-"--- | , I

HOUSINGIN THE SouthEast for the next 5 years. The figurefor SOUTH WestSussex would be 2890dwellings year. EAST a In our responseto an invitationto commenton by Stan Smith the reviseddraft R.P.G.9 for the SouthEast, we were concernedas to howWest Sussexcan Developmentin the South East and West achieve6o0/o of new developmenton previously in particular,is about to witness developedland (a requirementof R.p.G.9).As expansionin the next decadein a way not far as WestSussex and the HorshamDistrict experiencedsince reconstruction after World are concerned,this is simplyimpossible to Warll. achieve.This surely needs clarification.

RegionalGovernment is the new patternof the Apartfrom the excessivefigure of 39,000each way we are to be govemedin the SouthEast, yearfor the SouthEast proposed by G.O.S.E., whichis nowseen as a "WorldClass Region,'. WestSussex County Council has announced that the StructurePlan showshow the total To this end SERPLAN,consisting of housingquota will be distributedin seven representativesof all focalauthorities in the districtareas. W.S.C.C.has produceda SouthEast, is now disbandedto be superceded revisedtimetable stating that it will be october by GovernmentOffice for the South East when the new Structure plan will be (G.O.S.E.).G.O.S.E. is situatedat Guitdford considered-This consultationexercise showed and has a staff of more than 266 (Sussex that District was expected to ReviewSpring 2001 C.P.R.E.). accommodate12,000 new housesover the period 1996to 2011. This was by far the On the 18th December,2000, G.O.S.E. largestfigure, giving more publishedthe Draft Regionalplanning thanhalf of the entiregreenfield development in Guidancefor the SouthEast (R.p.G.g). fnis WestSussex. includeda proposedhousing distribution within the SouthEast and invitedcomments, which Horsham District Council consideredthis closedon 12thFebruary 2001. SERPLAN was distributiongrossly unfair, but invitedto putforward its own proposats.lt failed CountyCouncil are standingby theirfigures. to respondin the way the Ministerintended, but HorshamDistrict Council has producedan choseto keepto their recommendedfigure of excellentpaper, highly criticalof the draft 33,000dwellings each year. euite properly RevisedR.P.G.9 and recommending that: they consideredthat no realjustification had beenprovided for the G.O.S.E"higher figure of (1) the contentof R.P.G.9be noted,but that 43,000dwellings a year. the Secretaryof State for the Environment, Transport& the Regionsbe advisedof this The latest revised draft R.p.G.g makes Council'scontinuing strong concerns about the provisionfor 39,000dwellings a year in the overalllevel of housingprovision in the restof Contlnuedan page2

RUDGWICK PRESERVATION SOCIETY SPRINGNEWSLETTER PAGE 1 the SouthEast, which should be reducedto the baselinelevel proposed by SERPIANand' proposed (2) The Secretaryof State be advisedof this Council'sfundamental objections to the hous- 6l OistriUution(plticy ttZ) bothin termsof the overallapproach adopted and the implicationsfor West Sussex.

At the 1me of going to press we have just receivednotification fiom G.O.S.E.that the final CeotottlL PLANN|NGGUIDANCE FoR THE soUTH EASThas beenpublished. (For readers with accessto the internetthis is availableat http://www.go-se.gov.uMnfo/index'html).We have not had the opportunityto makecomment, but the documentwill set the planningstrategy for the foreseeable future.

Stan Smith. ffiyle Gottager Long forgotten by Alan Siney Even so, it required In my articlefeaturing the unusualhombeam tree in a few yards of the cottage. with impoundedwaler to tne n.p.S. Newsletteiof autumn1998, I describedits constant topping up pond,and for this effecttile settingjust to the northemend of the Dedisham maintainthe levelat the it weretumed into series fuma|s pond. This is abouta cottagethat stood hangersleading down into controlledby sluices. closeto ine tree,possibly just in frontof wherethe of stackedlakes with weirs picturewas taken,which was part of the ironworks downfrom the north-westis holding. The longhanger coming now namedas three parts:Bretchesfield Hanger' Hangerfrom eastto In 1636,the four co-heiressesof DedishamManor all HyesHanger and Hermongers yet they are continuousand beingthe daughtersof RichardBlount Esq. the Lord wlst respLctively, is sufiicientevidence on the of th6 Manor,lnd deviseesof his estiatewith equal physicallyas one. There it was dammedto formthree shares,eactr sold their shares to Sir RichardOnslow' br6unOt6 suggestthat whichruns into the northwest tncludedin a relevantdocument wsRo MP23R21) iifes from the stream, is " ... and a littletenement there, 3 acres,near the comerof the Pond. pondtail of Dedishamfumaceo, in relatingto the the northeastof the pondtail h.,mace,forge, ponds, waterways, etc. Anotherpart The sheamflowing into smallstreams draining a of the sime Oocumentrelating to anotherdaughte/s is a convergenceof several 'Pond extendingto Rowhook shareof the sameproperties, refers to Tayle, largearea win a watershed ground the countyboundary' whichwas probablythe samecottage and land. vt/fty ani tne higher along passthrough deep hangers that shouldthis cottagshave been built at this apparently Thesestreams atso storedwater by damming lonelyspot, wheie now only foxes and owls are left to could have providedlots of disturbthe night? into lakes. 50 knownblast Such a water system would have required a DedishamFurnace was one of over a of them over two knowledgeablernan to have been at hand24 hours fumacesoperating in Sussexsome flow was found of smeltingiron Oiy to cinfol the sluices,not only to co-ntrolthe centuriesbefore i method by ensuring beganthe industriatrevolution- The to i certainrate, but to @nservewater withcoalwhich as otherswere of this cottage could have RlayeOan that pondswere beingreplenished occupier was well positionedto importantpart in supplyingthe fumacewith water. bein! used. The cottage housl sucha man,wnicn surely was the reasonfor The largewaterwheel had to continuerunning for a its existence. severalweeks, if not months,and it was smeltr[n of was a lot going prefenedthat the levelof the pondwas kept constant Threeand a half centuriesago there very busyplace. lt is said avoid variations of speed with necessary on at night,here it was a io top oftne fumacecould be adjustmentsto the sluice. that thellow fromthe seenfor miles,to the soundof the steadywhoosh- giantbellows altematively pumped air Thefurnace pond was considerablywider and deeper whooshas the mingledwith the sound of men thanit is today,extending to the highouter banks that iniougn it, abJ ind ore and runningit up the are stillvisible, and posshlyup the pondtail to within inouining charcoal @ntdnued on

PAGE 2 RUDGWICK PRESERVATIONSOCIETY SPRTNGNEWSLETTER A SUSSEXPOET By MalcolmFrancis

PercyNaldreft lived in Rudgwickior manyyears. About ten yearsago PatriciaNaldrett Peak, a distant relativeof Percy,wrote an articlefor this newsletterrecalling the chequeredhistory of the Naldrettfamily whohad been a powerfulSussex family for hundredsof years.Percy's branch of thefamily had fallen oir hardtimes many generations ago when a crook€dlawyer tricked them out of the inheritanceof the NatdFt Estate.lt was basedon NaldrettPlace (now NaldrettHouse) and includeda lot of land in Slinbld, Billingshurstand Wisborough Green including Wanford Mill. The last Naldrett to liveat NaldrettPlaca had beenGeoqe Naldrett,High Sheriff of Sussexin 1746,who died in 1778and is buriedin RudgwickParish Church.Percy Naldrett knew of the familyconnection and maywell havechosen to live in Rudgwickfor th€ reason.He had movedftom Portsmouthin 1941to escapethe bombingand set up a smaltprinting businessfrom a tin shedabutting his house in BucksGreen. Perhaps older inhabltants remember seeing himat villagefetes running a second-handbook stall and zooming around the village on hisold Velocette motorcycle.He was a manof wide interestshe was a magicianand becameVice Presktentof the Magic Circle.His greatlove was literature,he wrotehis ovvnpoetry, and was a greatadmirer of HilaireB€lloc. ]t was recalledthat Percyonce walked to Shipley,introduced himself to Hihire Belloc,and strayedfor tea. lt seemedthat through their mutual love of Sussexthe two men got on verywell. I haverecently been given some poetrythat was written by Percy Naldrettand had been given to HughWestgate, who lived in Rudgwickfor manyyears, by P€rcy. King's Land Farewell to ilIest Sussex. King's Land your narne, who then, say Farewell dear Sussex the place of my birth, your The king that owns ancient roof and rafter? Farewell to my beloved Downs, King's l"and, snuggling and chuckling low, replies: " Belloc is my master, the king of happy men and Farewell to golden Weald with jewelled earttr, laughter." With snuggling inns and lovely ancient towns" No more to walk in Slindon woods divine, The windmill's sweeps shake in ttre tender breeze; Or lose my way in Petworth's crooked streets, I swear they shake with honest human mirth-- And laughter ripples through the new- clad trees Or lift my eyes to Lancing's noble shrine, To bless the most beloved house on earttr. Or dally where the Arrn Rrlborough greets.

Percy Naldrett, 1948. Oh, what a long and lovely list: From Harting Down to Chanctonbur5r, To Hilaire Belloc To F\rlking's corkscrew hill and never-failing spring; You com€ , all shouting urith the South West wind, Old 's mossy thatch and crazy gables, Bringng the channel with you, spray and foam, And teas on 's blistering garden tables; Iaughter, the scent of rain and other ldnd, Secret Shipley, peaceful and serene, And oh, you bring the darling hills of home; With Belloc's Mill and memories ever green. I close my eyes I see the $rrenees--- Oh, the endless, lovely places, And the dark unmatched green of Slindon trees. The boys and grrls with joyful smiling faces. You come Reveille in your , voice, F\rU eighty years and five I've lived, I hear the clang of steel; I see the horses all a-prance, And friendship and affection found, The guns are all a-wheel. Now nears the time when I must rest from toil, Serene, content, somewhere in holy Sussex ground. And you the lovely Arun bring And in due time when loving friends have also passed, I\rl1 flood by Amberley; Will I be quite forgotten--at long last? Vivaciously with joy you sing L,oud Sussex songs to me. But stay. Good verse lives on for ever, And does not perish down the years, You bring to me my darling downs, The message clear,as then, when written, I breathe the rain-washed air, Remains a record of delight and tears. Woods, the sea and ancient towns, Old inns from eveqnrhere. Maybe some Sussex lad, long after Will read and pause awhile.... You come with Eden in your hands and hear ttre echo of my laughter. And windmills far a-view; You bring beech woods and Burton sands, I see them all a-new. Percy Naldrett, on hls 85th Btrthday,May 17th, L97g

Percy ltddrett 1926.

RUDGWICK PRESERVATION SOCIETY SPRINGNEWSLETTER PAGE 3 PARISH APPRAISAL FIRE Together with many other representativesof aspecs of village life, the S.Ei"ty was involved in the discussions,under the leadershipof the Chairman of the Parish Council, leading tothe production of the Par- irft epp*isal documentwhich you will all have seenand, it is hoped, .ornpi"t"d and returned.

WalksProgramme Summer 2001 Al thowalks aro on Tuegday fungs, op€nto alland.start Mc||IthoutH€ak has dos€d prannooour pniiia-riilit ttrr""t.lloPt' thisslmmer' As t wribtfs' th€Foot and onceagain ws ha\re di'ro"o otG watk' vrFcc trwedcc'xt€d not to produce attthe ftobeths. Hop"nrrrv n, ilitt'orcr intlme ot"t roii-.iit" a'ailable "r"i"d"y iiiti*"n rJ'vrjF"il":ttt"i. tttohop€to ha,E sorfle copl€E rhoirwbil(sBooktetursvEar. rney i,'#-i#;.-pi& aratrir, anConen 6nd in th€ pub' Our Th6aver*e wartrg rft]I'i" , ffiil-fr},-;-r""0" prJ.L.'itto.-uairs viatho RpS. to visittheirhome,Baynards station' ffi;i;agfi i;to i/|iahls c|aytonriri,iirino *nnt*ion Grid Ref TQ- Date Leader Start Point Fox 078330 May 1d DavidBuckleY The Crown(Alfold) 0383{0 May 8b HughBaddeleY The ThurlowArms (BaYnards) 076351 May 15h GeoffAyres (laYbYtowards Lonrood) 056318 May 22n Joan & AndrewPYe Pephurst Head (to BaYnardsstn.) 090343 May 29h MalcolmFrancis Kings Ship (Haven) 084305 June 5h PeterKachel Blue HavenRoad 084326 June 12h WendyBoume Pephurst(laYbY towards Loxwood) 056318 June 19h Geofi Ayres Fox 078330 June 26h MalcolmFrancis The Inn () 118315 July 3d Bridget& DavidCozens Village BlueShip (Haven) 084305 July 10h JeanMarshall Duck(Park in lane) 067323 July 17h ChrisJones Mucky Ghequers(Rowhook) 1223/,2 July 24h Bridget& DavidGozens Head 090343 July 31s EricSlade Kings LimeBumers (Newbridge) 073255 Aug 7m SusanBostock you._prealegive them your customin return' parking_most of the pubshave_ailowed us to park,thank tne mainparking is up the lane,not at the front' use the ranebeside the MuckyDuck. At the cirequers, the car'park.Rt tne Blue ship park on the south At the ThurlowArms part

NEWSLETTER RUDGWICK PRESERVATION SOCIETY SPRTNG Pond Tayle Cottage - continued rampto pourinto the hungrythroat, which had to The desecrationof ancient hedgerovys continuethroughout the night. In our newsletterof Autumn 1998featuring the A quarterof a mileor so to the southof the furnace unusualHornbeam tree, I brieflydescribed a stretch and closeto the RiverArun was the forge,where a of old roadto the east,"Where the old enclosure massivewater-powered hammer converted the cast banks capped by the weirdest gnarled trees ironsows into malleable wrought iron bars. As the imaginablewould make a good backclothto a fumacecould smelt pig-iron at a fasterrate than the Hammerfi|m." forgecould convert it, the forgemust have worked The roadwas partof an old roadlinking Rudgwick to aroundthe clock and still have had a backlog StaneStreet just to the southof the Chequerslnn at wheneverthe furnacewas at rest. Evenso, a will Rowhook.Being concemed with tracingout these dated1614, (WSRO MP 1261,and a lawsuitof 1597, old roads,I wentto the areato take photographsand (PRORE02/166/1-215) both show that Dedisham was shockedto discoverthat the possiblyunique forgewas alsotaking sows from furnaces elsewhere. featureshad beencompletely destroyed by timber On a still nightthe soundof the mightybeats on iron extraction.The coppicedHombeams dominating the musthave rang out overa radiusof severalmiles, areaand all the hangersin Rudgwickwere planted and continuedunceasingly for weeks. Foxesand for croppingas fuel for the nearbyDedisham fur- owls!lt was probablytoo noisyfor them. nace. Here,they were formedinto a livingcattle- proof fence to line both sides of the roadway. Therewas also muchactivity by the cottageduring Hombeamstems had beenbent over and fastened the day,in beingplaced alongside the routelinking down horizontally,some appeared to havetaken StaneStreet to Rudgwickand ,and closeto root. The freshvertical stems from them could then thejunction where every year, hundreds of ox carts be trainedover gaps,and over the centuriesthe rumbledwith loadsof charcoaland ironore downthe treeshad intertwinedand maturedinto this strange shortdistance from there to the furnace. effectunlikely to be foundelsewhere. One couldwalk alongthis old routeand appreciatea scenethat had The 1636 documentshows that the manorhad not changedin centuries:the sunkenroad with its attachedthree acres of fandto the cottage,which enclosurebanks intact, lined with these very weird was an unusualamount allocated for a reason.That treesand stretchingfor perhapsa quarterof a mile. I reasoncan now only be speculative,but thereis one was certainthat it wasworthy of an SSSI,but alas, worthy of consideration;with so many labour failedto stressthe matter. Nowthe old roadhas intensiveoperations needed to producethe iron,the beenobliterated and churnedby deepwide tractor furnaceand forge togetherwould certainlyhave tracks,and is unlikelyever to be walkedon again, neededupwards of 100men, all beingitinerants living (thebridleway No.1392 - is maintainedby a cleared in a huttedencampment on the sitewho hadto be fed pathalong its northernedge) and the Hornbeams it from homeor localresources. Therefore, couldbe havebeen cut closeto the groundand scafteredas keeper his familyalso had tend thatthe sluice and to groundcover. I do appreciatethat managedwood- the three acres to grow potatoes and other landhas to be commerciallyviable, and timber ex- vegetables. traction can be a problem. Also, that those The fumacehad probablyexpired its last puff by the responsiblecannot reasonablybe expectedto be mid 18thcentury but the cottagewas stillthere and awareof historicvalues unless informed. ln this in- shownon the Boardof OrdnanceSurvey c.1800, and stance,I am surethat the timbercould have been the muddytrack passing by that servedas a road movedout alongthe clearedstrip on the northern was stilla maineast-west route until the turnpikeroad sideof the trackwithout destroying this ancienttea- fromAlfold to Horshamwas builtin 1809.This map ture. This is a lessonto be heeded:never take it for indicatesthat the headof the damat the furnacehad grantedthat something that has remainedpreserved beenopened to drainthe pond,(now restored) as it for centuriescannot suddenly be erased.There is showsthe streamrunning down through the centreas one goodthing to report at thattime I informedStan natureintended. Smiththat a footpathfrom nearthe northemend of the furnacepond to Hermongers(No 1393)was By the time of the 1840tithe survey, the site of the barredby a barbed-wirefence, and appearedto formerpond had a trackwaylaid through it downthe havebeen so for years. This was also a roadas easternside, and a smallfield called Pond Meadow shownon old maps,and followsa nice stretchof formedin the northernpart previously under the pond sunkenlane leading northwards through the woods. tail. By 1840,Pond Tail Cottage had disappeared Pleasedto say, I notedlast year that the pathwas withevery trace of materialuseful as hardcore;the reopenedwith a brandnew stileover the fence,and old roadwas just an occasionalfarm track; and it was a fingerpost at thejunction. left to the foxesand owlswith the scenesimilar to thatwe can see today.

RUDGWICK PRESERVATION SOCIETY SPRTNGNEWSLETTER PAGE 5 REMEMBER THEM? An o

I woutd be grateful for any information about any of the names below and I would also like to know if anyone has first-hand memories of: Ttre withdrawal for Dunkirk Ttre Greek CanPaigrt Ttre North Africa CamPaign The fall of Singapore and internment by the Japanese

Any material relating to either war, for er€mple newsPapers,,photographs, leallets or it"*" like cap badges and shoulder flashes would also be useful. "ri"I Anybody who would like to help following uplines of research would be very welcome. goes Aili;rgi November still seems a long way off this is a big subject and time soon byl

Geofbey Turberville Smtth a22147 t9l4 -1918 1939- 1945 BOOKACCOUNTS C Barrett VESTRY John Beacher Albert provided us wittt an interesting HowardTdeB Brown Greaves ilalcolm Franclr has GeorgeBirchmore a time just before RonaldF W Buckman insiglrt into village life at Queen JohnBulbeck just a few items from the Bulbeck EdwardH Cave-Brcwn Vict6ria's long rei$. These are Laurence 1834. EdwardBusk lvlargaretE ChoPPe-Hall Parish Vestr5rAccounts of 1832- HansBtrsk Mary R Charman 1E32 I 67 RichardClarke April 6th To a travelling , his sick child | Alfr,edButcher 2l6d AIM T Cheesemore CharlesClevett eitU lltLr Relief to six sailors sweqp, his wife ill 2l6d ClernentCooper JoanClevett liay 19th Jarnes Aldridge, girl for clothes on her Arthur Sunley Cross Timothy Drke June 25th John Stemp's t8/8$ Alfrd Etherington PeterFisher August18th 5:fgli'f:*11"""";; steer Arthur Grinstead JamesHayman septsra ttredue, laving out JamesGrinstead BeqiamenHiclcman Bffi: ffiXf*u" 416d, Heaseman oct2eth George Arthtn Hurst 5it$"*f33t1"t3f,$f"ffitenance-- LeonardHeaseman FrederickHurst t;;;tl'J- ffi7113/od FrederickA Howick H.J.McLeish Dec 2gth Horse and To11Gates 4l4d Jacoblleland JosephNapper 1833 William Ireland PercyNapper Feb2nd ArchibaldJoyce GeorgeNickolay *'"H'f$ffifr#lt$xl?trs:ffit .,At + I va EarnestKenward Henry G Payne to aprehend Muggeridge Sailor Jenner 5l9q Luke Mariner PeterRPort Feb 7th F\rneral B:rpens;, widow and, son 4l0d JackMoore Holford Secretan Sailor Jenner's MaySth dissinsand loading" MauriceNapPer RaymondShrubb :[jffrat?pef,, LI Lolod, FrancisPage Edwin Leslie Thompson June 24th Janes Eclwards, Greenhurst, CtrarlesPeryer Colin H S Wilson not able to do much work 8/Od PeterPeryer H. J.Bristo Decl6th Relief to Jarnes Gumbrill in St Thomas EarnestC Rancc Hospital 3/Od JohnMcGnegor Smith Dec24th Jarrres Botting, to keeP off Parish JackTownsend until lady Day 1O/Od Edwin Waller 1834 MarklValler Feb 15th George Buck, 2 bags hair for plastering Poor House 2l'd WalterWaller Mar 13th J;;;;t-tt Lond.on to lind Chailes2 dayslO-/Od CharlesWoodlatch Coach io and from Lond.on L6/Oq PercivalYoung Expenses, Lond.on 15/Od FrankJenkins William Laker

PAGE 6 RUDGWICK PRESERVATION SOCIETY SPRING NEWSLETTER apparentthat between the road $#;JJil"it?';'#il"J.," Bucks Green culvert below is about eight feet of solid material,and with the deep gill below, it must have presentedan imposing ravine which no landownerwas prepared to bridge and 1840. forever maintain. With no central or regionalfunding, all rights of way had to originate and be maintainedby indi- By Alan Siney viduals - even the bridge over the Arun at Wanford was owned by local landownersuntil quite late in the 19th cen- As with my previousdescription of RudgwickVillage (1840) tury, for which they were not empoweredto charge tolls. whichappeared in our last (Autumn)issue, this work fol- lowsthe samelines by correlatinginformation from the The descriptionfollowing begins on the westem end of the 1840tithe schedule with the 1841population census. How- map (see page 8 ) proceedingeastwards on the northem ever,a lackof continuationbetween pages indicates that side of the road, and back on the southern side. somewere missing or had badlydeteriorated at the timeof microfilming,and faded ink can be a problem.But informa- 1122. The Parish Poorhouseand now The Fox Inn. (l'he tionfrom other sources has hopefullyindemnified most of subject relatingto this and Rudgwick'spoor is so wide that I will devote a chapter to it in future issues) lt was built in the shortcomingsof the populationcensus. 'that 1812 when the vestry resolved a coftage or tenement BucksGreen, what picture does the nameconjure? Nor- to be built for the receptionand dwelling of the poor, for mallya localitywith piecesof unenclosedland straddling a which the parish had to borrow the relativelyhigh sum of roadusually at a junctionand therewere several in and €400. lt was built adjoining an older existing cottage, aroundRudgwick. Wanford Green was a wide roadside which then became the mastefs house, and later was a wastejust downthe HavenRoad, and further out was Max- separate cottagewhere Peggy Walke/s family lived. (See fieldGreen and MorgansGreen. Cox Greenand Elfens her memoirs). Rudgwick had to join the PetworthWork- Greento the north,and SonghurstGreen to the north-west house Unionafter the 1834 Poor Law, and in 1836 it was are otherexamples and quitepossibly there were others decided that parts of it should be rented out. In 1850,a lostin time. Some19th century enumerators and scribes joint decisionwas made by the Churchwardens,the Over- shortenedthe nameto Buxgreen,but fortunatelythe old seers of the Poor of Rudgwick,and the Guardiansof the stylepervaded and it did not changeas did CocksGreen in Petworth Union, that the house be sold. lt was not sold by the distantpast. June of the followingyear, as the 1851 censusshows, that it was occupied by ten agricultural labourers and two As with all commonlands, greens and theiruse was con- wives. trolledby a particularmanor, and the mainpart of Bucks Green- the westernend - was landof the Manorof Hope. 1053. PoorhouseLag was also owned by the parish for Manypieces were eventually sold by lordsof the manor the sustenanceof the poor. In 1880, the parish built its and enclosed.and itwas not untillater in the 19thcentury first purpose built school on the site. that parliamentaryacts restricted further encroachments. and landcommissions set aboutreleasing the stranglehold 1123. A pair of cottages owned by the parish as alms- of the feudalmanorial system. Also, Col.Dawson, the As- houses. They were occupied by Henry Edwards,an agri- sistantLand Commissioner for Sussexin the mid 19thcen- cultural labourer, and John Woodhatch, a 20 year old tury,seems to havebeen over enthusiastic in enclosing agricultural labourer with his wife and infant daughter. greensand roadsidewastes, which is one reasonwhy The parish sold these cottiagesby auction held at the manySussex villages lack that charmingaspect to be seen Queens Head 6th Nov 1W, when they were bought by in most Surreyvillages that springto mind. For many Charles\Mthall for €9O. At the time, they were occupied placeslike BucksGreen action came too late to preserve by John Edwards and Elijah Gravette. (At the spring as- theircharacter; the cottagercould no longerput his cow out sizes at Lewes 1835, \Mlliam Sanders and Samuel Morley to graze,and the sceneof a blushinggoose girl driving her stood trial charged with stealing a brass kettle from the flockto the villagegreen under the watchfulgaze of a ruddy washouse of Elijah Gravette at Rudgwick- but that's an- (1) facedyoung swain sitting idly by, remainsas just an idealin other story) The sale descriptionstates: "Boundedon the eyesof the 19thcentury romanticist. north by land belongingto John Allberry, on the west by an enclosure by John Allberry frorn waste of the Manor of The roadthrough Bucks Green is veryold, as are the roads Hope, and on the east by waste of the Manor of Hope, on leadingnorth and southfrom it. At the eastemend it tumed the south by the Highway." (Waste was the common term north-eastwardsinto what is now calledBowcrofi Lane by for non-titheablecommon land). Peggy Walker described the Downslinkcrossing, and at the westernend it termi- the deplorableconditions of an old couple who lived here, natedat LynwickStreet. Therewere roadsto Hillhouse (possibly late 1920s) and when they were taken to the Laneat the countyboundary, but a roadwayto linkthe two workhouse, the cottages were set on fire where they stood pointswas probablyprevented by the steepdip in the road because of their verminous state, and rats fled in all direc- belowThe Fox,which carries a convergenceof streams tions. The old wide verge here was taken in 19lO for road passingdown through Wellgrove and LynwickHangers widening,when WSCC bought a strip of land 5 yds wide fromsprings around the north-west.This streamwas not and 157 yds in length. bridgeduntil the roadwas laidas the Guildfordand Hor- shamTurnpike Road in 1809. l420yzYard and buildings,part of Snoxallholding.

1420. Snoxallhouse and garden,a farm of 22 acres. One of the oldest houses in Rudgwick,owned and occupied by

RUDGWICK PRESERVATION SOCIETY SPRTNGNEWSLETTER PAGE 7 u.l t t r$ a $ a $$

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PAGE 8 RUDGWICKPRESERVATION SOCTETY SPRTNGNEWSLETTER JohnAllberry aged 68, farmerand owner of WanfordMill. His grandfatherHenry Allberry came to Rudgwick1725' 1427.Cottage, garden, and Smithshop owned by Edward 28,andsuccessive generations were millers. They were to Napper,and occupiedby GeorgeButcher, the innkeeperc ownWanford until his grandson\Mlliam died there in 1877 the QueensHead, who probablyworked the smithywith hi aged37. Hissecond son John, miller aged 32 alsolived at lodgerJames Batman. The buildingjutting out at the Ha- Snoxall,(the eldest son occupiedWanford Mill House) and ven Roadjunction was the tollhouseowned by the tumpikt Ann lreland,possibly their housekeeper occupying the part trustees,and occupied by JamesGrinstead, tollgate keepe adjoiningthe eastend. and surveyoraged 40, with the positionof the fenceand tollgateshown. There is alsoa suggestionof a gateacros 1419%.Queens Head lnn ownedby ArthurFrench and the HavenRoad. Althoughthis roadwas not turnpiked,it occupiedby GeorgeButcher, innkeeper aged 50, hiswife may have been piked to preventa swifi entry or exit to Hannah,3 children,James Batman, smith aged 25, 6 caille avoidpaying the toll. The turnpiketrusteeship was dis' dealersand 2 farmers.(lt is fortuitousthat the 1841census bandedprobably in 1871and the gate had certainlybeen takenin June,coincided with the holdingof RudgwickFair, removedby 1873. whichhad beenheld since about 1260 on the eve,feast, and morrowof the HolyTrinity. This is the onlyevidence I 1427%. Gardenorlrned by the Commissionerof Roads havefound that it was stillbeing held at thisperiod, and the and occupiedby JamesGrinstead. lt was probablybe' notingon the censusthat there were 53 visitorslodging in causethe tumpiketrustees had to providethe tollhouse the parishattending the fair, mostlycattle dealers, farmers, with a garden,and couldnot do so withintheir land covere anddrovers, does show that it was a majorlocal event, with by the Act,that the RoadCommissioner, with compulsory possiblyhundreds of othersfrom neighbouringparishes powersi,acquired this piece,of wastefrom the manorand comingin by theirown conveYance) chargedrent to the trustees.

1423. Stableeand buildingowned by ArthurFrench and 13M% and 134714,Raskells Farmhouse, yard,and build occupiedby GeorgeKing. Laterdocuments mention that ings,owned and occupiedby DanielCox, farmer aged 60, he was a wheelwrightand possiblya miltwright.An early with hiswife, three children, and a 15 yearold femalefarm 20thcentury photograph shows it withthe sign"Lactifier for servant.The holdinghad a coupleof adjoiningftelds but calves"outside, suggesting that it was a workshop'lt was had previouslybeen much larger: ,n 1644John Napper of laterrebuilt and usedas a teashopand socialvenuewith a Howickspaid the parish7 shillings6 pencepoor relief tax calledQueens Hall. for his partof Raskells,indicating that he was rentinga cot garageand petrolpump alongside, and (2). it was a popularhall for whistdrives and dances until the siderableacreage of its land BucksGreen Place now HomeGuard Hut was builton the playingfields in 194ti. standson the siteof the formerfarmhouse. The buildingwas demolishedin the 1980s,followed in the 1990sby the conversionof the QueensHead to a dwelling. The fieldsto the west of Raskells,on the southside of the road, is nowthe siteof the villagehall and KingGeorge V 1419. Buildingsand yard, part of Bumallsand Tanners PlayingFields, built up withover 30 yearsof greateffort by holding. the parishcouncil and localstalwarts, from the 1930sand throughthe 1960s.The Lonrood Roadwas moreusually 1424. Burnallsand Tanners,a farmof 15Yzacres owned calledDrungewick Road, being that to the medievalManor by JohnAllberry and occupiedby JamesJenner and James of Drungewick,then ownedby the powerfulOnslows. Afre Slanford,agricuttural labourers. Both houses still exists the railwaywasbuilt in 1865,this roadwas bringingin evet withTanners on the eastside. (Now Morgans Organs). lt increasingamounts of goodstraffic from Loxwoodand all was laterto be a shopand PostOffice, and in 1900be- pointswest, which brought many conflicts between the ves camethe RudgwickTelegraph office. The tall slender try andthe LocalHighways Authorities, (Roads were genel buildingalongside and the two smallbuildings by the aily not tarmacadamiseduntil the 1920s,and were easily streamcould suggest that it had at sometime, been used ruttedby heavycarts en routeto the goodsyard, (sugar for tanning. beetfor example),wilh the parishcomplaining that its use was enjoyedby thosewho paidnothing towards its repair. 1585& 1586. GaskinsFarm was partof an oldjoint hold- The parishhighway rate was collectedby the Assistant Hatches.(ln LynwickStreeQ. lt was Overseerfrom the ratepayers,in additionto severalother ing of Gaskensand 'Queens ownedby EdwardBrice Bunny, who had maniedan heir- parishrates, tithes, and the Taxes'and to some ess of the NaldreftEstates, and occupiedby MaryStanford the totalwasa financialburden levied on the propertyoccu aged80, who livedthere with her two grandchildren,Ed' piedirrespective of income. wardStanford, agricultural labourer aged 12,andMary, a farmservant aged 15. Mr FrederickBarker built his large houseon thesite in 1891,which was taken over by Penn- Sourcesof information: thorpeSchool after W.W.2. t4lSRORudgwick tithe map and schedule1840. (now Lanes)cottage and gar- WSRORudgwick population census rctums1841- 1552. Millfield, calledGreen - BriceBunny, and occupiedby Henry WSRORudgwick vestry book 1799 1860. den ownedby Edward (1) Stanford,farmer aged 40, with hiswife andthree agricul- Padwick Papers653 HorshamMuseum MSS. turallabourers. (2) wsRo PAR,/160R0fr9.

1551and {430y".Mill Hill cottage, garden, yard, and build- ingsowned by EdwardNapper and occupiedby Daniel Jenkinsagricultural labourer aged 31.

RUDGWICK PRESERVATIONSOCIETY SPRINGNEWSLETTER PAGE 9 RAINFALLTISMANS COMMON 2OOO Don Muir

Wewill rememberthe year 2000 for the rainand the resultingfloods, but it wasnot uniformly wetthroughout the year. ln factthe first six monthswere actually below the average for the last29 years. lt was the twicethe averagerainfall of Julythat broughtus abovethe average andfrom there on it wasSlldyke' all theway. So lets strartat the beginning. Januarywas very dry - lessthan a thirdof whatwe wouldexpect. February made up a litfleof thelost ground but March had only a quarterof the averagerainfall and we had 19consecutive dayswithout rain. April lived up to its reputationand morethan doubledits averageto createa newrecord high. Maywas alsohigh but June was well down. Thatwas repeatedwith July nearlydouble and Augustjust overhalf. Septemberstarted offwith little rain but madoup for it on tha 15thwhen over two inchesfell in the one day. Fromthen untilthe 13thDecember we hadonly 20 dayswithout rain andhad overan inchon 4 occasions.All 4 monthswere well abovethe averageand Novemberwas a neuyrecord high. 62.75 mm of rain Gll in those4 months-that is over80% of a yea/s averagerainfall. We endedup with a new30 yearannual rainfallrecord.

At the time of writingit is still verywet. Januarywas a bit aboveaverage and Februarynearly double.That brings the total for the6 monthsfrom September b morethan a normalyea/s rain. ,|g ffid Tprrm &rnnn 2m Averqefu yec f$nb d Fom Hdt \trEs

ari F- avr, a) E = loog

l- stG

tttffil

PARISH RE(CORDS Alan Siney has catalogued the Rudgwick Parish Records. The catalogue is too big to reproducJin the newsletter but it is available from me if anyone wishes to see it. These con of'Rudgwick Parish Council Records totalling nearly 30O pages, and tJre vestry book (1799 1g60 is now in the County Archives, the later record.s are kept by the secretary PCC') Alan's catalogue also lists 171 photographs held in tl:e Parish Council records' Lcsltc Hawklns a22967

RUDGWICK PRESERVATIONSOCIETY SPRINGNEWSLETTER PAGE 10