THIS IS FINDON VILLAGE — the Findon Chronicles are created by Valerie Martin and contain great stories from her home village of FINDON, West Sussex, U.K.    Everyday tales about real people...... in fact, a potted history of the village.   The topics today, are history tomorrow.

THE DUG CART RACE — “There’s nowt so queer as folk”

for the Michelgrove clock

Copyright Valerie Martin 2011

Published in Sussex Local in August 2011

A Pigeon House was constructed on the Michelgrove Estate on the hillside at some period between 1755 and 1768 and consisted of two storeys at the time.   The building was of flint and cement with some rendering and was square, each storey being narrower than the one previous.  It became a landmark and was reported to be "very productive" and dozens of the birds were sent to other residences owned by the family ...... on one occasion in 1768 some even went to servants it is said.  

After 1800 (during the time of the Walker family in residence at Michelgrove), a third storey was added to make the Pigeon House into a Clock Tower.  

Here's an interesting little tale, whether it is true or not, I cannot now tell for sure.   When the Clock Tower fell into disuse, it is said by some that in 1860 a Dung Cart Race was organised between some of the neighbouring parishes (I'm not sure if Findon was, in fact, included in this merry event or not) and the prize was to be the clock from the Tower.      When the big day came, the race was won by a farmer from Steyning..... and that is how the Steyning High Street now  our splendid clock on one of its properties in the High Street.    This is such a fantastic tale that I cannot believe that there is an element of truth in it ― for why on earth would anyone bother to make up such a tale?  

Other records which are no where near as interesting merely state that the clock was given to Steyning in 1860 by the Duke of Norfolk on the demolition of the house at Michelgrove..... with no mention as to why he should have singled out Steyning for his donation. 

I prefer my own version of the events with manure carts in 1860.

In May 2010, I heard from John J. Fisher of Worthing...."The Michelgrove Clock Tower featured recently on your 'Additions page. This time I have searched through my old photographs hoping to find the ones taken in the early 1950s. The prints appear to be missing but I did find the negatives.

           click to enlarge John's excellent pics from the 1950s..

So, here they are taken with my Kodak Box Brownie and they look excellent for a 1920s camera.

I was on a walk with Miss Dunkerly, our Sunday School teacher from the Findon Valley Free Church, which was then just off Vale Drive. Miss Dunkerly's father was the late author John Oxenham and she lived with her sister in Heather Lane High Salvington. She was a great story teller and during the school holidays she would take us on days out 'exploring'. During the winter months, perhaps at half term, we would go up to her bungalow where the two sisters had many Victorian and Edwardian games from their own childhood. She was a remarkable lady, well into her sixties, and we were young teenage boys eager to hear about Shackleton, David Livingstone and James Chalmers of Papua. Or maybe it was the chewing gum her sister received from relatives and friends in Canada!    John"

In the 1940s, the army used the Michelgrove area for their notorious manoeuvres and the Clock Tower was partly demolished when it became the victim of so-called "friendly fire" being used in target practices by the military.   I am told it stood in ruins until the 1950s.   By 1970, it was reduced to a heap of stones.

Continue if you would like to read about The Mysterious Building off Michelgrove Lane

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