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

BRIDES OF FINDON

OS reference TQ 116 084

Copyright Valerie Martin 2010

Firstly, here is a little unknown fact about the early nineteenth century in the village of Findon.    It was the usual custom at St. John the Baptist Church to practise the tradition of strewing the bride and groom on their special day with wheat, sugar-plums as well as petals, as they walked through the church yard.  

Even poor folk could walk over a strewn carpet of flowers.   The local folk employed to do this (c. 1810) were known as Strewers and they duly expected a present from the newly married couple for performing the task!

So, what is the origin of this strewing?    It could have started out as a belief that showering the so-called happy couple with rice or other grains would transfer the fertility of the grain to the couple.   Thus producing babies at double quick time.   The habit became mixed up and people began to chuck nuts and dried fruits too which stung if thrown a bit too hard.  Finally this became too dangerous when whole cakes were being enthusiastically hurled.   Some were even crushed over the couple as they literally ran from the church.   17th and 18th century days of happily married bliss started with black eyes, ripped dresses and concussed brides.

Were you married at St. John's the Baptist Church in Findon... or do you know someone who was?     If so, send me a photograph of your wedding at the church along with the date.....and a photograph of yourself today.

Search out those photographs for me.... and start scanning.     Don't worry if you're now divorced...... don't despair...you can cut the other half out and just send yourself.  

The only stipulation I make is that the wedding photograph MUST have been conducted at St. John's the Baptist Church.   

I will put the Brides of Findon I have discovered in chronological order of their wedding dates...and my first one goes back to over a hundred years ago.....

The earliest Findon bride I have a photograph of is Annie Merritt and she is thanks to Pamela Green who wrote to me in October 2010....

"Dear Valerie Martin, What a wonderful site Findon is! I have enjoyed looking at it. I have a special place in my heart for Findon as my mother's family lived there for nearly 100 years..... in Ivy Cottage on the Washington Bypass. I have a photo' of my family taken in the back garden of the house in 1900 ?? . My family were the Merritts. John Frederick, my Great Grandfather, my Grandmother etc. celebrating a daughter's wedding. Would you like me to send it to you?
Moses Merritt was my two times Great Grandfather. A Sussex family since .......

Alas, my family have moved on now and we mostly live in Woking in Surrey which is not lovely Sussex.

Sincerely, Pamela Green"    

Of course, I told Pamela we would love to see a photograph of an old Findon wedding and the next day it arrived. 

      click to enlarge Pamela's photographs

"Thank you for your e.mail. I attach hereto the photo image of the family taken about 1900 I think. Looking at the picture - Front row-seated-left to right:-

Charles Gardiner- Elizabeth Merritt- (my grandparents) - John Frederick Merritt - Elizabeth Merritt- nee Fuller(I think) - my G/Grandparents - Bride - Annie Merritt
(I think). Grooms family - unknown.

Back row-standing -left to right:- Henry Gardiner (brother to Charles- his wife?  Henry Merritt (brother) (standing behind John) - all others unknown.

I afraid I can't be sure of dates because Elizabeth Merritt (Fuller) died 4 days before my grandparents marriage of 6.4. 1901 so this must be taken in 1900 I think. Poor Elizabeth spent most of her married life in Chichester Asylum so I'm not completely sure this is her at all. Maybe she came out for her daughter's wedding - she has creases in her dress which implies it hadn't been worn much. I haven't been able to find the wedding date at all which doesn't help. My mother remembered Ivy Cottage with affection in her day.

I am a little old lady of 80 and I don't know what a Jpeg picture is so I trust this picture will do! Every good wish for your site.   Regards, Pamela Green"

There is a close runner-up for Findon's earliest bride I can record and she is thanks to Roy Winton on the borders of Worcestershire and Shropshire.   Winton's Stores has long gone in Findon but the memories linger on.  Roy wrote to me in September 2010......

"I wondered if you might like the attached " Findon Wedding".  It was my grandfathers wedding which took place on 19th November 1902 at Findon Church.  My Grandfather was George's older brother, Edward.  I think I am now the Senior member of that branch of the family, my aunt Fanny (Nene) having died last week aged 99. She was Edwards youngest child and I am the oldest grandchild. Edward was born at Findon Post Office in June 1875.   He was a Regular Soldier as was his older brother Thomas.  Both served in the Royal Engineers and both had completed 22 years before the outbreak of WW1. E  dward having served in the Boer war and had been taken prisoner on 17th July 1900. Both men, although into their 40's re-enlisted during the Great War and returned to their Regiment for the latter part of the war.
 

George Winton 1902         (click to enlarge both images)

  19th November 1902 - Lance Corporal Edward Winton and Fanny Louise Aslett married at St. John the Baptist Church.

I don't know where the photo was taken but the groom is Lance Corporal Edward Winton and the Bride my grandmother Fanny Louise Aslett from Odiham. "Uncle" George is on the left of the back row and Thomas is the Sergeant on the right.and two of ladies are younger sister Maria Winton and Cora Catherine Swann. Maria Swann was my great grandmother.

My father was also Edward, born 1906 and I too am Edward, but for obvious reasons use my second name - Roy. I remember "Uncle" George and "Aunty" Kate well having visited them often at the Keep and remember George's walled garden which he always kept immaculate. Best wishes......Roy Winton"

FROM ROY WINTON again....."Dear Valerie....I am so pleased you like it and am glad that it has found a home on your site. You've done the family proud! It must take hours of your time - it's such a comprehensive site and a great record of village life.

click to enlarge

I attach a copy of Grandad's marriage certicate for your info.

I read with interest the section on Village "Bobbies" and I think I knew each and every one of them. My age tells here, as I served with Jack Griffin!! when he was at Worthing. Like my father, also Edward who was stationed at Horsham and then Shoreham throughout the war, after completing Military Service I joined West Sussex Police serving for 31 years. John Pears who has a letter quoted on your site was one of my scenes of crime Officers when I was in charge of the North Division (Horsham and Crawley) CID. Not only were we work colleagues we were good friends particularly on the cricket field.

I had traced the family back to Shoreham in the late 1700's and have now found previous research, with documentary evidence, that takes them back to Slaugham in 1600. Family talk was always that the Wintons had come from France via the west coast of Scotland. I appear to have come full circle as my daughter was married at Slaugham whilst I was still serving, and at that time was living at Bolney. I currently live on the border of Worcestershire and Shropshire, but I don't think I shall ever be anything other than Sussex!!

I really am glad the photograph appears to have found a rightful home. Both Grandad and my father would have been pleased.

My best wishes....Roy".
 

In May 2006, the late John Pelling showed me a photograph of the author of the book entitled Fragments of Findon.    This was Hugh Richard Penfold Wyatt J.P.   

Hugh Richard Penfold Wyatt was born in 1861 in Hampshire and died aged 78 at his Cissbury Estate in Nepcote in 1938 at the age of 78.   During his life in Findon he also lived at Holmbush in the High Street c. 1855 and later at Cissbury and re-built each wing of the house.    In 1905 he was made High Sheriff of Sussex.

The above marriage was between Mr. Peter T. Chevallier and Miss Joan Wyatt, children of esteemed families.   In the photograph the wedding car has just arrived at the church where a crowd of guests, tenants and Findonians have been dutifully standing and waiting.   The bride is seen wearing a train of antique Brussels lace, bridal veil and flower head dress as she walks towards the lychgate.   The bridesmaids holding baskets decorated with flowers and pageboys were nudged forward and follow the bride under the archway and up the path to the church.  

After the ceremony the car left the church where several others were parked.   The happy couple, Peter T. Chevallier (son of Captain Barrington H. Chevallier and Mrs Chevallier of Great Bealings in Suffolk)..... and Peter's bride, Joan, waved from the car as it passed Charles Eric Hartridge of Findon Place with his cine camera (rather a novelty in those days of the 1920s).    I would add that he was a member of the esteemed Institute of Incorporated Amateur Cinematographers.

During the Second World War the Reverend J. V. Marsh was the vicar of St. John the Baptist Church and he spoke in 1941 of his pleasure to announce that he had 127 attending Sunday School.    Perhaps such a high attendance was due to the beautiful brides we have already seen at the Findon Church!

Here's an email sent to me by Sarah Condon from Leicester in August 2009...."Hi Valerie...In trying to find a good photo of Findon Church, particularly of the Lych gate, I came across your website.

I also discovered the on-line guest book for the church, and have placed an entry for my parents diamond wedding anniversary!

We are so excited about my parents' forthcoming diamond wedding in a couple of weeks , they were married at Findon church on 13th August. I wondered if you may have any photos of the church which you could possibly email to me? Especially showing the lych gate.

The photo attached is only a scanned copy, so quality not too good, but wondered if you could include it on your lovely website?

My wonderful parents, Denise and Deryck Foster, were married in the church on 13th August 1949, and it's hard to believe where the years have gone with their Diamond Wedding anniversary is almost here.

Now in their early and middle 80's respectively, they are both in fantastic health, and have enjoyed the most exciting and varied life, usually involving the water and the sea! living on a houseboat on the Thames with a new baby, the Isle of Wight for our growing up years and life on the Solent and as a crewman with the Yarmouth lifeboat, enjoying Bermuda in the 80s and further progressing a career as a successful and well respected marine artist in America, a home in Jamestown, Rhode Island, retiring to Majorca for some 20 years, and lately settling in Uppingham on the edges of Rutland water.

My parents have a tremendous sense of fun and humour, and continue to enjoy a huge life full of variety. We thank them for being the best parents in the world, and wish them a very happy anniversary and party celebrating this fantastic 60 years. Ps. Some years ago Mummy and I visited the church when we were in the area, and had a wonderful day of nostalgia!

I look forward to hearing from you.

With very best wishes

Sarah Condon, Kibworth, Leicester."

Firstly, Sarah.... fortunately for you there are absolutely loads of fabulous photographs of St. John the Baptist Church on this website so I don't need to send them to you.

Secondly.... a good percentage include the picturesque old lych gate that you are looking for.   Ditto.

Thirdly.... I have not an on-line Guest Book for signing on this website and have never had one..... so I can't imagine where you think you have placed your entry.   You'll have to do a bit of revision on that one.

But I will put on the photograph of your parents' Big Day on 13th August 1949...and here are Denise and Deryk Foster for everyone to see...

Here's a snowy Findon wedding ....what a lovely surprise to receive this one below.  Thank you for another glamorous bride, Gladys.

If anyone would like to read more of Gladys' reminiscences of Findon, please click on Gladys Lambourne and Rose Cottage and following the links through, there's lots to read.

Here's another one of Roger and of Roger and Patricia...... with the Reverend Gibson in attendance... and Findon Place in the background....

I have been unable to find out very much about this Vicar of Findon.    His obituary mentions Lodsworth and Nuthurst as well as Findon.    Also the Community of St. Hilda and some years of ministry in Japan.

I would die for that lovely dress, Pam.  I will not let on how much it cost.

Another super dress....

What a lovely setting....

Continue if you would like to read about an Eerie Experience at the Church.

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