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.

NELLIE AND HAROLD HEARD AT MUNTHAM COURT from 1948-1955

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Nellie and Harold in June 2010

Copyright Valerie Martin 2011

In July 2011 I was absolutely delighted to receive an email from Nellie and Harold Heard of Guildford... it is only on rare occasions that I receive such interesting information from ex-Findonians.

"Dear Valerie.... Muntham Court...
We have just come across your website about Muntham and were delighted to read of its history. My husband, Harold Heard was engaged as an under gardener by Mr Patmore ( the head gardener)to work for Colonel Thynne.  We were there from 1948 UNTIL 1955. We lived at East Lodge and three of our four children were born there. The eldest was born at Worthing hospital but the next two were actually born in East Lodge, being delivered by Nurse Day.

The lodge was in no way modern., the kitchen and the scullery at the back being half below ground level. There was no drainage at all and any water used from the one cold water tap in the scullery, was caught in a bucket under the sink and carried up five stone steps and across the yard to an outside drain. Water for washing clothes and bathing was heated in a copper. There was an open fire in the kitchen ,with an oven above it, but it was very difficult to get it hot enough to bake in.  I used a Primus stove a lot.  After some time, ColonelThynne had a Calor Gas Cooker installed, but charged extra on the rent for its use.

Upstairs the sitting room looked out on the entrance to the drive. with the Seville gates and rose beds on either side. The two bedrooms were at the back. There was no gas or electricity, lighting being done by oil lamps.

As the rooms were very cold, we took our baths in a hip bath in front of the sitting room fire, afterwards tipping the water out of the front door on to the rose beds. Colonel Thynne was often heard to remark how well the roses were looking.!!!!

We enjoyed your account of the history of the Seville gates. It was my husbands duty to lock those gates every evening at 9.30pm, unless any of the family were to be out late, in which case he would be informed by Mr Patmore.

We too remember Pharaoh the golden retriever. Sometimes Colonel Thynne would come down the drive in his electric chair accompanied by his dog and on reaching the lodge, Pharaoh would be told to "sit and stay," while the Colonel went up to North End to post a letter, and he would sit there obediently without moving, waiting his masters return.  We were at Muntham Court when Mrs Thynne died and my husband remembers that the gardeners lined the grave with ivy before the buriel.

Other members of staff when we were there were. the other under gardener Fred Randall and Bill Maple who both lived at Ivy cottages, Mr Pratt the keeper, Micky Laker, a groom and Albert and Jessie Hards.

A Mr Simpson, who had a florist shop in Worthing, used to buy bales of cupressus from Muntham to back his wreathes, and every year just before Mothering Sunday, Barbara Randall and I would pick dozens of bunches of primroses in the woods and snowdrops from the orchard below the Stables, for him to sell  to the children for their Mothers.  We have a very nice coloured picture of the Judas Tree in all its glory.

Your website has brought back so many memories. We visited there a few years ago but my husband was so saddened to know that the garden he took so much pride in ,was no more.  My husband and I are 85 AND 84 now and we live in Guildford.
Best Wishes from Nellie and Harold Heard".

I told Nellie and Harold that I could quite understand how saddened they were by the state of the lovely grounds upon their return.   Even I am saddened and I didn’t see it in its glory.

The demolition of such a lovely mansion would not be allowed today .... but the 1960s was a time for getting rid of the old and bringing in the new. I wonder what would have happened if the sale had gone through to Diana Dors!  It is hardly worth thinking about is it.

FROM PAM STEPNEY IN FINDON.....  "Muntham Court.... We were sad when the old lodge was pulled down. My father always said he should have bought it and done it up.

When we were last in Scotland I found out we were only a few miles from Flichity House near Inverness which was the home of Colonel Thynne`s second wife. He must have lived there with her for a time as she did not want to leave it to come south. I have a picture of it which I will send you. Pam".

And here it is....

   click to enlarge images

I do not have a date for this (c.1950?) but it commemorates the Members of the Worthing and West Sussex Horticultural Society visit to Muntham Court by invitation of Colonel Ulric Oliver Thynne.   He was the Vice-President of the Society.  It was said at the time that flowering shrubs and trees were a speciality.   This was during Nellie and Harold's tenure at Muntham Court and it looks like an early spring day to me by the dress of the Members..... decidedly chilly?

Above is Colonel Thynne with his Yellow Labrador, Pharaoh, at the time he entertained the Members of the Worthing and West Sussex Horticultural Society.

At the Colonel and Marjory Thynne's Golden Wedding Anniversary, all the staff at Muntham Court assembled in the Dining Room to toast the couple.   (Date unsure but it was early in the 1950s).  They had been married at St. George's, Hanover Square in London.   It was now their turn to receive over 40 telegrams and congratulation cards.   They came from all walks of life..... the Ladies Association of Worthing Hospital, Worthing Ladies Luncheon Club, Findon Women's Institute, patients of the Home of the Convent at Nepcote, Findon Dramatic Society, Matron and patients at Gifford House and the Society of Sussex Downsmen.    The patients of the Convent at Nepcote where Marjory Thynne paid regular visits to read to them, also sent a book token.

Among the many presents was included a television set from their three children.... a coveted possession in those days.     There were six golden teaspoons from the indoor staff, an off-white ornamental flower vase from the outdoor staff with 30 pink carnations from their children.

The Colonel and his wife in return gave their two sons and daughter a present of gold match boxes, also their son-in-law and daughter-in-law.    A family dinner party followed to round off the day.

Continue if you would like to read about Albert and Jessie   

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.