Newsletter November 2013

80 Horsham Society Newsletter November 2013

Chichester’s Street Art Festival : continued from previous page Unfortunately one of the art works may have to be removed HORSHAM because it was only realised after it was completed that the Newsletter building in question was Listed. SOCIETY Left: Stik: ‘Figures’ So, the question is: would world class street art be welcome November 2013 North Pallant. in Horsham, or would we be too stuffy and unadventurous? We want to encourage tourists so this may be one way to achieve it. Perhaps we could then publish a Horsham Society guide to local street art. What do you think? and which might be suitable sites? Society objects to Council’s strategy Leaflet drop he deadline for commenting on the Horsham Council’s draft preferred strategy o seriously do we take the threat of Twhich includes a new development of 2,500 houses and a business park north of Sa 2,500 home orphan settlement the A264 closed on 11th October. abutting the A264 north of Horsham we took the unusual step of producing The Society’s response objecting to key elements of the draft strategy can be read in our own leaflet. full on our website. As well as rehearsing the arguments against the North Horsham proposals outlined in the last Newsletter we have put forward a simple alternative. 2,500 copies were delivered by hand Right: DsCrete: ‘Owl’ predominantly to homes in the northern Baffins Lane car park. We believe a better strategy would be to concentrate aggressively on identifying and part of the town to alert householders developing all the brownfield sites in the District and bringing forward a new town to the proposals and encourage them to in the south. Together with the other proposals in the draft strategy these would meet register their comments before the the need in terms of housing numbers and build out trajectory with the planned consultation closed on 11th October. Hitnes: ‘Fox and Birds’, North Street. homes at Billingshurst and Southwater being followed by brownfield sites with the new town nearer the end of the planning period. Particular thanks to two of our Horsham town would contribute through the development of brownfield sites within members, Tony Standing and Francis By the way the existing built-up boundary such as the non-operational part of the station goods Vernon, who volunteered to distribute HORSHAM yard and associated industrial land, Searle’s Yard, Novartis and the Hurst Road some of the leaflets. SOCIETY Directory public estate. New members We have urged HDC to scrap its preferred strategy and start the process again. We The Horsham Society is a registered charity (No.268949) and is an his month we are very pleased to welcome a surge of new shall have to see if councillors have the courage to accept that it is fundamentally independent body supported by members’ subscriptions Tmembers: Mrs Hussey, Forestfield; Mr and Mrs Oliver, flawed and will never gain public support. Mill Farm Road; Mrs Scott, Lakeside; Mr and Mrs Vernon, PRESIDENT Dr Annabelle Hughes Mallow Close; Mr Gill, Gatesford Drive; Mr and Mrs VICE-PRESIDENTS Chresta, Gatesford Drive; Mr Plimmer, Bignor Close; Mrs Rt Hon Francis Maude MP, Nigel Friswell, John Steele, Roy Worskett, Sutton, Avebury Close; Mrs Budd, Byron Close; Mr Council secrecy over development proposals Mrs Peggy Gledhill MBE Greenfield, Skylark View; Mrs Bishop, Earles Meadow and planning application has been submitted for the redevelopment of a site including CHAIRMAN David Moore Mrs Young, Shepherds Way. ALifestyle Ford, the bowling club and the car park adjacent to Albion Way. The 2 HON TREASURER HON SECRETARY proposal includes a new 4,779 m store for Waitrose and three non-food units totalling Sarah Powell Rod Cuming 6,726 m 2. Recent news suggests that John Lewis at Home may take one or more of 3 White Horse Road The Sound of Music these. EXECUTIVE COMMITTEE Horsham RH12 4UL AODS next production will be the ever popular The Roy Bayliss Tel: 01403 268444 Whilst we welcome in principle a larger Waitrose store and a John Lewis there are Paul Fletcher [email protected] HSound of Music at The Capitol from 12 - 16th Nigel Friswell November. Tickets are available from the theatre box office, serious problems with the application. It does not comply with the Town Plan and Peggy Gledhill MEMBERSHIP SECRETARY telephone 01403 750220 or online at thecapitolhorsham.com most worrying is that at a very late stage the developer has substantially increased Michael Hall Mrs Pat Gale the non-food retail space. The result is that the proposed parking provision is wholly John Steele 46 Bedford Road Horsham RH13 5BJ inadequate and would almost certainly knock on the head the two hours free parking DISTRIBUTION ORGANISER Tel: 01403 253946 Delivering print solutions to which is essential if shoppers are to use town centre shops as well. We have objected Kathy Gleeson [email protected] companies throughout the UK to the application and you can see what we have said on the HDC website or ours. Inside The Executive Committee meets at 7.30pm on the first Wednesday of each But that is not all. HDC owns a ransom strip across the main access to the site and e reproduce an article on William month in the Manor Room behind the Causeway Barn. Members are therefore has a direct financial stake in the development. There is nothing wrong with WAlbery, champion of our welcome to attend as observers but it would be appreciated if the Secretary The Printed Word that. Previous council leaders showed considerable foresight for which we should all Museum, written in 1955. Apart from could be informed beforehand. be grateful. The problem is that we fear that despite its faults the application may be its intrinsic interest it provides an interesting reminder of the writing style SUBSCRIPTION RATES Unit 2 recommended for approval. The Council would in essence be giving itself planning Annual Membership: £10 per household Graylands Estate consent. For this reason we believe the financial position should be publicly of sixty years ago. David Moore’s Family Life Membership: £150 per household article on the Unitarians reminds us Postage is added to the above rates at £5 per annum Langhurstwood Road acknowledged. Following our FOI request HDC has confirmed there is a legal for out-of-town members Horsham agreement but refuses to disclose it. that Horsham’s Unitarian Church was West Sussex home to our first museum, and we www.horshamsociety.org All major credit cards accepted RH12 4QD We do not think this is acceptable. Secrecy breeds suspicion. That is not good for report that we have nominated today’s Newsletter correspondence should be sent to the Editor: John Steele, 01403 255650 [email protected] democracy and suggests the Council has something to hide. We have appealed and if Horsham Museum as an asset of 2 Old Denne Gardens, Horsham, RH12 1JA (Tel: 01403 272814, email: www.printedword.co.uk necessary will refer the case to the Information Commissioner. community value. [email protected]). Other communications concerning the Society should go to the Hon Secretary. The Newsletter is published monthly except August and opinions in it, whether the Editor’s or © Individual contributors 2013. No material may be reproduced, copied or stored in a retrieval system without the prior consent of the relevant contributor, which should be contributors’, are not necessarily those of the Society. sought via the Editor. OUR CONCERN IS THE PAST, PRESENT AND FUTURE OF THE TOWN 74 Horsham Society Newsletter November 2013 Horsham Society Newsletter November 2013 79

From the committee Letters and emails

Dispersal Notice Costin has taken up the issue with help Society publications Isla Blair I was a tenant of the Gaoler’s house in Carfax from 1997 to from Will Jones, HDC Arboricultural 2003 and the main original supporting wooden beam that e have become quite blasé about Officer. he committee has been reviewing our t’s surprising how much interest the article on Isla Blair in runs from the second floor to the basement was infested with Wnewspaper articles singing the Tpublications and disposing of some Ithe July Newsletter generated. Barbara Gunn (née death watch beetle. We (the then three tenants) were landed praises of Horsham as one of the best Sainsburys has agreed to lightly raise that are many years out of date. Hooper), who now lives in Downham Market, contacted Pat with quite an expensive bill to deal with the problem, thanks areas to live, with a very low crime rate. the crown to lift the branches off the Gale to let her know what she knew about Isla and her family. to a full repairing lease. We did try to argue that the death ground level, provide a low aesthetically Copies of John Bray’s excellent book of watch beetle was there long before any of us had signed the Generally this is the case so you might pleasing fence and to place some drawings are still available at £10 to When I was in Norfolk recently, I took the opportunity to leases. have been surprised to hear of a anti-personnel planting under the tree. members. There are also a few copies left visit Barbara and her husband John. I learnt a lot about Isla Carol Byrne different side to the town when the This is excellent news and we will at only £5 each of A Journey Through Blair as well as some interesting things about Barbara’s life Swindon Road, Horsham police recently issued a Dispersal watch progress with interest. Horsham’s Changes which chronicles the in Horsham. Hopefully this will provide material for a future Notice under the Anti-Social Behaviour period of rapid redevelopment of the article. Act covering the town centre. town centre in the latter quarter of the can remember the lych-gate before the ivy was allowed to Linden House 20 th Century through the eyes of those It’s always nice to meet members, especially those who Igrow over it. The ivy should be removed so that the lych- Sussex Police and HDC have identified involved. Please contact the Editor if you remain interested in Horsham even though they now live gate becomes a fitting entry to the cemetery. We need to take problems with alcohol related disorder e reported in the July Newsletter would like to buy either. many miles away. better care of Denne Road cemetery as it’s a lovely place to and the intimidation of members of the Wthat we had opposed a second set wander through and reflect on the past. public. The Dispersal Notice, which runs of plans to redevelop Linden House, the Also available as a free download from David Moore light coloured former Sun Alliance our website is a scanned copy of our Rita Gladdish from 27 September to 27 December, Swindon Road, Horsham Tanbridge Park, Horsham empowers police officers and PCSOs to building on the north side of Albion Children’s Town Trail. Long out of print, direct groups of individuals to leave the Way, into apartments. and a little out of date, it is still a useful area. source of information. Hopefully one day Cemeteries We have received some interest in setting up a group to look Despite a recommendation from officers we may be able to update it. after the Denne Road cemetery and will be exploring the It is good to see the police nipping to approve the scheme local councillors ollowing on from the subject of Denne Road cemetery it possibilities with HDC. There is a short piece about a recent problems in the bud. were almost unanimous in rejecting the Coincidentally, Paula Lamplough, our Fwould be a wonderful idea for the Society to perhaps tour of Hills Cemetery on page 75 and we may be able to application. former Hon Secretary, has passed me this organise a tour of Hills Cemetery. There is a mass of local arrange another for Society members. See page 74 for an splendid cartoon showing her and former history there which would be very interesting to explore. update on the lych-gate. Ed. This is a suitable site for apartments. Chairman Dennis Salt drumming up Community Assets The days of large office blocks are over support for the Society at a stand in Swan and relatively poor access limits the Walk sometime in the late nineteen- ollowing our success in getting options. Above all, however, this nineties. It is by Mike Western, a FHDC to register the Drill Hall as an prominent site deserves a building professional cartoonist who lived and asset of community value we have now whose architectural merit does it justice. worked in Horsham. nominated The Capitol and Horsham Chichester’s Street Art Festival Museum.

Both play a key role in the life of the am indebted to the Chichester Society Newsletter, and its town and it is essential that we do all I Editor David Wilson, for bringing news of the city’s that we can to protect their future. summer street art festival.

The promoter, Neil Lawson-Baker, explains its origins in the wish to build on the city’s wealth of cultural offerings Denne Road lych-gate including the Festival Theatre, Pallant House Gallery and the Cass Sculpture Foundation by making it better known as ollowing the correspondence in the Chichester – City of the Arts. Flast Newsletter we asked Evan Giles, HDC to have a look at the ivy. At no cost to the public purse he arranged for 10 of the world’s most famous street artists to paint public artworks on He confirmed that it should be removed a number of large walls. The results are certainly striking and before it caused structural damage and in the best tradition of street art. without delay arranged for it to be cut at the base. It will be completely removed Artists include Hitnes, a freelance cartoonist and illustrator, once it starts to dessicate. born in Rome but living in France who contributed a striking mural of a fox and birds.

Weeping Beech DsCreet, originally from Australia, is famous for his signature owl image. Stik, a London based street artist has been e have reported previously on our painting his Stik people in Shoreditch and other parts of the Wdiscussions with Sainsbury’s over city for many years. This summer he painted the walkway Roa:‘Starlings’ in Baffins Lane Car Park. the need to protect the weeping beech Cartoon by Mike Western of Dennis Salt (Chairman 1993-98) and Paula Lamplough underneath the Hungerford Railway Bridge with families of next to the Forum. Now Cllr Christine (Secretary 1991-99) manning a Society stall in Swan Walk in the late 1990s. Stik people. continued overleaf 78 Horsham Society Newsletter November 2013 Horsham Society Newsletter November 2013 75 The Unitarian Church Roffey Road Halt David Moore explains the history of the Unitarians and Horsham’s part in the story Michael Hall looks back as Horsham Council plans a new station

hristianity is no different from other religions in that there hopes to be received into Holy Orders in the established any members will have seen a picture in the local press Cis an ongoing search for the truth. Very often, the church. Min early July showing the land north of the railway different interpretations of concepts, such as the Trinity, where the Council plans 2,500 homes and a new railway Original Sin and the Virgin Birth, have led to fragmentation The Civil War led to the rapid expansion of Baptist station. It was taken from the Wimland Road level crossing within the Christian faith. communities but that all changed with the restoration of the looking westward and concrete posts could be seen sticking monarchy under Charles II. Dissenters were once again out of the grass at the side of the track. As early as the 2nd century AD, Theodotus of Byzantium, persecuted for their beliefs and Matthew Caffyn was who though he accepted the Virgin Birth, thought that Jesus imprisoned five times. It was not until 1689 that some These short concrete pillars are all that remain of a small way was born a mere man. These views, which were considered to freedom of worship was tolerated by the introduction of the side station called Roffey Road Halt which was opened on 1st be heretical, were also proposed by Paul of Amosata in the Toleration Act. June 1907. On the same date Lyons Crossing and Rusper 3rd century AD as well as by Marcellus of Ancyra and Road Crossing were also opened. Five weeks later these two Photinus in the 4th century AD. So it’s hardly surprising that Matthew Caffyn and his wife Elizabeth had eight children, were renamed Ifield Halt (the word Halt being dropped in the doubts expressed in the early church about certain seven boys and one girl. At some point in time, he moved 1930), and Littlehaven Halt (here the suffix was not dropped doctrines were carried forward and resurfaced with some from Southwater to Broadbridge Heath, where he rented until 1969). force in the 16th century. Broadbridge Farm and Mill in Old Wickhurst Lane. His house was used as a meeting house in 1711 and became registered All the halts were of a basic construction with wooden English Dissenters were Christians who separated from the for worship in 1713. It is said that the Broadbridge Mill pond platforms and corrugated iron shelters. Have you ever wondered what these stumps were? Church of England in the 16th, 17th and 18th centuries was used for baptisms until 1771. He lived there until his Roffey Road halt was closed in January 1937 although the because they opposed state interference in religious matters. death. Sources of information and further reading: associated cottages were not demolished until 1972. The process accelerated during the Interregnum following the disestablishment of the Church of England by the Puritan In 1714, he was succeeded as minister by his youngest son, Further information on the railways of Mid Sussex can be found in This is now to be the site of a possible Park and Ride station Adrian Gray’s book ‘The Railways of Mid-Sussex’, published by The parliament. After the restoration of the monarchy in 1660, the also Matthew Caffyn. By 1717, there were said to be 350 as part of the North Horsham development proposal. Enjoy Oakwood Press 1975. rights of the Dissenters were limited and the final straw for hearers in Horsham but most came from outside the area. In the open fields while you can! many, which led to their withdrawal from the state church, 1719, land was purchased by John Dendy and John Geere and The Middleton Press book ‘Crawley to Littlehampton’, Mitchell V, and was the Act of Uniformity in 1662. work started on the building of the present chapel, which was My photograph, taken from the public highway, shows the Smith, K. has a very distant view of the Halt and cottages. registered for worship in 1721. It was intended that the chapel remains alongside the Up Line. In railway parlance the UP would be used as a general meeting place on special Sussex Industrial Archaeology Society has also produced a survey of The Unitarian movement began in Poland, Lithuania and Line is usually towards London, or the more important Sussex mainlines, No.8 Horsham to Littlehampton. Transylvania in the middle of the 16th century and occasions for all the congregations in the area, not just for location, and the Down Line is from London. www.sussexias.co.uk Transylvania has, as its claim to fame, the privilege of having those based in Horsham. You can see why this was when you the only Unitarian king in history realise that there were only 18 Baptist families recorded as living in Horsham itself in 1724. References to the word Unitarian in this country appear in 1665 with the importation of copies of publications such as By the late 18th century, church members came from Horsham shorts The Library of the Polish Brethren who are called Unitarians . Warnham, Billingshurst and Shermanbury as well as from The word is first found in 1687 in an English publication, A Horsham, and in 1754 the Billingshurst members formed a Traffic calming It seems a small result for a great deal lovely brick built non denominational brief history of the Unitarians, called also Socinians . The separate congregation. Then in 1820, we suddenly find that of effort, and presumably money. One chapel and a variety of gravestones movement became more popular in England as time went by most of the Horsham congregation were no longer described ew traffic calming measures were wonders how long it will be before reflecting changing fashions. and became a formal denomination in 1774, when Theophilus as general Baptists, they were now Unitarians. Nrecently introduced in Hills Farm someone hits one of the posts which do Lindsey organised meetings with Joseph Priestly and founded Lane. They consist of several chicanes not even have reflective markings. There is nothing quite like the chapel the first true Unitarian congregation in the country at Essex The name of the congregation changed over the years. In each of which comprises a staggered elsewhere in Horsham so we have Street Church in London. Today, Essex Hall, as it is now 1878, the church was described as Unitarian (Baptist) later it pair of wooden posts each set a short Time will tell whether it makes any suggested that it should be considered called, is the headquarters of British Unitarian. became known as Free Christian, then Free Christian distance into the carriageway. difference to traffic speed and safety. for local listing next time the list is (Unitarian) before finally adopting the name Unitarian. updated. It is said that there were about 100 Dissenters in Horsham in 1676 and it’s interesting to note that Quakers, Presbyterians Despite its long history, Unitarianism remains relatively Hills Cemetery The cemetery is a fascinating treasure and General Baptists flourished in Horsham in the late 17th unknown in this country. The largest group of Unitarians is and beautifully maintained. One can and early 18th centuries. found in the USA but congregations are found in other parts id you see HDC’s invitation in easily see why people choose to visit to of the world. There’s even a congregation in the north east of DSeptember to join a guided tour of remember a loved one buried there or It is thought that there were Baptists in Horsham as early as India! Hills Cemetery? It may sound a little simply to enjoy the peaceful 1645. They would have met in private houses. The foundation morbid but the Editor and our Chairman surroundings. of what is today’s Unitarian church in Horsham starts with It’s also been said that the Horsham congregation has led the decided to accept the offer. Matthew Caffyn, a farmer, who was classed as a General way in other non-religious areas. For example, the Rev. Robert It is still an open cemetery with around Baptist. Matthew was born in 1628 and adopted when he was Ashdowne (1831–58) started a Book and Tract Society. This Our tour leaders were Evan Giles, 100 burials a year. There is also a new seven years old by the Onslow family, the owners of eventually became the first of Horsham’s libraries with its HDC’s Parks and Countryside Manager, Garden of Remembrance which is Drungewick Manor, situated between Loxwood and collection of 4,000 volumes. and Paul Kirkbride, who is in charge of popular with families whose loved ones Wisborough Green. Later, he was sent to a grammar school in the cemetery. are cremated outside the town. Kent and in 1643, when he was 15, he was entered at All At a later date, the Rev. Marten (1891–1912) with his collection Soul’s College, Oxford. However, his unorthodox views on of items of local interest started what may have been the It was first laid out in the late Victorian If you have never been it’s well worth a the Trinity led to his expulsion from Oxford and the end of his forerunner of the present Horsham Museum. and early Edwardian period with a visit. 76 Horsham Society Newsletter November 2013 Horsham Society Newsletter November 2013 77

lt was not long after that in March 1929 he was nominated as If Albery had a hobby in the true sense of the word it would William Albery of Horsham a candidate for election to the Urban District Council and was seem to have been music, for he was never happier than when duly elected. His sole object in becoming a councillor being practising with the band he had founded, training the youthful Abridged from an article by W J Dore-Dennis in The Sussex County Magazine, August 1955 the furtherance of his design to establish what is now known members and aspirants or practising alone. What may also as the Horsham Museum, which had its inception in the Hall have been a form of relaxation was the collection of over a belonging to his then place of worship, the Unitarian Church, thousand riding and driving bits as well as of saddlery and n September 5th, 1864, was born William Albery at churchwardens’ accounts and lists of bellringers interspersed and to assure its tenure and inviolability in Causeway House. harness, which collection is now housed in the Horsham OHorsham, Sussex, an infant destined to become a figure with Burstow’s racy bellringing reminiscences. In like manner Museum. The embossing of leather, fine examples of which of note in that town and something of a worthy of the county, ‘Songs and Song Singing’ was also incorporated in the book This worthy purpose he, with the assistance of certain are possessed by certain relatives, was also something of a inasmuch as he was instrumental in establishing a local with a list of the songs Burstow sang. It was at his instigation associates, achieved during his one and only period of relaxation, for he does not appear to have made a practice of museum and was also the author of three authoritative books also that an index was added, which was compiled by Gurney councillorship, for he did not seek re-election. It was during doing this for anyone outside his own family. on Horsham and Sussex. Stedman himself, together with a list of subscribers. Thus the this period that he again became engaged in further research result was an entirely satisfactory little volume: Reminiscences in connection with the writing of another volume entitled A Likewise, although he had been sent by his father to learn Of good Sussex stock originating from Pulborough, William of Horsham . So Albery, once started on the road of historical Millennium of Facts in the History of Horsham and Sussex , engraving in London and excelled in that craft, he seems never Albery was from all accounts a normal lad in all respects. He research, decided to write a Parliamentary History of Horsham . despite the substantial loss incurred in connection with the to have favoured anyone with such work but a few members received the usual education of the time for boys of his class, At the same time he started collecting every obtainable Parliamentary History . This was of much more general appeal of his family, otherwise executing it solely in connection with attending Collyer's School in his home town where he document, deed, broadsheet, etc, relating to the town. and was published in 1947, receiving most favourable press special harness work in his workshop. remained until, as he remarked, “they could teach me no notices. more,” and upon leaving school entered his father’s business William Albery had a great sense of duty. He joined the 2nd of saddler and harness maker, eventually succeeding him in The author of these three books was, besides being a saddler Volunteer Battalion of the Royal Sussex Regiment at the age 1877 to become, in due time, President of the Federation of and harness maker and president of his Trade Federation, the of sixteen in 1880 and in 1888 was a sergeant. During the Master Saddlers of Great Britain. prime mover in the establishing of the Horsham Museum; the 1914-18 war he joined the Home Defence Corps in 1915, but founder of the local Borough Silver Band as well as a cornet was discharged on compassionate grounds after some eighteen Albery’s parents were both members of the Church of England, player and instructor of repute: a superb calligraphist and an months’ service. attending St. Mary’s Parish Church, Horsham, where he amusing rhymester. himself was a choir boy. Yet although he was brought up in the Albery was a rabid Liberal who indicted most pungent letters established church he became in early manhood an agnostic, As if not already sufficiently occupied, he wrote a rhymed to the local press under the noms de plume of ‘Goodwill’ and mainly through Thomas Paine’s Age of Reason, which he history of his home town in microscopic script – 1,741 words ‘Nobody’, for although he did not publicly take any part in admitted reading avidly. Later, in 1896, he joined the Free of 7,770 letters within the space of one shilling, which was local affairs and politics, barring, of course, his one incursion Christian (Unitarian) Church, but was not a very active published locally in 1943 under the title of Horsham under as a councillor, yet he had his own platform and commented member of that persuasion until 1904 when he was made the Microscope. The one and only disparaging press notice, in no uncertain fashion on the passing show. His scathing Treasurer, a position he held until 1936. He joined the Society the San Francisco Chronicle’s ‘A Foolish Thing’, caused him strictures scourged the Local Authority and flayed its of Friends in 1936 as a result of differences with the Minister much amusement: “it was not a foolish thing for it made £15 Councillors, and he lampooned both. in office at that time. for the Hospital". He had been able to accomplish such an astonishing piece of work by procuring the finest nib possible Albery as a Sussex man was proud of his county and of his Now it was an act of kindness, or perhaps more correctly and grinding it down to a pin’s point. lt would have been home town with its thousand years of recorded history. charity, which started the saddler and harness maker on a extremely interesting to know how long this amazing piece of Admittedly he was of a stubborn nature as befitted a native of literary venture resulting in a delightful and illuminating book work occupied him, but there does not appear to have been Sussex, but he was invariably courteous and of a sort friendly on Horsham in the days from 1836 to 1911. A fellow any record kept. to his opponents. townsman, Henry Burstow, an old boot-and-shoemaker and cobbler, well-known campanologist and singer of folk and Henry Burstow 1826-1916 taken from Albery’s other songs, had fallen on hard times, and Albery was desirous Reminiscences of Horsham of helping him and, in the words of one of his notes: He became a regular visitor at the Record Office and British “In August, 1907, when I first determined to write down Museum Library; and so intent was he in his work that it was Horsham Blueprint The three Neighbourhood Councils – Denne, Forest and Mr Burstow's recollections I had only the idea of his custom to remain at it without a break, his only refreshment Trafalgar – have started the process going and have secured writing a small pamphlet of perhaps 10 or 20 pp. to sell being a scrap of chocolate. In dealing with the mass of orsham Blueprint is the name for a new neighbourhood the assistance of an experienced consultant who gave a at 2d. or 3d. each copy. His statement that his mediaeval documents which had to be consulted, most of Hforum which plans to bring the community together to presentation to an inaugural meeting on 2 nd October. grandmother when but a child in arms was present with which were doubtless full of puzzling and aggravating create a neighbourhood plan for the unparished area of the her mother when a woman was burnt at the stake at abbreviations, he was compelled to engage a professional town. The key to a successful plan is the involvement of as wide a Horsham for murdering her husband about the year, as translator, a London lady, Miss Drucker by name. cross section of the community as possible: local organisations near as I could reckon, 1756, determined me to see if I Under the Localism Act parishes and local forums can take the and interested individuals are encouraged to take part. could find any verifications of it; accordingly l went to The work of research and the writing up of all the accumulated lead in working up plans which after approval become part of Everyone who lives or works in the town, or uses the town’s the British Museum Library and there I found a full material was in itself an immense task, to which was added the the statutory planning framework. In this way communities shops and other facilities, can have their say. account of this murder. I then decided to search further worrying knowledge that the book when completed would be can for the first time set out a vision for their locality with and find all I could about Horsham’s past, and am of limited appeal, which would necessitate the opening of a action plans, against which proposals for future development Frances Haigh, District Councillor for Horsham Park ward, astonished and pleased to have found such a lot of list of subscribers for a limited and numbered deluxe edition will be judged. has agreed to act as the interim chair of Horsham Blueprint material as will, I think, make as soon as I am able to as well as a smaller and more popular one, the author being in and is inviting anyone interested in taking part in forming the put it together another quite interesting volume.” no position to bear the whole cost of publication. However, Neighbourhood plans have to comply with national and local Forum to email her: [email protected] this was duly accomplished and the volume, with a long planning policy, including the strategy which HDC is currently It was, however, Mr Thomas Gurney Stedman of Horsham introduction by Hilaire Belloc, was published in 1927, working on. They have to be approved by an Inspector who North Horsham Parish is currently planning its own who persuaded him to write a book rather than a pamphlet, and receiving the encomiums of The Times, The Nation and has wide discretion to alter plans, after which they must be neighbourhood plan but the Society hopes that eventually it who urged him to add considerably to Burstow’s recollections Athenaeum, The Spectator, The Sunday Times and other put to the electorate in a referendum. These are significant will be possible to create a single plan for the whole of the of life and conditions in Horsham by including a section papers of similar importance, the author, however, losing the hurdles and plans can take many months before they are ready town. Meanwhile we are keen to play our part in this exciting devoted to ‘Bells and Bellringing’; together with extracts from sum of £400 on the undertaking. for the Inspector. opportunity. 76 Horsham Society Newsletter November 2013 Horsham Society Newsletter November 2013 77

lt was not long after that in March 1929 he was nominated as If Albery had a hobby in the true sense of the word it would William Albery of Horsham a candidate for election to the Urban District Council and was seem to have been music, for he was never happier than when duly elected. His sole object in becoming a councillor being practising with the band he had founded, training the youthful Abridged from an article by W J Dore-Dennis in The Sussex County Magazine, August 1955 the furtherance of his design to establish what is now known members and aspirants or practising alone. What may also as the Horsham Museum, which had its inception in the Hall have been a form of relaxation was the collection of over a belonging to his then place of worship, the Unitarian Church, thousand riding and driving bits as well as of saddlery and n September 5th, 1864, was born William Albery at churchwardens’ accounts and lists of bellringers interspersed and to assure its tenure and inviolability in Causeway House. harness, which collection is now housed in the Horsham OHorsham, Sussex, an infant destined to become a figure with Burstow’s racy bellringing reminiscences. In like manner Museum. The embossing of leather, fine examples of which of note in that town and something of a worthy of the county, ‘Songs and Song Singing’ was also incorporated in the book This worthy purpose he, with the assistance of certain are possessed by certain relatives, was also something of a inasmuch as he was instrumental in establishing a local with a list of the songs Burstow sang. It was at his instigation associates, achieved during his one and only period of relaxation, for he does not appear to have made a practice of museum and was also the author of three authoritative books also that an index was added, which was compiled by Gurney councillorship, for he did not seek re-election. It was during doing this for anyone outside his own family. on Horsham and Sussex. Stedman himself, together with a list of subscribers. Thus the this period that he again became engaged in further research result was an entirely satisfactory little volume: Reminiscences in connection with the writing of another volume entitled A Likewise, although he had been sent by his father to learn Of good Sussex stock originating from Pulborough, William of Horsham . So Albery, once started on the road of historical Millennium of Facts in the History of Horsham and Sussex , engraving in London and excelled in that craft, he seems never Albery was from all accounts a normal lad in all respects. He research, decided to write a Parliamentary History of Horsham . despite the substantial loss incurred in connection with the to have favoured anyone with such work but a few members received the usual education of the time for boys of his class, At the same time he started collecting every obtainable Parliamentary History . This was of much more general appeal of his family, otherwise executing it solely in connection with attending Collyer's School in his home town where he document, deed, broadsheet, etc, relating to the town. and was published in 1947, receiving most favourable press special harness work in his workshop. remained until, as he remarked, “they could teach me no notices. more,” and upon leaving school entered his father’s business William Albery had a great sense of duty. He joined the 2nd of saddler and harness maker, eventually succeeding him in The author of these three books was, besides being a saddler Volunteer Battalion of the Royal Sussex Regiment at the age 1877 to become, in due time, President of the Federation of and harness maker and president of his Trade Federation, the of sixteen in 1880 and in 1888 was a sergeant. During the Master Saddlers of Great Britain. prime mover in the establishing of the Horsham Museum; the 1914-18 war he joined the Home Defence Corps in 1915, but founder of the local Borough Silver Band as well as a cornet was discharged on compassionate grounds after some eighteen Albery’s parents were both members of the Church of England, player and instructor of repute: a superb calligraphist and an months’ service. attending St. Mary’s Parish Church, Horsham, where he amusing rhymester. himself was a choir boy. Yet although he was brought up in the Albery was a rabid Liberal who indicted most pungent letters established church he became in early manhood an agnostic, As if not already sufficiently occupied, he wrote a rhymed to the local press under the noms de plume of ‘Goodwill’ and mainly through Thomas Paine’s Age of Reason, which he history of his home town in microscopic script – 1,741 words ‘Nobody’, for although he did not publicly take any part in admitted reading avidly. Later, in 1896, he joined the Free of 7,770 letters within the space of one shilling, which was local affairs and politics, barring, of course, his one incursion Christian (Unitarian) Church, but was not a very active published locally in 1943 under the title of Horsham under as a councillor, yet he had his own platform and commented member of that persuasion until 1904 when he was made the Microscope. The one and only disparaging press notice, in no uncertain fashion on the passing show. His scathing Treasurer, a position he held until 1936. He joined the Society the San Francisco Chronicle’s ‘A Foolish Thing’, caused him strictures scourged the Local Authority and flayed its of Friends in 1936 as a result of differences with the Minister much amusement: “it was not a foolish thing for it made £15 Councillors, and he lampooned both. in office at that time. for the Hospital". He had been able to accomplish such an astonishing piece of work by procuring the finest nib possible Albery as a Sussex man was proud of his county and of his Now it was an act of kindness, or perhaps more correctly and grinding it down to a pin’s point. lt would have been home town with its thousand years of recorded history. charity, which started the saddler and harness maker on a extremely interesting to know how long this amazing piece of Admittedly he was of a stubborn nature as befitted a native of literary venture resulting in a delightful and illuminating book work occupied him, but there does not appear to have been Sussex, but he was invariably courteous and of a sort friendly on Horsham in the days from 1836 to 1911. A fellow any record kept. to his opponents. townsman, Henry Burstow, an old boot-and-shoemaker and cobbler, well-known campanologist and singer of folk and Henry Burstow 1826-1916 taken from Albery’s other songs, had fallen on hard times, and Albery was desirous Reminiscences of Horsham of helping him and, in the words of one of his notes: He became a regular visitor at the Record Office and British “In August, 1907, when I first determined to write down Museum Library; and so intent was he in his work that it was Horsham Blueprint The three Neighbourhood Councils – Denne, Forest and Mr Burstow's recollections I had only the idea of his custom to remain at it without a break, his only refreshment Trafalgar – have started the process going and have secured writing a small pamphlet of perhaps 10 or 20 pp. to sell being a scrap of chocolate. In dealing with the mass of orsham Blueprint is the name for a new neighbourhood the assistance of an experienced consultant who gave a at 2d. or 3d. each copy. His statement that his mediaeval documents which had to be consulted, most of Hforum which plans to bring the community together to presentation to an inaugural meeting on 2 nd October. grandmother when but a child in arms was present with which were doubtless full of puzzling and aggravating create a neighbourhood plan for the unparished area of the her mother when a woman was burnt at the stake at abbreviations, he was compelled to engage a professional town. The key to a successful plan is the involvement of as wide a Horsham for murdering her husband about the year, as translator, a London lady, Miss Drucker by name. cross section of the community as possible: local organisations near as I could reckon, 1756, determined me to see if I Under the Localism Act parishes and local forums can take the and interested individuals are encouraged to take part. could find any verifications of it; accordingly l went to The work of research and the writing up of all the accumulated lead in working up plans which after approval become part of Everyone who lives or works in the town, or uses the town’s the British Museum Library and there I found a full material was in itself an immense task, to which was added the the statutory planning framework. In this way communities shops and other facilities, can have their say. account of this murder. I then decided to search further worrying knowledge that the book when completed would be can for the first time set out a vision for their locality with and find all I could about Horsham’s past, and am of limited appeal, which would necessitate the opening of a action plans, against which proposals for future development Frances Haigh, District Councillor for Horsham Park ward, astonished and pleased to have found such a lot of list of subscribers for a limited and numbered deluxe edition will be judged. has agreed to act as the interim chair of Horsham Blueprint material as will, I think, make as soon as I am able to as well as a smaller and more popular one, the author being in and is inviting anyone interested in taking part in forming the put it together another quite interesting volume.” no position to bear the whole cost of publication. However, Neighbourhood plans have to comply with national and local Forum to email her: [email protected] this was duly accomplished and the volume, with a long planning policy, including the strategy which HDC is currently It was, however, Mr Thomas Gurney Stedman of Horsham introduction by Hilaire Belloc, was published in 1927, working on. They have to be approved by an Inspector who North Horsham Parish is currently planning its own who persuaded him to write a book rather than a pamphlet, and receiving the encomiums of The Times, The Nation and has wide discretion to alter plans, after which they must be neighbourhood plan but the Society hopes that eventually it who urged him to add considerably to Burstow’s recollections Athenaeum, The Spectator, The Sunday Times and other put to the electorate in a referendum. These are significant will be possible to create a single plan for the whole of the of life and conditions in Horsham by including a section papers of similar importance, the author, however, losing the hurdles and plans can take many months before they are ready town. Meanwhile we are keen to play our part in this exciting devoted to ‘Bells and Bellringing’; together with extracts from sum of £400 on the undertaking. for the Inspector. opportunity. 78 Horsham Society Newsletter November 2013 Horsham Society Newsletter November 2013 75 The Unitarian Church Roffey Road Halt David Moore explains the history of the Unitarians and Horsham’s part in the story Michael Hall looks back as Horsham Council plans a new station

hristianity is no different from other religions in that there hopes to be received into Holy Orders in the established any members will have seen a picture in the local press Cis an ongoing search for the truth. Very often, the church. Min early July showing the land north of the railway different interpretations of concepts, such as the Trinity, where the Council plans 2,500 homes and a new railway Original Sin and the Virgin Birth, have led to fragmentation The Civil War led to the rapid expansion of Baptist station. It was taken from the Wimland Road level crossing within the Christian faith. communities but that all changed with the restoration of the looking westward and concrete posts could be seen sticking monarchy under Charles II. Dissenters were once again out of the grass at the side of the track. As early as the 2nd century AD, Theodotus of Byzantium, persecuted for their beliefs and Matthew Caffyn was who though he accepted the Virgin Birth, thought that Jesus imprisoned five times. It was not until 1689 that some These short concrete pillars are all that remain of a small way was born a mere man. These views, which were considered to freedom of worship was tolerated by the introduction of the side station called Roffey Road Halt which was opened on 1st be heretical, were also proposed by Paul of Amosata in the Toleration Act. June 1907. On the same date Lyons Crossing and Rusper 3rd century AD as well as by Marcellus of Ancyra and Road Crossing were also opened. Five weeks later these two Photinus in the 4th century AD. So it’s hardly surprising that Matthew Caffyn and his wife Elizabeth had eight children, were renamed Ifield Halt (the word Halt being dropped in the doubts expressed in the early church about certain seven boys and one girl. At some point in time, he moved 1930), and Littlehaven Halt (here the suffix was not dropped doctrines were carried forward and resurfaced with some from Southwater to Broadbridge Heath, where he rented until 1969). force in the 16th century. Broadbridge Farm and Mill in Old Wickhurst Lane. His house was used as a meeting house in 1711 and became registered All the halts were of a basic construction with wooden English Dissenters were Christians who separated from the for worship in 1713. It is said that the Broadbridge Mill pond platforms and corrugated iron shelters. Have you ever wondered what these stumps were? Church of England in the 16th, 17th and 18th centuries was used for baptisms until 1771. He lived there until his Roffey Road halt was closed in January 1937 although the because they opposed state interference in religious matters. death. Sources of information and further reading: associated cottages were not demolished until 1972. The process accelerated during the Interregnum following the disestablishment of the Church of England by the Puritan In 1714, he was succeeded as minister by his youngest son, Further information on the railways of Mid Sussex can be found in This is now to be the site of a possible Park and Ride station Adrian Gray’s book ‘The Railways of Mid-Sussex’, published by The parliament. After the restoration of the monarchy in 1660, the also Matthew Caffyn. By 1717, there were said to be 350 as part of the North Horsham development proposal. Enjoy Oakwood Press 1975. rights of the Dissenters were limited and the final straw for hearers in Horsham but most came from outside the area. In the open fields while you can! many, which led to their withdrawal from the state church, 1719, land was purchased by John Dendy and John Geere and The Middleton Press book ‘Crawley to Littlehampton’, Mitchell V, and was the Act of Uniformity in 1662. work started on the building of the present chapel, which was My photograph, taken from the public highway, shows the Smith, K. has a very distant view of the Halt and cottages. registered for worship in 1721. It was intended that the chapel remains alongside the Up Line. In railway parlance the UP would be used as a general meeting place on special Sussex Industrial Archaeology Society has also produced a survey of The Unitarian movement began in Poland, Lithuania and Line is usually towards London, or the more important Sussex mainlines, No.8 Horsham to Littlehampton. Transylvania in the middle of the 16th century and occasions for all the congregations in the area, not just for location, and the Down Line is from London. www.sussexias.co.uk Transylvania has, as its claim to fame, the privilege of having those based in Horsham. You can see why this was when you the only Unitarian king in history realise that there were only 18 Baptist families recorded as living in Horsham itself in 1724. References to the word Unitarian in this country appear in 1665 with the importation of copies of publications such as By the late 18th century, church members came from Horsham shorts The Library of the Polish Brethren who are called Unitarians . Warnham, Billingshurst and Shermanbury as well as from The word is first found in 1687 in an English publication, A Horsham, and in 1754 the Billingshurst members formed a Traffic calming It seems a small result for a great deal lovely brick built non denominational brief history of the Unitarians, called also Socinians . The separate congregation. Then in 1820, we suddenly find that of effort, and presumably money. One chapel and a variety of gravestones movement became more popular in England as time went by most of the Horsham congregation were no longer described ew traffic calming measures were wonders how long it will be before reflecting changing fashions. and became a formal denomination in 1774, when Theophilus as general Baptists, they were now Unitarians. Nrecently introduced in Hills Farm someone hits one of the posts which do Lindsey organised meetings with Joseph Priestly and founded Lane. They consist of several chicanes not even have reflective markings. There is nothing quite like the chapel the first true Unitarian congregation in the country at Essex The name of the congregation changed over the years. In each of which comprises a staggered elsewhere in Horsham so we have Street Church in London. Today, Essex Hall, as it is now 1878, the church was described as Unitarian (Baptist) later it pair of wooden posts each set a short Time will tell whether it makes any suggested that it should be considered called, is the headquarters of British Unitarian. became known as Free Christian, then Free Christian distance into the carriageway. difference to traffic speed and safety. for local listing next time the list is (Unitarian) before finally adopting the name Unitarian. updated. It is said that there were about 100 Dissenters in Horsham in 1676 and it’s interesting to note that Quakers, Presbyterians Despite its long history, Unitarianism remains relatively Hills Cemetery The cemetery is a fascinating treasure and General Baptists flourished in Horsham in the late 17th unknown in this country. The largest group of Unitarians is and beautifully maintained. One can and early 18th centuries. found in the USA but congregations are found in other parts id you see HDC’s invitation in easily see why people choose to visit to of the world. There’s even a congregation in the north east of DSeptember to join a guided tour of remember a loved one buried there or It is thought that there were Baptists in Horsham as early as India! Hills Cemetery? It may sound a little simply to enjoy the peaceful 1645. They would have met in private houses. The foundation morbid but the Editor and our Chairman surroundings. of what is today’s Unitarian church in Horsham starts with It’s also been said that the Horsham congregation has led the decided to accept the offer. Matthew Caffyn, a farmer, who was classed as a General way in other non-religious areas. For example, the Rev. Robert It is still an open cemetery with around Baptist. Matthew was born in 1628 and adopted when he was Ashdowne (1831–58) started a Book and Tract Society. This Our tour leaders were Evan Giles, 100 burials a year. There is also a new seven years old by the Onslow family, the owners of eventually became the first of Horsham’s libraries with its HDC’s Parks and Countryside Manager, Garden of Remembrance which is Drungewick Manor, situated between Loxwood and collection of 4,000 volumes. and Paul Kirkbride, who is in charge of popular with families whose loved ones Wisborough Green. Later, he was sent to a grammar school in the cemetery. are cremated outside the town. Kent and in 1643, when he was 15, he was entered at All At a later date, the Rev. Marten (1891–1912) with his collection Soul’s College, Oxford. However, his unorthodox views on of items of local interest started what may have been the It was first laid out in the late Victorian If you have never been it’s well worth a the Trinity led to his expulsion from Oxford and the end of his forerunner of the present Horsham Museum. and early Edwardian period with a visit. 74 Horsham Society Newsletter November 2013 Horsham Society Newsletter November 2013 79

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