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.

FINDON VALLEY REVEALED

Copyright Valerie Martin 2010

The area known as Findon Valley takes a back seat and is rather insignificant when Findon is mentioned, as everyone is thinking of the more historic village of Findon.    Here are some little known facts which you may, or may not know, about "The Valley".  

There is a house called Sheepcombe at the top end of Coombe Rise as the ground rises to Cissbury Ring, and this is one of the very few older properties in the Valley.   There was a Manor on the Sheepcombe site since Saxon days.   In 1805 Sheepcombe was described as "a mansion".  The present property is only just over a hundred years old but it is said there are traces of older brickwork to be seen.   At one time Sheepcombe was the property of the Vicars Choral at Chichester until being sold to the Cissbury Estate.    It was during this time that a road ran like a dart from the hamlet at East End on the Cissbury Estate.    By 1839 East End had vanished and the road ceased .... most probably closed by the Wyatt family ........who sold Sheepcombe in 1929.

Goar Cottages on Bost Hill were originally the Findon Work House and it was here on the land opposite that the poor folk were set to work.... named Poor House Field.

The Vale was within living memory training stables for racehorses.    Before that it was Limbers Farm and it is said there are traces of the old farm buildings on the site.   Prior to the Second World War, the Gallops at Bost Hill contained two sets of hurdles (jumps) and the horses ran from north to south and the course actually straddled Bost Hill (at this point the roadway was covered with straw).

The area of the Gallops was proposed as a public open space prior to the Second World War.   This was to prevent further housing development marching over the area as elsewhere in the Valley.    The Second World War put a stop to the purchase.   During the hostilities the Gallops was put under cultivation and revealed some strange rectangular markings in the crops.   These suggested extensive buildings.  A considerable amount of flint implements were subsequently discovered in 1953 and at the time it was thought that proper excavations should be undertaken.   (A project for the Time Team?)     If excavations had been undertaken, they may have put Findon Valley on the map on a par with Cissbury Ring?    The purchase of the Gallops did not finally reach completion until May 1957 and it was then that the area was put down to grass for the pleasure of the public. 

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The date of the above scene is c. 1944 and the picture depicts a couple of wells in a cottage garden or gardens.     These are in the Findon Road...... in small garden(s) to the rear of flint cottage(s).   Looks rather idyllic does not it.   Memories of the Second World War days.    The good old days?

The original route of the Findon Road running north south through the Findon Valley was hugging the hillside along the bridle path from Mill Lane to Roger's Farm.   This was through necessity to avoid the muddy valley.   Over two hundred years ago the present route took over (A24).    One of the two Findon Toll Booths was sited at the foot of Bost Hill at the junction with the A24.    The last coach service ran in 1845, the year that the very first train puffed out of Worthing Station.    See my narrative Findon Gate and Nep Gate

In the 1880s, there was a plan to run a railway up the Findon Valley but it fell through.    See my narrative Findon Nearly Had A Railway Station

Many Findonians go to the shops at King's Parade in Findon Valley but I doubt if they realise that before 1963 there were picturesque flower beds (roses) and trees stretching along the length of the Parade.    This green and pleasant scene uprooted to provide the lay-by for us to park our cars outside the shops.... what would we do without now?   

Continue to read The Train Takes the Strain

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