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

MR ROPER'S LAST RIDE......FOX-HUNTING THE OLD FINDON COUNTRY

Copyright Valerie Martin 2008

Foxes, prior to the 18th century, were regarded as vermin and treated as such.  In years gone by the now unpopular so-called sport of fox-hunting was not a quick gallop over the downland and back in time for lunch.   The duration of hunts in the past was unimaginable in the area known as the Old Findon Country.  This covered the land between the Arun and Adur Rivers and extended to the north as far as West Grinstead, and southwards to the English Channel.    Some days a hunt hacked for frustrating miles and drew a blank.  On other occasions the cunning foxes would run in maddening circles. The hunt pursuing over the picturesque Downs, and back again, in search of its prey and came upon nothing but scampering hares or rabbits.

The origins of fox-hunting lie deep in Findon history and have almost disappeared into antiquity.   It has been interesting to recall the bygone days in the village.    Findon and the foxhounds of the Charlton Hunt, together with the Manor of Findon and the Gun Inn in the Square have been inextricably linked over the years.

The Old Findon Country fox-hunting terrain has been hunted in turn over the centuries by the Old Charlton Hunt, Lieutenant Colonel George Wyndham's Hounds, the Findon Hunt and lastly, up to within living memory, by the Crawley and Horsham Hunt.   Some of the hunts in the past were barbaric.

I understand that the history of the Charlton Hunt goes back until around the year 1670 in the reign of King Charles II.   It was then that fox chasing and killing gained much popularity among the fashionable gentry and court nobility who became frequenters of the so-called sport.

Charlton, in the Parish of Singleton, is now a hamlet, a mile to the north of Goodwood Racecourse.  At one time it was abuzz with important society and patronised second only to London.  Almost every family of noble birth had a representative at Charlton, which was ideally situated with the downs of  all around.  Initially the hunting of foxes was conducted in the Charlton forest and became the first ever properly organised hunting of these animals in Britain.

The selection of good hounds was always paramount.  Expert huntsmen took into account the avoidance of in-breeding and very carefully selected dogs and bitches that proved steady in the pack. The hounds spent most of their active life based at Charlton. Through necessity they trekked further afield each winter to hunt selected fine coverts, such as at Findon, which was considered too remote to "hack" there and back in a day.

Going back to the latter part of the seventeenth century there were two packs of hounds kept by Lord Grey of Up Park, and the Duke of Monmouth at Charlton.   These came under the management of a gentleman by the name of Squire Roper and he was well versed in all matters connected with hunting the Findon downland.

It appears that he did not actively take part in Monmouth's Rebellion, but was so much his friend and so closely associated with him, that he thought it necessary to flee the country and live in France for a time.    During his absence he derived as much of the sport as he could muster in the Forest of Chantilly before returning and resuming his duties in England upon the accession of William the Third.

Mr Roper was a Kentish man and born in Eltham and came to Findon purely in conjunction with his employment. He was an experienced huntsman in his thirties when he took up the position in 1675 as Master of the Charlton Pack.  Sometimes he is referred to as Edward and on other occasions as Charles. Perhaps he was named Edward Charles or maybe Charles Edward.

Roper's reputation went before him and he was reported to keep the finest pack of hounds in the country. This made the Charlton foxhounds the best known in the kingdom and attracted even more gentry to fox-hunting.  Findon’s hunting records go back to Mr. Roper’s time in 1715 when everyone descended on the area but most likely fox-hunting was conducted on the Findon hills long before it was documented.

Around this time the kennels at Findon came into their own and were utilised by Mr. Roper and his men until 1723. It is interesting to note that it cost £8 rent for his hounds to stay in the village during the hunting season.   Findon was quite a small community at this time with an approximate population of some 180; the majority of cottages clustered around the Square.

Mr. Roper was indeed an expert at his sport and was a daring and most excellent huntsman of his day. He had a long and prosperous tenure of office, and was an ardent supporter of the hunt. However, his passion for fox-hunting culminated in his demise in the Findon vicinity.

Mr Roper could best be described as dictatorial in character as he grew older. Historians have recorded him as being 84 years old in 1723 when he died literally within sight of Findon. The occasion was on 26th February, Shrove Tuesday. He is said to have been out hunting and had enjoyed a gallop and was madly urging the hounds in full cry streaming after their quarry.    In all the excitement of the chase, and a final "Tally Ho!", he became unsteady and fell from the saddle.   What a wonderful way for the old sportsman to go.   The story relates that he dropped dead from his horse at Muntham Furze, Findon. This could be the area known as Muntham Firs at Highden Barn on Findon’s parish boundary — the plantation later became known as Highden Beeches.

The records from the Charlton Hound Book, which dates from 1721, merely refers to the unfortunate occurrence in a memorandum of the day as —
 

.....and rather strangely does not elaborate. For such an important huntsman to so suddenly meet his end, it would have seemed worth recording the circumstances of the tragedy a little more fully but it was not to be so.

On the other hand, a very useful poet of the day does describe the disaster for us.......

At Findon he and Herbert sportsman true
and Andrew his most faithful friend,
went out to Monkton furzes,
fatal was the day!
A fox just found
"Get on!" he cries,
and then the instant fell
and life that instant fled.

Goodbye to a grand old huntsman of the 17th century..... whether his name was truly Charles or Edward.  I always think of him as just "Mr Roper".

At this point in my narrative I received an email from John Trotter in Brisbane asking..."Hi Valerie, your article mentions that Squire Roper died on "Shrove Tuesday 1722/23". I wondered if you or anyone else can explain the 1722/23 date?"

To which Mike Cooksey in Bristol explained....

" Hi Valerie, Until 1752, New Year's day was on the 25th of March in England and Wales.

Therefore anything happening between Jan 1st and March 24th was still in the old year in the records, but in the New Year by modern dating.

Hence the "double dating" that occurs from time to time. All good wishes .... Mike."

Continue to read...The Second Duke of Richmond and Findon Fox-hunting

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