Findon, West Sussex
Encyclopedia
Findon is a village and civil parish
in the Arun
District of West Sussex
, England
, four miles (6.4 km) north of Worthing
. The parish has an area of 16.41 km² and a population of 1848 persons (2001 census
).
Findon lies between two hills; Cissbury
with its iron age
hill fort to the east and Church Hill to the west. On both hills there are remains of stone age flint mines where shafts were sunk about 12.2 metres (40 ft) to reach the best seams of flint which were mined from radiating galleries. The village is now bypassed by the A24
as it crosses the South Downs
: the bypass was constructed in 1938. A modern settlement to the south of the village, inside the boundary of the Borough of Worthing
is called Findon Valley
.
The parish church, dedicated to St John the Baptist, stands to the west of the village and the A24 road near the 18th century mansion Findon Place. The church is built of flint to an unusual design, the nave and north aisle having been given a single span roof with king-posts resting on the arcade, probably in the 15th century. The screen is a rare 13th century example, but heavily restored. There are five public houses, The Gun Inn, The Black Horse, The Village House, The Snooty Fox (part of the Findon Manor Hotel) and John Henry's four of which are located in the High Street. The village has a small primary school
, situated on School Hill, called Saint John the Baptist. It boasts many annual events, including a fireworks
display and May Day
celebrations.
The parish includes the hamlet of Nepcote on the east side of the village. Nepcote Green is the venue for the annual Findon sheep fair held in early September. Originally a charter fair dating from as early as 1261 many thousands of sheep were penned on the green for sale in earlier times. Wooden hurdles for pens were stored in the purpose built Wattle House on the green which also included living accommodation. Nowadays the fair is a sheep show and funfair.
The actress Nancy Price
lived in a cottage called 'Arcana' in Heather lane, in the downs above Findon for many years.
The Monarch's Way
long-distance footpath crosses the village, the only significant settlement on the route between Arundel
and Bramber
.
Civil parish
In England, a civil parish is a territorial designation and, where they are found, the lowest tier of local government below districts and counties...
in the Arun
Arun
Arun is a local government district in West Sussex, England. It contains the towns of Arundel, Bognor Regis and Littlehampton, and takes its name from the River Arun, which runs through the centre of the district.-History:...
District of West Sussex
West Sussex
West Sussex is a county in the south of England, bordering onto East Sussex , Hampshire and Surrey. The county of Sussex has been divided into East and West since the 12th century, and obtained separate county councils in 1888, but it remained a single ceremonial county until 1974 and the coming...
, England
England
England is a country that is part of the United Kingdom. It shares land borders with Scotland to the north and Wales to the west; the Irish Sea is to the north west, the Celtic Sea to the south west, with the North Sea to the east and the English Channel to the south separating it from continental...
, four miles (6.4 km) north of Worthing
Worthing
Worthing is a large seaside town with borough status in West Sussex, within the historic County of Sussex, forming part of the Brighton/Worthing/Littlehampton conurbation. It is situated at the foot of the South Downs, west of Brighton, and east of the county town of Chichester...
. The parish has an area of 16.41 km² and a population of 1848 persons (2001 census
Census
A census is the procedure of systematically acquiring and recording information about the members of a given population. It is a regularly occurring and official count of a particular population. The term is used mostly in connection with national population and housing censuses; other common...
).
Findon lies between two hills; Cissbury
Cissbury Ring
Cissbury Ring is a hill fort on the South Downs, in the borough of Worthing, and about from its town centre, in the English county of West Sussex.-Hill fort:...
with its iron age
Iron Age
The Iron Age is the archaeological period generally occurring after the Bronze Age, marked by the prevalent use of iron. The early period of the age is characterized by the widespread use of iron or steel. The adoption of such material coincided with other changes in society, including differing...
hill fort to the east and Church Hill to the west. On both hills there are remains of stone age flint mines where shafts were sunk about 12.2 metres (40 ft) to reach the best seams of flint which were mined from radiating galleries. The village is now bypassed by the A24
A24 road (Great Britain)
The A24 is a major road in England. It runs south from Clapham in southwest London through Morden before entering Surrey and heading through Ewell, Epsom, Ashtead, Leatherhead and Dorking...
as it crosses the South Downs
South Downs
The South Downs is a range of chalk hills that extends for about across the south-eastern coastal counties of England from the Itchen Valley of Hampshire in the west to Beachy Head, near Eastbourne, East Sussex, in the east. It is bounded on its northern side by a steep escarpment, from whose...
: the bypass was constructed in 1938. A modern settlement to the south of the village, inside the boundary of the Borough of Worthing
Worthing
Worthing is a large seaside town with borough status in West Sussex, within the historic County of Sussex, forming part of the Brighton/Worthing/Littlehampton conurbation. It is situated at the foot of the South Downs, west of Brighton, and east of the county town of Chichester...
is called Findon Valley
Findon Valley
Findon Valley is a neighbourhood of the Borough of Worthing in West Sussex, England. It lies on the A24 road 2.9 miles north of the town centre....
.
The parish church, dedicated to St John the Baptist, stands to the west of the village and the A24 road near the 18th century mansion Findon Place. The church is built of flint to an unusual design, the nave and north aisle having been given a single span roof with king-posts resting on the arcade, probably in the 15th century. The screen is a rare 13th century example, but heavily restored. There are five public houses, The Gun Inn, The Black Horse, The Village House, The Snooty Fox (part of the Findon Manor Hotel) and John Henry's four of which are located in the High Street. The village has a small primary school
School
A school is an institution designed for the teaching of students under the direction of teachers. Most countries have systems of formal education, which is commonly compulsory. In these systems, students progress through a series of schools...
, situated on School Hill, called Saint John the Baptist. It boasts many annual events, including a fireworks
Fireworks
Fireworks are a class of explosive pyrotechnic devices used for aesthetic and entertainment purposes. The most common use of a firework is as part of a fireworks display. A fireworks event is a display of the effects produced by firework devices...
display and May Day
May Day
May Day on May 1 is an ancient northern hemisphere spring festival and usually a public holiday; it is also a traditional spring holiday in many cultures....
celebrations.
The parish includes the hamlet of Nepcote on the east side of the village. Nepcote Green is the venue for the annual Findon sheep fair held in early September. Originally a charter fair dating from as early as 1261 many thousands of sheep were penned on the green for sale in earlier times. Wooden hurdles for pens were stored in the purpose built Wattle House on the green which also included living accommodation. Nowadays the fair is a sheep show and funfair.
The actress Nancy Price
Nancy Price
Nancy Price, CBE , was an English actress on stage and screen, authoress and theatre director. Her acting career began in a repertory theatre company before progressing to the London stage, silent films, talkies and finally television. In addition to appearing on stage she became involved in...
lived in a cottage called 'Arcana' in Heather lane, in the downs above Findon for many years.
The Monarch's Way
Monarch's Way
The Monarch's Way is a long-distance footpath in England that approximates the escape route taken by King Charles II in 1651 after being defeated in the Battle of Worcester.Most of the footpath is waymarked...
long-distance footpath crosses the village, the only significant settlement on the route between Arundel
Arundel
Arundel is a market town and civil parish in the South Downs of West Sussex in the south of England. It lies south southwest of London, west of Brighton, and east of the county town of Chichester. Other nearby towns include Worthing east southeast, Littlehampton to the south and Bognor Regis to...
and Bramber
Bramber
Bramber is a village and civil parish in the Horsham District of West Sussex, England. It is located on the northern edge of the South Downs and on the west side of the River Adur. Nearby are the communities of Steyning to the west and Upper Beeding to the east, and the other side of the river....
.
See also
- Rose SettenRose SettenRose Setten is the 2004 winner of BBC Young Choirgirl of the Year. Setten's achievement was particularly noteworthy because at the time she was head chorister at a small provincial parish with limited resources, All Saints Church in Findon Valley, and was competing against professional choristers...
- BBC Young Choirgirl of the Year for 2004, from All Saints Church, Findon Valley