   At this time, Ham Lane extended into a road that was later renamed Dominion Road. 

This windmill was originally HIDE'S MILL and built for Richard Hide and was later the northern of the two NAVARINO WINDMILLS, so named after the Battle of Navarino in 1827 during the Greek War of Independence.  I am not quite sure what the connection Navarino had with Worthing?   The only one I can think of is the fact that windmill sweeps are often called sails and the Battle of Navarino was the last fleet action fought totally under sail.  

This north windmill was an interesting  shape.... an octagonal structure of red brick which is somewhat of a rarity in this part of  Sussex.

The Navarino Windmills site was a deserted spot.  The southern Navarino Windmill was known as Newland's Navarino Mill was a tower mill constructed in 1831 by James Sheppard who lived in one of the cottages close to the windmills.   This windmill was said to be the last word in modern technology of the day.   It stood five storeys high and worked two stones.   This windmill  was grinding grain up until 1896.   In all probability there was a baker's shop nearby (or even attached to) one of the windmills. 

The Navarino Windmills continued in use until the last owner, William Barker, died in 1896.  They were finally demolished by workmen in 1902.

However, the cottages remained standing.   There were originally two separate dwellings but at some point before the Second World War, these were converted into one and it became a haunted place.   In later years, the occupants of the property became aware of a disturbing silent ghostly presence noticed through one of the interior windows of the old house.  This was between the kitchen and lounge.  

Although this apparition was witnessed on several occasions, it was never as a full-length figure, just the head and shoulders were glimpsed through the window above the windowsill.   It appeared to be a female spirit because it was small-framed and there was a grey veil or similar headgear trailing behind her.   The image of the spectre appeared to be elderly and somewhat stooped with age.  This restless ghost's regular route never varied and it always appeared from the north side of the cottage and walked to the south at dusk or during the evening.

There is yet another mystery — two families living at the property over the years have divulged that their 13-year old daughters were awoken at night for weeks on end with their hair being stroked by an unseen hand.  Creepy or what!

.I love windmills.   Our countryside in the past was dotted with industrial scenes.... windmills with sweeps slowly moving in the breeze.    They seem to have been located as far as one could see.   Did the local inhabitants of those long gone days appreciate the romantic beauty of the idyllic scene?    I doubt it.   Although many artists with an eye for beauty did depict a mill in their landscapes.

During my windmill research some years ago, I discovered that there was another windmill recorded to the east of the Navarino Windmills in Worthing in 1875 and again in 1896..... but I was unable to find the name of this one, nor an image.   I wished that the late John Pelling was still around to assist me with this one as he was such an invaluable source of information.

In February 2010, I heard from Peter Frazer regarding this Mystery Windmill, saying....

Hello Valerie....Firstly, I loved your story about Navarino Mills and the haunted cottages. It covered 2 of my interests in one go - windmills and ghosts!

I am involved in a project where I am mapping every windmill that was standing in Sussex after 1900 (with a lot of earlier ones too). I was recently doing the Worthing windmills and came across the "mystery " mill you described - in fact several mystery mills.

The 1899 Ordnance Survey map shows the Navarino Mills, then your "mystery mill" a little to the East, and then a line of 3 mills running North to South at Seamill Farm. I send a jpeg extract of the OS map. Navarino Mills are just off the left side of this extract. I have spoken to several members of the Sussex Mills Group and got the following information from one of their keen researchers:-

This is definitely the "mystery mill" as I too had worked out that it stood at the North end of what is now Heatherstone Road. In fact I put it 50 yards East of the end of H. Rd.

Regarding the 3 mills shown at Seamill Farm, the northernmost one is Sea Mill - the re-sited post mill from Cross Street. One of the other 2 is a pumping mill and the other one is still a mystery, though I suspect it was another pumping mill. I think that, if there had been a row of 3 proper windmills at Seamill Farm in the early 1900s, it would have been quite a sight and very well documented. With just Sea Mill and 2 pumpers it would not look particularly extraordinary.

I hope this is of some help to you. So far I have not been able to find out the names of any owners or millers. Regarding the name Brougham Road Mill, I don't know if it was called that when it existed. I suspect the name has been given by the researcher to distinguish it from the others. It is very strange that so little information is available on this mill as it was around from 1874 until the early 20th century.

Do you have any more information on the Navarino ghost? Do the cottages still exist?

Regards, Peter Frazer".

What a lot of unearthing of the past Peter has undertaken.  Alas, I have not ever come across the Navarino ghost again. Nothing to elaborate on the story.

My guess is that the cottages are still there..... most likely now much more extended and unrecognisable.

Gerald White in Lincoln emailed to say......"Good morning Valerie..... Navarino Windmills....I found the story about the Windmills, in the vicinity of Brougham Road, intriguing.

For many years the location to the East of there has been occupied by a sewage collection area, about 15 years ago, a new pumping station was installed to pump the sewage further out to sea.

Of course I had never given thought to the pumping mills being used to pump effluent.... You learn something every day.

Looking again at the 1899 O S map fragment the location supported two Vinyeards Parramata, and Onslow , I assume Onslow Court, at the junction of Brougham Road and the Brighton Road, takes it's  name from the old vineyard. ...Gerald."

It sounded a much nicer area with the vineyards in days gone by didn't it.

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