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

LIEUTENANT COLONEL GEORGE WYNDHAM AND FINDON FOX-HUNTING

Copyright Valerie Martin 2008

It has been with some difficulty that I have pieced together the Findon hunting scene but it seems that by 1803 a Mr. Newnham of Newtimber in Sussex began hunting our Findon downland area.   He was then succeeded by Lieutenant Colonel George Wyndham, afterwards first Lord Leconfield of Drove House in Singleton).   He had kennels at Duncton Hill as well as at Findon and his hounds hunted an immense e area of countryside south of Petworth down to the sea.  He was the eldest natural son of the 3rd Earl of Egremont and was created Baron Leconfield in 1859.        In Nimrod's Hunting Tours it is stated approvingly of his pack....

The stables at the Gun Inn catered for some four legged aristocratic animals with prospects and sporting careers in the 1830s.   Colonel George Wyndham, was one of the gentry who stabled seventeen of his most fine hunters at the yard of the Gun Inn and employed nine men and boys to care for them.   (Actually, I am wondering where the innkeeper had room for all of these animals.... perhaps paddocks at the back?)   William Westbrooke Richardson the Lord of the Manor of Findon, contented himself with eight hunters at this time.

During Lieutenant Colonel George Wyndham's absence, the so-called sport of fox-hunting was continued in Findon by William Westbrooke Richardson of Findon Place.

When Colonel Wynham returned on the Findon scene, the Squire graciously gave back the hunting rights and started a pack of harriers and these he hunted himself with a whipper-in named Jack Paskins — more about him later.   

Continue to read about Squire William Westbrooke Richardson and Hunting

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