Housing in the South
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-"--- | , 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 Sussex 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 W.S.C.C.has produceda SouthEast, is now disbandedto be superceded revisedtimetable stating that it will be october by GovernmentOffice for the South East when the new Structure plan will be (G.O.S.E.).G.O.S.E. is situatedat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 Horsham 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 Horsham District 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 West Sussex 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 same properties,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 Steyning's mossy thatch and crazy gables, Bringng the channel with you, spray and foam, And teas on Bramber's blistering garden tables; Iaughter,