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

JOHN CHEALE'S HUNTING PARTY AT THE MANOR OF FINDON IN 1742

Copyright Valerie Martin 2009

John Cheale, the cheery Lord of the Manor of Findon, celebrated Christmas most heartily in 1742.  He often joined in the hunting parties in their heyday and was elected by ballot as a fully-fledged member of the Charlton Hunt at Christmas in 1742.  It can only be imagined the high spirits the old Findonian was in, even though the hunting was at some disadvantage because of the inclement foggy weather swirling around the downland.    He was of mature years by now and I think could best be described as a gentleman of somewhat portly appearance.  Once in the saddle of his hunter, aptly named Old Findon, he enjoyed the sport of the day as much as the next man.

He was a genial, kindly character and was indeed a ladies’ man and a great favourite with the fairer sex at the Goodwood House parties also. In fact, he was in high health, no doubt wearing his powdered wig and full of Christmas spirits and vigour for a man of his age.  He was older than his host, the Duke of Richmond, but was such an amusing soul that he was always welcome at Goodwood.  He certainly kept on the right side of his wealthy friends and described the hospitality at Goodwood in the most glowing terms —

At Christmas the festivities of the local gentry were lavish and the entertainment gay and there were said to have been many presents from France.... perfume, gloves, ribbons and shoes.  For the little girls there would have been exquisite dollies kitted out in French costumes. 

The Duke of Richmond was fastidious and, no doubt, wore his newly fashionable smaller wig, tied in a single queue at the back.  He would have been a splendid sight....gartered below the knee and the buckles of his leather shoes would have been large and sparkling.   His Duchess, likely enough wore a sack back dress of cream brocaded silk over a fine embroidered silk petticoat.  Her shoes would have been pointed as was the fashion of the day.   They would have been of leather and embroidered with coloured silks. Her hair would have been powdered.

To give some idea of costs in John Cheale's days, here is a note of the expenses in 1745, the following entry appears for boarding the Charlton Hunt.......

An extract from a letter from the 2nd Duke to H. F. Clinton, 9th Earl of Lincoln (later 2nd Duke of Newcastle under Lyne) written on 24th November 1747.... reads as follows and gives the Gun Inn a mention....

Discusses the success of this years hunts in Sussex; discusses plans for an upcoming hunt which he terms the 'Findon party', to include Jennison, Fisher, Brudenell and St John.

Have all agreed to 'live at our own ordinary at Cheale, which is better than at the Gun or Trenches, and Cheale is to furnish us nothing but linen, strong and small beer, and that only for our own table'; was supposed to be in town on the 20th 'butt after the scandalous attack upon the man in the whole world that I love the best, I shall have shew no regard to that day, butt please myself much better with a fox chase'; 'now we plainly see whose arse is blackest.

Who to be sure has the whitest in the world is quite unhappy about her two cousins, - a couple of dogs that I will never yeale to whilst I breath; tho I sincerely love my Lady Codrington who I am sure will be excessively ves'd about it.'

John Cheale died in 1751 and was the first owner of Findon Manor to be buried in the village. His grave can be seen on the left-hand side of the path leading to St. John the Baptist Church, close to the north wall of the church.

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