a presentationby the HydestileAnimal Hospital after the CHAIRMAN'S REPORT Businessmeeting. Everyone is welcome. Vanessa The past year has providedthe usual mixtureof planning Lowndes applicationsand villageprojects. The paper and bottle banksare now situatedin the car park of the Hall, Bucks Green. We are assured by SouthernWater that a permanentsolution to our water supplyproblem is GASKYNSPOND beingdesigned and will be completedbefore next Over two years ago the PreservationSociety started summer'speak demand period. discussionswith west county councirwith the The Society now holds the licence for the Gaskyns Pond view of taking over the licenceto maintain Gaskyns pond. and there is more aboutthis in the next column.We are At long last, and with a file of correspondencesome two very gratefulto LeslieHawkins for all his hard work in inchesthick, the licencehas now been approved. gettingthis project under way - it has not been easy. The Pond is shown on old maps of Rudgwickand in more It is hoped that the projectto publish Diana Chatwin's recent times it was a pond in the comer of the orchard of 'Gaskyns' book on timberframed buildingsin the Parishwill come to (now PennthorpeSchool). When the Gaskyns fruitiontowards the end of this year. lt has meant a Close housingwas builtby Croudaceabout 30 years ago tremendouscommitment from Dianawith the supportof a Croudace concretedthe bottom.We were able to inspect sub-committeefrom the Society.We are indebtedto Ken this in the summerwhen the pond dried up and it is stiil in Croninfor his helpwith the photography.The book will excellentcondition. Croudace, however, are still make an excellentChristmas present. technicallythe owners but transferredthe rights of maintenanceto the CountyCouncil Highways The Rudgwickprogramme of guidedwalks underthe Department. Underthe HighwaysAct 1980 County auspicesof the West SussexCounty Council was Councilshave the rightto transferresponsibility for extremelysuccessful last year. There is another full maintenanceof Highwayland to 'adjacentlandowners' programmein 1996 but you will now haveto pay 50p for 'free' underlicence. Two problemsarose however- the pond the officiallist. See our newsletter(p7) for the list of was not technicallyconsidered to be highwaysland walks startingin Rudgwick. and the PreservationSociety was not an 'adjacentlandowner'. There has been another busy year in the Planning However eventually these difficultieswere overcome and Departmentwith approximately73 applicationsrelevant to we now have the licence.One final difficultyemerged last Rudgwickduring 1995 and we commentedon most of autumn,just as we thoughtwe were there.The Council them. The applicationto buildfour new housesat Ridge, requiredus to take out publicliability insurance which we Church Streetwas refusedand we await further plans to thoughtwe wouldn'tbe able to afford.We have overcome be submittedor for it to go to appeal, Plans have been this by joiningthe BritishTrust for Conservation lodgedfor two attachedhouses to the rear of L'Antico, Volunteerswhich will not only give us valuabletechnical BucksGreen and for the originalbuildings to be returned supportbut will also enable us to provideinsurance at to two dwellings.We are againstback land development reasonablecost. in principleand have made our objectionsknown to Overthe years the pond had builtup a largeamount of HorshamDistrict Council. We have not objectedto silt in the bottomand the surroundshad becomevery L'Anticoreturning to its originalstate and have suggested overgrown.We were hoping to make a start at clearingit it mightreturn to its originalname of Snoxalls. and diggingout the silt at the end of last summerwhen There are two sites in the Parish,outside the defined the pond was dry. Unfortunatelythe Societywasn't built-uparea, which are both up for development.The first allowedto becauseof the insuranceproblems, but again of these is the land adjacentto the police House in Bucks a way aroundthis was found.Thanks to Neil Mitchelland Greenand the otherone is land nextto Woodfalls, his countrysidevolunteers we were able to make a good LoxwoodRoad, Tismans Common. We are strongly start and in Octoberwe were able to clear much of the opposedto both.The majorityof planningapplications are surroundingshrub and dig the silt intotwo largemounds smalland non-controversial,but we have commentedon in the centre which we hope might attractducks to nest. most of them. My thanksgoes to Judy Knightsfor her We now look forward to restoringthe pond to be an hard work and constantvisits to the planning Office. attractivefeature and a valuablewildlife habitat. OurA.G.M.will take placeon Monday2gth April, 1996 at the RudgwickHall, Bucks Green, at 7.30pm.There will be Leslie Hawkins

RPS NEWSLETTER SPRING1996 I have not discoveredwho took over BrickkilnFarm from BRICKKILN FARM AND LOCAL StephenKnight until 1871, by whichtime the holdinghad BRICKMAKING been increasedto 120 acres,and was occupiedby CharlotteRiddle, widow aged 67, with her three Continuing the story of Brickkiln farm from unmarriedsons, William50, Francts42, James 25, and the Autumn A/ewsletter farm servantRichard Hampshire 32. BrickkilnCottage was occupiedby MauriceWoodhatch 47 , his wife, three By Alan Siney childrenand lodgerJames Puttock 48. In 1879Denzil To returnto the tithe map: it was fascinatingto carryout a Onslow,the Lord of the Manor,died on his estateat lengthysurvey and see nearlyevery piece of bank Great Staughtonin Huntingdonshire,and his large separatingroads, fields and gardens,intact and precisely holdingsin this areawere possiblysplit up and sold,or as shown, in this respectthe area must be almostunique. this was in the processof being arranged.However, in About 400 yards north-westof BrickkilnFarm was a 1881 BrickkilnFarm was stilla capitalholding of 120 clusterof buildingsopen to the road belongingto the acres, but with a new occupant,John Knight,a widower farm. From the size of the oak trees borderingthe top of 64 with his four sons and two daughtersbetween 18 edge of Barn Fieldthey must have been demolishedat and 33. Another resident,George Botting,a labourer least a centuryago. The large pond by the site of aged 51, had taken up occupancyof Brickkilnbarn. At WoodhouseFarm was there two centuriesago, no doubt this time the cottagewas occupied by Stephen Steer with made as a fish pond primarilyto lay carp on the his wife and son, both men being agriculturallabourers. gentleman'stable. The smallfarm pond lies very close on This historynow comes to that inevitableblank when the other side of the track.Just beyond the rear bank of recordedhistory ends and human memory begins: CousinsCottage garden lay the remainsof two largepear (censusreturns are only made publicafter 100 years)a trees on what was ChilbeamOrchard. ln 1842Cousins periodwhen local historycan usuallyonly come from Cottage was let to William Sheperd of FarnfoldFarm, and documents kept in privatehands and are so often thrown the road runningthrough it was called FarnfoldLanes. Yet away by relativesduring a clear-out.Arthur Barnettof I could find no single farm or homestead listed by that Tisman'sCommon recallsthat his father,who was born in name on the tithe apportionmentschedule. lt seemedto 1900,and livedin CousinsCottage for a time, oftenwent refer to large areas of land to the west and south, all down to Pephurstto watch them at work up to the period owned by the Lord of the Manor, and let to several precedingWorld War One. He was told that in the latter farmers. years the site was mainlyinvolved with makingland drain Who were the people who lived and worked at Brickkiln pipes ratherthan bricks.This is probablywhy the kilnwas tarm? The recordsare by no means complete as the able to keep workingafter most, if not all, small census returns often do not give a precise address, brickworkshad closed down. Before the turn of the 20th merelystating the locality.Indeed, there are signsthat century large brickworkshad evolved, using the more some illiterateoccupiers simply did not know the name of efficientcoal burningclamp system.They had power their cottage.In 1851Jesse Woodhatch, his wife,four driven pug mills,which not only mixed the clay,but also daughtersand his widowedmother livedat "Brickkiln extrudedunder great pressurein rectangularcolumns, Cottageor CousinsCottage". lf the enumerator,who had which only needed cutting off to length.Also they had to visit and fill out the forms was confused as to which solvedthe transportproblem: steam tractionengines was which, then we today have more reason to be so. could haul up to thirty tons five or six miles in an hour. Arthur said that the concretehard standingon the site Knight Farm By 1851 Stephen had left Brickkiln with his was laid to set up a saw bench rack producingtimber - were wife Sarah they eventuallyto have three sons and duringWorld War Two. Severalhouses (includingthe and moved Tisman's three daughters to Glovers at Cricketers)were built at Tisman's Common after the on which he took a 1000 year leasehold Common, 1851-54enclosures and it would be reasonableto occupiedit assignmentand to the end of his days. He assume that many housesbuilt in and around Rudgwick as a brickmaker 1851,1861 was listed on the and 1871 from the 1830"sto the turn of this centurywere builtwith census,evidently operating Pephurst Kiln all this time, as Pephurstbricks. by 1881,being 73 years of age and no longerworking, a new brickmakerhad moved into Pephurst Farm,Alfred As for the farmhouseand cottages at Brickkiln,they were Phillipsaged 38, employingtwo men and a boy.By 1891, to become part of the PallinghurstEstate. After so many still listed as a brickmaker,he had moved to Farnfoldand years of occupationby poor labourers,modest hard a new brickmaker,George Randle, had moved in at working tenant farmers, and neglected by absentee Pephurst.Other brickmakersnames also appear;in 1851 landlords,they were decaying.Cousins Cottage was the SarahThayne, pauper, (she was on parishrelief) the first to fall. This cottagefeatures very little in this history: widow of a brickmaker,occupied the cottage at nearby there is documentaryevidence to prove its name but only BulhamsFarm and two brickmakers,George Thayne and one mentionof it in the censusreturns. lt was probablyin his son David,are shownto be in 1861 at'Bittles' the entriesvaguely addressed as "Barnsfold".Arthur Brickyard,whilst a John Thayne operateda kiln on New Barnett says he cannot rememberthe old cottagewhere PoundCommon. his father had livedas a boy, so it seems the remainshad been cleared before World War Two.The childhood

RPS NEWSLETTI..R SPRING 1996 memoriesof Vera Jones are being published.Her story of the westem Weald, even on cold February nights. Her life at BrickkilnFarm is the most fascinatinghistory of all, messagewas conveyed by the beauty of her voice, the an insightinto existencerarely recordedin the past. Had love and joy it expressedand perhapsespecially by the she liveda centuryearlier it would have been quite similar excellenceof her photography.That many of her listeners with littlechange of lifestyle,except of course, she would struggleswith her strong Sussex accent is secondary. probablycompletely illiterate and unable to have been Doriswas a giftedwildlife photographer and her slide recordher story for posterity,or to persuade others to do collectionmust be of considerablesignificance. Her so. techniquewas simple,relying on completemastery of the The last occupantsof BrickkilnFarm were the Linscott equipmentshe used (Practicacamera with 80mm macro family who were evacuatedfrom Croydon during the war. and fill-inflash). She travelledthroughout Britain and Keith Linscottwho lives in Rudgwick,says that his uncle lrelandon wildlifephotography tours for many years,in a occupied the cottage - latterly referred to as the Keepers tiny old campervan. She neverwent alone, making Cottage- which fell into disuse before the farmhouse. In detoursto pick up someoneunable to drive, impoverished October 1952 they were rehousedin Rudgwick.The or withouta car. Duringher last summer she drove up to farmhousesoon became derelict,sections of the roof the north of Scotland and back, with companionsof cavedin, and in about 1974the ruinswere demolished. course. It may appear selfish, but we can feel satisfiedtoday that PrimarilyDoris was a botanistwith a penchantfor adders, these old buildingswere not renovated,as they would but her love for butterfliesgrew steadilyfrom 1976 otherwisenow probablybe reached by a tarmac road onwards and they were the main focus of her attention and perhapsother housesbuilt around the site.As it is during the latter years of her life. Most of us have a we have this very quiet place and the almost unique butterflywhich is special to us. With Doris it was the experienceof walkingalong an old road that has changed Brown Hairstreak.From 1977 onwards she spent must very littlefor several centuries. sunnyAugust and Septemberdays watchingthese elusivebutterflies at Noar Hilland in particular tryingto photographlaying females. lt was not in the least ironic that the Brown Hairstreakshould undergo an annus Sussexand Beyond mirabilisthere the season after her death, for the A Tribute to Doris Ashby remarkable1995 Noar Hill Brown Hairstreakemergence was the DorisAshby MemorialFlight, an appropriate Members will r*all that Doris Ashby gave us a talk in November tributeto her. 1993. The quality of her wild life photography, her underctanding of Iocal nature and her Sussex dial*t made it a truly memorable Those of us who new Doris have only to close their eyes Autumn m*ting. lt is with great sadness that we r*ord her death to hear her lovelyvoice again.We are not apart.Those with this tribute from Mathew Oates. who never met her can stillget to know her by viewinglife Last SpringDoris Ashby died suddenlyat her home in the way she did. Midhurstafter returningfrom an afternoonwatching - Trust adders.Her doctorhad advisedher to go down a gear; Matthew Oates. Chief Entomologist National but being Doris,and beingspring, she did the opposite. She was 73 years youngand arguablyone of the most competentall-round naturalists of our time. lt was Doris, OLDCOUNTRY of course,who discoveredthe FairyShrimps at Noar Hill- a most obscureanimal in those days. FOLK This is not to say that Doriswas an expert. She abhorred Thefollowing is an abstractfrom 'Old West Surrey' by Gertrude the ideaof naturalistsbeing anything more than novices Jeckyll(publishers Kohler and Coombes Ltd, Dorking 1978). and was particularlywary of scientists,ecologists, conservationofficers, management plans and other " ln some villages the older forms of amusement were of trappingsof the modernnature conservation movement. a very rough kind. There was a traditional fight that took She drew few distinctionsbetween man, beast and plant; place on Whit Monday, between the Kaffirs - no doubt a all livingthings were fairlyequal to her. This explainswhy quite recent comtption of Cavaliers - of Hill she enjoyedsuch depth of relationshipwith her pets, (now Pitch Hill) ,n the parishof Ewhurst, and the notablyCathy her Batterseadog, her depth of feeling Diamond-topped Roundheads of Rudgwick, a village iust againstblood sportsand probablywhy she was secretary over fhe Sussex border. lt always took place at the of the localbranch of the LabourParty for many years. Donkey /nn (now the Boy and Donkey) af Cranleigh. Intellectuallyshe was a socialistnaturalist; spiritually she ln former times there were no doubt, many such fights in was a pilgrimin the worldof nature. different panshes; they seruedto let off the superfluous The daughterof a gardener,Doris spent all her life in youthful steam that now finds an outlet in cicket and Midhurst,working as a gardenerand as a petrolpump football; but this particular fight between the Cavaliers and attendant.Her realwork thoughwas in communicating Roundheads uzasfought on Whit Monday only." her deep love of naturethrough her wildlifetalks. For two Extract from:- Chapter 12. Old Country Folk; Some of their ways. decadesDoris Ashby's talks filled village halls throughout RPS NEWSLETTER SPRING1996 Bom in Rudgwick,Reynall Cotton was educatedat Reynall Cotton (1717- 1779) WinchesterCollege (whence, no doubt,his song'sclassical allusions),and at CorpusChristi College, Oxford By Malcolm Francis (matriculatingin 1735). To be elected Presidentof the HambledonClub was a Subsequently,he openeda preparatoryschool at signalhonour, and the Club'srecords show only one Parson Winchester,known, from 1772onwards, as HydeAbbey prepared pupils "the threepublic as so honoured:Reynall Cotton, who was bornin Rudgwick, School;at it he his for (Winchester, ?). lt was in elderson of theVicar, in 1717. schools" Etonand Westminster keepingwith his convivialitythat he organisedOld Boys' The HambledonClub holds a uniqueposition in the historyof Dinners.The Advertisementof the 1773Anniversary Meeting cricket.A villageorganisation, with its headquarters (51-a head,at the GeorgeInn, Winchester; dinner on the remoteBroad Halfpenny Down in to be on the tableat 3 p.m.)has this Hampshire,it first broughtthe game to JI,, addedinterest that it showsthat national andwas the eminence, IOTTOIMilIORIAI, MATCH one of the four stewardswas Mr. forerunnerof the MCC(founded in REYNTLL CarewGauntlett, an activemember 17e7\.In its heyday,its players of the HambledonClub, a contendedsuccessfully with the Winchesterwine merchantwhose chosenrepresentatives of the rest of RUDGWICKC.C. firm for manyyears supplied the

England. l.6jlas Clubwith its port and sherry.He died in 1776- threeyears before Its recordsare sadlyincomplete. lt Rev. DA\/ID SHEPPARD'S,.I 1750,and in the his friendand formermaster, was foundedabout - ' i':s_' 1: . l first20 yearsof its existenceit played ReynallCotton. againstSussex, Surrey, . In The Rudgwickrecords are yet moie 1769-70,however, it was on the brink incompletethan Hambledon's!lt of dissolution,having, as John Nyren can onlybe assumedthat cricket 'had wrote, a run of ill-success."lts was playedhere in Cotton's supportersdecided to try once more, boyhood,though from tithemaps and its one-runvictory over Surreyin and memoriesit is possibleto September,1771, confirmed them in compilequite a listof fieldswhich theirpurpose. All the greaterhonour havebeen cricket fields. was it to be its Presidentfor the year 1773.We do not knowwho preceded The earliestrecorded match is our Parson,nor yet who filledthe post referredto in the Diaryof John place afterhim tillthe Dukeof Chandosdid Bakeras taking on 3rd May, "Went so in 1777. 1775: to cricketmatch on BroadbridgeHeath between The Club'sactivities were not Shinfold(sic) and Rudgewick(sic)." confinedto cricket.lts Tuesday Ackrortdam.a, It au. ,o J Sa!ck., Etq . A furthermatch of interestis one lor rhit t.D.od\ctlo^ ol a llthoa'oDh meetings(beginning with the ftrstin b, loh^ C. A^d.rto^'.rrct lEJ,. betweenRudgwick and Henfieldon May)were for businessand social CO 3rd June,1840, which Rudgwick purposesas well as practice.In those Oouuetnr troqrattlnrc (50 49).The 0 won by one run against days cricketwas closelyassociated '1hq 23' t95e score-sheetcontains names still very withsong, and alsowith wine and familiarin the Parish:Botting, Butcher, Onc Sbiltilg and Sixpcnce wagers.("Wine, Cricket and Song,'declared Churchman,lreland, Napper. lt shouldperhaps E.V.Lucas, was the mottoof the Hambledonmen.) lt is be addedthat Rudgwickwas strengthenedby the safe to assumethat the Rev. ReynallCotton did not owe his inclusionof a well-knownplayer from Wisborough Green - electiononly to his prowesson the field- of which,indeed, WilliamEvershed, who bowledround-arm and was a good littleis known.Of onlyone matchin whichhe playeddoes field.lt had been plannedto replaythis matchin 1(M0,but the score survive.Hambledon lost by six wicketsto Surrey war preventedthis. on 23rdAugust, 1773; "Mr. Bartholomew's notches are backedfor a largesum of moneyagainst Mr. Cotton's."Alas, The presentRudgwick Club was constitutedin 1896,and Mr. Bartholomewnotched 5 in his one innings;Mr. Cotton,in has playedregularly since that date so far as wars have his two for Hambledon,only 0 and2. permitted.The presentground was acquiredin 1939with the aid of a handsomegrant by the NationalPlaying Fields ReynallCotton's enduring claim to fame restson the Cricket Associationand a munificentanonymous gift of f 1,000.lt is Songwhich he wrotein 1767to celebratea Hampshire the propefl of the Parish,in the centreof which it is victory over Kent. (Later,a slightlydifferent version was situated. put out - by a Kentishman? - to celebratea Kentish victoryover Hampshire.)The HambledonClub thoughtso highlyof the song that they adoptedit, and in 1790 Extractfrom the SouvenirProgramme of the ReynallCotton decidedto have it glazedand framed and hung in the MemorialMatch between Rev.David Sheppard'sXl and CricketClub Room,and a hundredcopies printed. lt was Rudgwick Cricket Club on 23rd May, 1959 sungto the then popularbut now losttune of "KingJohn and the Abbotof Canterbury." RPS NEWSLETTER SPRING1996 Amongst the notes that he made are records of chance Memoriesof Monkton meetingswith old residentsof the village.Those recorded in the early part of this century with very old people give Hook us a vital insightinto the world of the nineteenthcentury, the era in whichthose older inhabitantsgrew up. By Vera Jones Below are just couple of extracts ftom the note books, a uniquecollection of villagememorabilia that thankfullyhas I can recallMonkton Hook Farmhousefrom my childhood been preserved: as a lovelybig old house with a tree-lineddrive leadingto "Village it. I was 10 years old at the time and this would have Stocks:These used to be at the bottom of Church been about 1938.Our family livednearby in Brickkiln Hill,opposite Church Hill House.James Tate (my uncle) Farm, of which a few bricks and roof timbersstill remain sawed off the stumps and was paid 2 pence by the on a derelictsite. The house had sash cord windows with Churchwarden,old Sendall.He was also the butcherand shuttersand was covered in hanging ivy or some type of fet his sheep run all over the churchyardto graze." climbingshrub. Madge, my older sister,my younger "June 8th 1932. I ran againstEphraim Sheppard in brotherBob and I often walked throughthe lanes to see LynwickStreet. He is now 77 years of age, very intelligent Mr and Mrs Bedellwho lived there. They were a lovely old brain in good condition.He statesthat he was born in the couple but quite reservedI suppose. Sadly Mrs Bedell last house down Lynwick Street, close to Steve lreland died and for a while the old man stayedthere. He then (aged 84). Sheppard married Steve's sister.Sheppard moved to Tismans Common to be looked after by a dear told me that his father, Daniel Perryer and William Saxe old lady, Mrs Garman,who cared for older sick people at of enlisted in the army at Guildfordon the HighviewVillas. I well rememberwhen we were children same day. Sheppardand Saxe went intothe East India passingMrs Garman'shouse on our way to schooland Regt.,Daniel Perryer went into the GrenadierGuards. waving to the old gentlemanwho sat in the bedroom EphrainSheppard has in his possesiona Biblegiven to window. his father on enlistment;his father has written on a leaf 'Marched OppositeMonkton Hook Farmhouse,by the lanes,was from Guildfordto London,Jan. 1821,on a cold anotherlovely big house,Monkton Hook Cottage,where snowymorning.'The Bible is stillin goodcondition and he Mr and Mrs Covey lived with their family. Mr Covey was very much wanted me to have it. Sheppard(Ephraim's gamekeeperto Pallinghurst. father) went out to Botany Bay, Australiaas a guard to a convictship in the 1830'sand then went on a surveytour. SadlyMonkton Hook Farmhousefell into decayand He states the nativeswere entirelynaked but very no-one livedthere after the Bedells moved out. Nothing friendly.After doing his time in the Army, Sheppardcame remainsnow of the farmhouse,but MonktonHook out as a Pay Sergeantwith a pensionof 14 shillingsa Cottagewhich also fell into decay and was demolished, week, and lived down at the old workhouse(Fox Inn) still has a few bricks and debris left to mark the site. I where he was the last master before it closed in 1844, rememberas childrengoing into the ruinsof the old and afterwardshe moved up to LynwickStreet." farmhouse,shouting and listeningto our echos.What "Sheppard memoriesI have of it to this day. I haven't been up there had a cider mill and he said my grandfather probablysince I was 14 years old. and Jim Freemancame roundevery Sundaymorning. The Rev. Matthews,then Vicar of Rudgwickused often to Note: Monkton Hook is just over the Surrey border NW of Tismans. come down; he was Chaplainto the East India Regt, A footpath from Pephurst Farm, on the Bucks Green to Loxwood with road, runs due North through Brickkiln and then onto Monkton Sheppard,before becoming Vicar of Rudgwick.The Miss Hook. Anyone interested in seeing this area should join Judy and Nelsonsof the Parsonagealso used to come down,they ilichael Knighb on their guided walk on May 2{st. (see p7). were cousins of Lord Nelson of Trafalgar, and were 'very nice peoplewith no silly pride."' 'Reverend "Sheppard also recalled that Matthews was Vittage Joffings once attackedby nawies working on the constructionof the new railway,as he walkd up LynwickStreet, money By Malcolm Francis had been demanded.The culpritswere caught,by a Policemannamed Haines,who in those days wore a top ^r hat! The Vicarwas a very generousman and gave all his \-rharleyTate, who was born in Rudgwickat the end of moneyto the poor." the last century,has been writtenabout in a previous Newsletter.He was a great uncle of my wife and following Rev.Matthews, Vicar of Rudgwick from 1A3g- 1865,is commemorated his death his notebooksof jottingsof historicar/interesting in a stainedg/ass window in the chancet of Rudgwick Church, c/ose to the facts about Rudgwickcame into our possesion.Charley organ, and oppo.site/ies a memorial window dedicatedfo rlfiss AdetaideNelson. A Tate lovedRudgwick and had planned always to write a fitting foot-note to the above story. book aboutit, hencethe notebooks,but sadly he died suddenlybefore he achievedthis ambition.

RPS NEWSLETTER SPRING1996 [,&}STHOUSES ''... a Ghatwin'sbook on timberframed buildings in Rudgwickis makinggood progrcss.In it she will outlinethe history i, ' structureof some 30 housesin detailand another60 or so in outline.We hope the book will be availableby next ,ristmas.The housesincluded, however, represent those that remainand are no doubtthose that werethe better ,rlity.We knowvery littleabout those houses that have long sincebeen lost.In the mainthey were probablythe 1.,,.)rer quality buildings, but this is not ah,vaysthe case.Vera Jones,in this issueof the Newsletter,gives us her memoriesof MonktonHook Houseand MonKonHook Cottage. These were almostcertainly substantial dwellings and we knownothing about the reasonsfor theirdemise. However there were also manycottages and poorerhouses that havesimply decayed to the pointthey were no longerhabitable. Alan Siney'sarticle on BrickkilnFarm shows how suchcottages had beendemomolished up to the 1960's.Some houseswere lost by accident,usually by fire. Malcolm Francishas recordsof a housein BaynardsLane, at the edge of BaynardsPark. This housewith its own moat,was burntdown in Mctoriantimes. He alsoknows of anothercottage near Park Farmwhich was demolishedearly this century.For manyyears two applestrees were all that was left to markthe site. In Malcolm'sfamily records there is mentionby CharleyTate of a housecalled Cox Green Housethat was on the comer of BaynardsLane and long since demolished.

The photograph to the left is of a house that was opposite Hawkridge in Church Street. This was already in a poor state of repair in 1905when this picture was taken. lt is likely that this was the home of a blacksmith; the shed that is next to !f:=.:';t*- it in the picture was 'Upper rl---ij::*. the Smithy', ': '- l. which survived as a useful building until five years ago.

And does anyone know where this house might have been ? The picture is taken from a watercolour simply titled 'Rudgwick 1876'. (Courtesy Mr Alan Mercer) dcilrrr uJ cr Ef.lr ltllS lrr frc rclrrLyn fifl2'colcc 0rlrrr Lt t r.ttLJ

RPS NEWSLETTER SPRING1996 toThe School Outingtt 1952 By MalcolmFrancis RudgwickStation was the sceneof great excitemenl,a lot of childrenfrom Rudgwickrlere going on a schooltrip to Portsmouthand children were arriving from all partsof the parish.I was aboutI yearsold at the timeand, along with my friends,was looking fotward to this adventure.My fatherhad taken me to the stationin the family'sfirst car, a 1930'sSinger (therewere a lot of pre-warcars still around in the 1950's). The traincould be heardclanking down the linefrom Baynards and we couldhardly wait for it to stop beforeclimbing aboar Our accompanyingteachers had a hardjob to checkour enthusiasm.The trainpuffed oul towardsSlinfold, over the Horshamroad and the RiverArun, passing the littlefields, when suddenly it shudderedto a halt.Many faces peered out of the grimywindows, to seethere was a flockof sheepon the line.The driverand guardhad to drivethem back down the embankment,much to the delightof us excitedchildren. Afferthat Christ'sHospital soon appeared, a stationwith a lot of emptyplatforms, no signof housesand just the BellTower of the famousBluecoat school to be seen.Here we all climbedoff to waitfor a schools'excursion special. lt soonarrived, paintedin the glossymid-green of SouthernRaih'vays and we knewthe arcingconductor rail meant it was an electrictrain (wehad recently had a railwaysafety film at school). Soonwe wereon ourway, the counlrysideslipped past and the mistyblue South downs grew larger and greener as we clatteredour way towards our first sight of the Solent,glittering in the sunand with the lsle of Wightfloating in the distance. At Portsmouthharbour we were shepherdedoff the train to our first event of the day, a visit to HMSVictory (the Mary Rose wasyet to be discovered)and then the highlightof the daywas a boattrip aroundthe harbour.The Navywas muchlarger thenand there was certainly plenty to see beforewe movedout of the harbourinto the Solent.Here the sea becamevery rough,but it all addedto the excitementand no-oneseemed to mind,and finally we landedat Southsea,near to the funfair. Nextwe wereescorted off to a hallfor tea,which seemed to be set out to feedhundreds of children. Whenthis feast was over it was discoveredthat our returningtrain would miss the connectionat Christ'sHospital. This meantthat we wouldhave to retumvia Guildfordand would have to waitfor another2 hours- timefor us to be lei loosein the funfair!Needless to sayour pocketmoney ran out longbefore the timewas up. Eventuallywe arrivedback at Rudgwickon the dorn train,as the sunwas setting over the tunnelwoods, tired but happyto seeour patientlywaiting parents after such an eventfulday so far fromhome. However, we broughtback something other thanour memoriesfrom this combined schools expedition - shortlyafter the schoolwent down with chickenpox.

GUIDET) Date le.ader 0ryaniSation I{eeting Place WALKS Ivlay 7th Dave Bucklev RPC The Fox. Bucks Green May l4th Andrew Pye RPS PephwstFarm We are pleasedto announce that we have organiseda May 2lst Judy and Michael Knights RPS Rear of Mucky Duck continuousprogramme of guided May 28th Wendy Boume RPS King GeorgeV Plal'rng walks in Rudgwickevery Field Tuesday at 7pm from 7th May to 6th August.Full details of these June4th GeotrAyres RPS PephurstFarm and otherwalks will be in a bookletpublished by the County June I I th Malcolm Francis RPS Kings Head Councilwhich will be availableat Easter.For the first time there June18th Bridget Pusey RPS Kinss Head will be charge of 50p for the June25th Stan Smith RPS Krngs Head booklet. The walks are not strenuousand July 2nd Paul Frenchum RPS Kings Head everyonels welcome to join in and enjoythe companionshipof July fth Chns Jones R. Scouts Mucky Duck other enthusiastsinterested in July l6th Simon and Marilyn Quarl PanshChurch Kings Head our pleasantcountryside. The time taken will be about 2 hours July23rd Malcolm Francis RPS Kings Head and the distancecovered approximately4 miles.Dogs are July3Oth Mollie Cheer Haven Society Blue Ship permittedbut must be on a lead. August6th SusanBostock RPS LimebumersPub. Stan Smith 82t32

RPS NEWSLETTER SPRING 1996 to within70 milesof MountEverest, a wonderful NORMANBASSETT experience.They then returnedto the Assam/Burma borderbetween 2tst October1"9O5 - 2nd,March 1996 thoseinfamous places, Kohima and lmphal,and Normanfinalry returned to civilianlife at the It is with great sadness that we record the death of Norman end of the war. Bassett. Norman was our first president and serued in that capacity for five years. we are indebted to Hugh I needhardly add that men and officersin his regiment Baddeley ,,an who has provided the following transcript of the address at heldhim in veryhigh regard; he was,and I quote, the Service of Thanksgiving on 9th March 1996. excellentofficer, always operating with that wondefful twinklein his eye".some time Thereare so manyadjectives that couldbe usedto ago therewas a film on TV aboutthe Burmacampaign describehim but let me usejust a few. Firstto cometo and afterwatching it he mindis generous,generous in so manyways. telephonedhis formerfellow officer and saidthat he had no ideathat theywere in Essentiallya good manwho not onlythought of others so muchdanger! in needbut gaveof his time and,where he thought He rejoinedJ walter Thompsonworking with great skill necessary,money to do thingsfor them.Although he as a scriptwriter and on retirementwas creative was in advertisingall his workinglife he was neverone directorof that company. to publicisehis own goodworks. Truly a good Samaritan. Normanmoved to Rudgwickin 19S5,living at Lower HillHouse on the susser/surreyborder. The property All heretoday remember Norman in differentways, neededmuch renovation and he stayedthere until he whetheras family,friend or colleague,but all without marriedMadge in 1971and they livedat the Old exceptionknow that he wouldnever speak ill of Vicarage.Whilst there they embarkedon the huge 'Hawkridge'. anyone.He may have been irritatedor frustratedat projectnow knownas Althoughat that timesbut his humourshone through. So, after time in their late sixtiesthey workedtirelessly together generousand goodwe havehumorous. One year,on to bringthe schemeto fruition.The drivingforce may the Sundayafter Easter, he had beencounting the have been Madgebut she was alwaysably supported ,tongue collectionafter the servicein churchand said, by Normanand, in his words,they at leasthad 15 in cheek',that he had at last realisedthat the reason happyyears of marriagetogether. why that particularSunday was calledLow Sunday was They movedto LittleHookland becausethe collectionswere so low. in 1981and sadly Madgedied in 1986.Since then Norman has been Threeother adjectives that come to mindare caring, happyto supportall mannerof organisationsin the creativeand meticulous both in his workand dealing village- The RudgwickPreservation Socieg (hewas with people.This is reflectedthroughout his life as we presidentfor somefive years),The EllensGreen and know.May I brieflytell you what he was doingbefore DistrictGardening Association, The Dramaticsociety, he cameto Rudgwickin 1955.He was bornon 21st The AnnualFete and Hawkridgeto namea few. October1905 in Aberystwythafter his parentshad But aboveall, Normansupported movedfrom Birmingham(his father was an architect). his church.Until recentlyhe wouldthink nothing of walking He wentto schoolin Birminghambut I knownothing of up the hillto the church,remaining independent as rong his academicachievements; his workinglife started in as he could. He was covenantsecretary for years an advertisingagency after a yearor two in Australia. some and was meticulousin his recordkeeping and always Beforethe war he had joined the TerritoriarArmy and in courteous in speechand writing.He worshipped 1939moved to the largeadvertising agency - J walter regularlyin this churchand gavegenerously whenever money Thompsonin London.Very soonwar was declaredand was neededfor somegood cause. He and Madge he hopedto join the RAF but was deniedbecause of gaveone of the two new bellswhen the frame colourblindness. He was sentto Franceand was was replacedten yearsago and it was at involvedin the momentousretreat in June1g4O, the service of rhanksgivingfor Madgein 1986that the eightbells were eventuallyreturning to Englandvia Bordeaux.By 1942 rungfor the first time in this church.Norman was very he was stationedon the Assam/Burmafrontier with 1g5 movedby that serviceand it is fittingthat all eightbells Batteryof the 66 (LeedsRifles) Heavy AA Regimentof should have been rung out beforethis the RoyalArtillery following the retreatfrom Burma. service.He cared deeplyfor his churchand his Beforethis he was outsideCalcutta in the most God. May he be an exampleto us all. appallingconditions and becamevery ill with malaria, dysenteryand any othertropical disease you care to Mostof Norman'sfamily that are heretoday live far name.He nearlydied but, togetherwith a feilowofficer, awaybut be assuredthat the folk of Rudgwickheld him was ableto twistthe arm of a pleasantBrigadier who in highesteem and we that knew him welrknow that he reluctantlygave them permissionto take sick leavein treasuredhis own and Madge'sfamily dearly. Our Darjeeling.whilst therethey were ableto makea trek thoughtsand prayersare with you, especialfytoday.

RPS NEWSLETTER SPRING 1996