 The Findon Sheep Fair in the past by E. Lakeman. (date unknown) |
THIS IS FINDON VILLAGE ― These Findon Chronicles are created by Valerie Martin and are progressively growing to be the only record of life around Findon, West Sussex, England. Everyday stories about real people..... in fact, a potted history of the village. The topics today, are the history of tomorrow.
The Findon Sheep Fair in the past by E. Lakeman. (date unknown) |
THE SHEEP FAIR IN FINDON in 2012
Copyright Valerie Martin 2012
The following are some scenes from the Great Findon Sheep Fair 0f 78 years ago when "great" really meant Great.....
8.500 sheep penned on Nepcote Green in September 1934
Shepherds George Chant on the left, with George Humphreys. (No idea who the girl is!)
George Humphreys on the same day in 1934.
The Sheep Fair one year later....
Below are some memories of the Sheep Fair in 1935. The "Host Farmer" for 1935 and 1936 was Albert Short Junior of Findon Farm....
Albert Short Junior on Nepcote Green in 1935.
Not a scene you would see today. Two old shepherds at the fair enthralling the girls of the day in 1935. George Chant is on the left and George Humphreys on the right.
DID YOU KNOW.... OR DID YOU NOT KNOW..... (1) That the well behind the old Wattle House was a catchment well and did not contain fresh water.
(2) The Wattle House did not have a concrete floor or a wooden boarded floor.
......was built with a hard packed chalk floor on the Ground Floor.
At the moment the Sheep Fair for 2012 seems an eternity away but be assured, it will come round again and the fairground lorries will be rolling onto Nepcote Green and tents will be pitched. I am really dancing on the ball this year and have the data set out for you early.....
FACTS: Venue date Saturday 8th September 2012.
10.30 a.m. The Sheep Fair opens with the Harris Brothers traditional fair. During the day there will be other entertainments such as Punch and Judy as usual.
AT THE TOP OF THE GREEN (that's the east side if you don't know your top from our bottom).
Sheep Judging
MAIN ARENA:
10.30 a.m. 12.30 and 4 p.m. An old favourite....History of Sheep,
plus shearing.
11 am. and 2 p.m. Falconry
12 noon and 2.30 p.m. Heavy Horses
3 p.m. Sheep Parade
4.30 p.m. Village Tug of War
This organisation will be on Nepcote Green on Sheep Fair Day....
http://www.sussexexpress.co.uk/news/local/sussex-search-and-rescue-10th-birthday-1-3784721
TODAY'S INTERESTING QUESTION in readiness
for this year's Sheep Fair......
Why don't sheep shrink when it rains?
The following is a description of the flourishing Sheep Fair of 49 years ago.... when auctioning was big business.....
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A warm and sunny day greeted the annual Sheep Fair, which was as usual held on Nepcote Green, on Saturday, 14th. September, 1963. It was a record year for entries, with 18,000 ewes and lambs, and 675 rams and ram lambs. Mr. E. Pye of Shrewsbury was the owner of the champion shearling ram, which gained the top prize of 70 guineas. Trade varied, but on the whole was about the same as last year. Receipts, however, were up on last year by as much as 25% Buyers and sellers came from all over the South and South-West, and as far as the Midlands, Derbyshire and Wales, but the number of spectators was less, mainly because farmers were busy with the harvest while the fine weather lasted. |
BE EXTREMELY CAUTIOUS at the Findon Sheep Fair in September.....
I did not realize how serious identity theft has become ...
THIS IS FINDON VILLAGE — is a continually growing record created by Valerie Martin exclusively for documenting life in Findon.
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Do let me know of anything you hear about Findon - not too controversial. Please note that opinions expressed in the Findon Chronicles are not necessarily reflective of my own thoughts.... but sometimes they are! |
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