THIS IS FINDON VILLAGE — these Findon Chronicles were created by Valerie Martin and contain scenes from her home village of Findon,
West Sussex, U.K.    Everyday stories about real people.

THE IN BETWEEN YEARS AT MUNTHAM COURT

Copyright Valerie Martin 2010

William Frankland left the mansion to a naval officer, Rear Admiral Henry Cromwell.   This gentleman was the illegitimate son of his older brother, Sir Charles Henry (Harry) Frankland.  There was a strange proviso.  The bequest was only on condition that Henry changed his surname to Frankland. The admiral lost no time in promptly complying to William's wishes during the first week of February 1806.  He became plain "Henry Frankland" to comply with the conditions and duly receive the inheritance.   He was a significant beneficiary in the Will and received all the furniture, plate, pictures, linen, china, English books, chattels and effects at Muntham court, plus £500. for maintaining the mansion.     

William's brother, the Reverent Roger Frankland, was another major beneficiary.

All the land, tenancies et al at the Muntham Estate were left between the new Henry Frankland:  another also named Henry Frankland who was William's nephew and godson (he also got £4,000........a bit OTT there as he did not have to upkeep the house!)....... and the Reverend Roger aforementioned.    How these gentlemen subsequently did the division of the bequest is unknown.  

He made other bequests to relations and acquaintances but I am only interested in his staff at Muntham Court and to them he was very generous.   Servants who had served him between one and three years received a year's wages.   This was to be over and above whatever they were legally entitled at the time he died.    For employees who had been with him for a minimum of five years, William left five years wages.    Some had been with him for more than fifteen years and they had ten years wages.    One servant was singled out, a gentleman named Christopher Beecham, and he inherited £160.   

To give you an idea of the value of these bequests I would explain that a young housemaid at the end of the eighteenth century would receive something in excess of £9 per annum; a cook perhaps in excess of £12 and a footman about £14 each year.   I expect there were some happy villagers when the will was read out.... even if they did have worries about keeping their positions in the house when taken over by a new Master.  

At the foot of William's will an unidentified hand of many years ago wrote in the figure of £30,000.    This could possibly have been the total extent of William's bequests.

Henry Frankland died in January 1814 and is buried at Chichester Cathedral.  Muntham Court then passed to his widow Mary.  She chose to reside in Chichester until her death in 1823.   The estate then went to the Reverend Roger Frankland until his death in 1826.  His son, Frederick William Frankland became the last member of the family to own Muntham Court when he sold it in 1840 to Thomas Fitzgerald (the gentleman who removed the obelisk to the downland.... maybe as a beacon out to sea).    Here are the advertisements for the sales in 1835 and again in 1839....

The first of the auctions was in 1835 and the property was described at this period as having "a very substantial brick built edifice" with a portico entrance with plate glass doors.  

The majority of the doors to the recreation rooms were said to be mahogany and the floors were of oak.    There was a Billiard Room with a Breakfast Room opening to a convenient conservatory (nice for summer days).... and a very elegant Drawing Room over 30 ft. high with a bow of three plate glass french windows leading to a balcony, veranda and steps which lead down to grounds and gardens.   

Also the property boasted a splendid Dining Room, a large Study and a water closet on the Ground Floor ........with inner halls and principal and secondary staircases leading to the First Floor.   

On the First Floor was a Library and a total of seven Bed Chambers.    Obviously there were also servants' dormitories (seven in total) and several others over the extensive offices of the house.    Spacious and somewhat gloomy cellars were under the old mansion.   The property was sold at this time to the Goring Family but they only kept it for a very short time and it was again put up for auction.....

  click to enlarge

The second auction was conducted four years later and this time there is a more detailed description available to enable us to glean more of an idea of the mansion's layout.   

At this time the property contained on the Ground Floor an enclosed portico with plate glass doors, an entrance hall, 26 ft. x 10 ft. x 14 ft. used as a Billiard Room.   A lofty Eating Room with a bay window 30 ft. x 20 ft;  an ante-room 19 ft. x 6 ft. x l1 ft. opening to a Drawing Room with three plate glass French windows and a Conservatory 32 ft. x 14 ft. with which a Gentleman's Room communicated; a water closet, and principal and secondary oak staircases.

The First Floor housed a splendid 30 ft. x 20 ft. library complete with a bay window;  ten Bed Chambers, Dressing Rooms and Nurseries.   There were also two Lady's Maids' Rooms, a Bathroom and water closet.  

On the Second Floor there were two small and three larger bedrooms.

On the southern side of the mansion were the Housekeeper's Room, further convenient closets, Butler's Pantry and Plate Closet, Butler's Bedroom, Servants' Hall, Kitchen, Scullery, Larder, Bake House,  Brew House, Wash House, Mangle Room, Laundry and Bedroom.   There were two Men Servants' dormitories over the Bake House and Stabling.  

In fact, everything a country gentleman could wish for in those days.     After the auction, this "country gentleman" turned out to be Thomas Fitzgerald of Binfield House in Berkshire and during his tenure at Muntham Court he employed a total of 14 servants in the mansion plus housekeeper, cook, lady's maid, steward, under butler and two toolmen.    A total of 15 men and four boys farmed the actual estate and one coachman.

The house and grounds were bought at this point by Thomas Fitzgerald.

As William wished, a portrait of him was preserved and hung at Muntham Court for many years until the property was put up for auction and passed out of the interesting Frankland dynasty.    Where is that painting now I wonder?

Here is another little mystery waiting to be solved.   The coaching inn situated in Washington village just to the north of Findon was built c. 1795 and was called the Washington Inn... so it has now been going for just over two hundred years.   For some reason that I do not know why, it was renamed The Frankland Arms.     Does anyone know what actual connection William Frankland of Muntham Court in Findon had with the inn in Washington.... for it to be renamed in his honour?    Did he have some investment in it?    Was it just his "local"?    I do not for a moment think that he really had his horse harnessed to take him there for a pint..... because ample beer was available at Muntham Court.....it is said that Mr. Gravely of Storrington, Mr. Stoveld of Steyning, Mr. Satchell and a Mr. Jeffrey were four different merchants who supplied Muntham Court with beer in those days.

Continue if you would like to read The Upper Classes Do Not Live in Red Brick. 

This is Findon Village — www.findonvillage.com is a continually growing record created by Valerie Martin exclusively for documenting life in Findon and beyond.