THE TEMPLE AT FINDON

Grid Reference TQ 109 095

Copyright Valerie Martin

Did you know that Findon boasted a temple at one time.... yes, a real temple?  

All that remains of the Findon Temple/Shrine today is a dip some 35 ft. in diameter now lying within a bygone settlement at map reference TQ 1009.  It is on a prominent part of the hillside on the Findon downland and about 2½ miles from the Chanctonbury Temple as the old crow flies.

No, this is not on Cissbury Ring but at the Muntham Court Estate.   

Past excavations on the Muntham site by the Worthing Archaeological Society during 1953-4 revealed the robbed-out foundations of a round timber building.   Various artefacts have been excavated.... these being dumped in two shallow pits outside the presumed temple main entrance.  These included ox-skulls (leftovers from ritual feasting perhaps);  an earthenware jug;  a 3 in. long clay model of a leg (human);  a plaque in bronze of a crouching bear;  a sacrificial bronze knife and pommel; a number of brooches and some pins, plus three Roman coins and 1st. to 4th century pottery.   

This is where the mystery comes in.  What does all of this indicate?   What date can be attached to it?

The temple site dates from 1st - 4th century A.D. (mostly of the 2nd and 3rd centuries A.D. based on the pottery evidence that has come to light).  

The circular area of the Iron Age and  Romano-British Temple/shrine served some religious purpose..... perhaps belonging to a sect....maybe a healing cult.   Very little is known about the priests who conducted these little local rituals in our area.   

Religion and superstition were integral parts of people inhabiting our patch in ancient times.   The ritual offerings left by visitors to the site were maybe a fulfilment of a vow made to the deity when asking for help.  They were possibly displayed in and around the temple before being taken down and subsequently buried.

Not much is known about Muntham from then on but the history of the site is an ancient one and I am able to pick it up again in 1066 when the Manor of  was held by one named Osward.  

By 1073 things had changed and moved on and the Manor belonged to William de Braose of the nearby Bramber Castle.

The Muntham Manor was held by Morin in 1086.

Between the 1200s and 1300s, there were various Findonians with the surname of Muntham and in 1371 the first house at Muntham was constructed by Thomas De Muntham, son of John Muntham.   In 1372 Thomas quit claimed the estate to Thomas Cornwallis.

Between 1433 and 1476, Muntham was held by Edmund Mill and his family before passing to Ann and William Apsley of Pulborough.

In 1599 the property was sold by George Apsley to a Henry Shelley.     By 1625 Henry had died and his son conveyed Muntham to John Middleton of Horsham.   He died in 1695 and was succeeded by his son, Thomas, and on his death Muntham passed to his grandson and heir, and on his death it passed to his son, another Thomas.

The house was rebuilt in 1741 and two years later sold by Thomas Middleton's son John to Anthony Browne, Viscount Montague.

Continue if you would like to read about  him in Viscount Montague's Curse

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