56 the horsham society newsletter june 2008...

July 2008

OUR CONCERN IS THE PAST, PRESENT AND FUTURE OF THE TOWN

Newsletter56 The Horsham Society Newsletter June 2008

DirectoryThe Horsham Society is an independent body supported by members’

subscriptions, a registered charity (No.268949), affiliated to theCampaign to Protect Rural England and registered with the Civic Trust.

It is a member of the English Historic Towns Forum.

PRESIDENT: Dr Annabelle Hughes

VICE-PRESIDENTS:Oliver Palmer, Francis Maude PC MP, Nigel Friswell

CHAIRMAN John Steele2 Old Denne GardensHorsham RH12 1JATel: (01403) 272814Email: [email protected]

Hon TREASURERRoy Bayliss15 PatchingsHorsham RH13 5HJTel: (01403) 262262

MEMBERSHIP SECRETARYPat Gale46 Bedford RoadHorsham RH13 5BJTel: (01403) 253946

Horsham Society website: www.horshamsociety.org

SUBSCRIPTION RATESIndividuals: £5 per year Single Pensioner: £3.25 per yearFamily Membership:: £7.50 per year Family Pensioner: £5 per yearBusinesses: £10 per year Single Life Membership: £100

Family Life Membership: £150£2.50 postage is added to the above rates for out-of-town members

All correspondence should go to the Hon Secretary in the first instance.The Newsletter is published monthly except for August. Letters andarticles to be considered for publication should be sent to the Editor,Brian Slyfield, Arun House, Denne Road, Horsham RH12 1JF. Opinionsin the Newsletter, whether Editor’s or contributors’, are not necessarilythe policy of the Society.

VICE CHAIRMANIan Dockreay

24 Wimblehurst RoadHorsham RH12 2EDTel: (01403) 241582

Hon SECRETARYSandie Brittain

2 FairviewHorsham RH12 2PYTel: (01403) 260915

NEWSLETTER DISTRIBUTIONORGANISER

Kathy Gleeson13 Millthorpe Road

Roffey RH12 4ERTel: (01403) 210511

© Individual contributors 2008. No material may be reproduced, copied or stored in aretrieval system without the prior consent of the relevant contributor, which should besought via the Editor.

New membersThanks very much to the following for joining: Mr and MrsBrown, Bostock Avenue, Horsham; Mr Sillett, WimblehurstRoad, Horsham; Mr and Mrs Rodgers, Stoneybrook, Horsham;Mrs Smith, Copsale Road, Maplehurst; Mr Baxendale,Kenardington Manor, Kenardington, Kent.

Join the OCA!The Old Collyerians’Association is a splendid organisation withan excellent newsletter, summer outings, a winter reunion anda lively website. It is open to everyone who attended the oldgrammar school or today’s college, and the subscription isminimal. A good few Horsham Society members must becandidates, so why not join up and keep in touch with yourcontemporaries? The man to talk to is Mark Collins, 4 StallettWay, Tilney St Lawrence, Kings Lynn, Norfolk PE34 4HT. Tel:01945 880236, email: [email protected]

01403 265608

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Horsham Press7/8/9 Newhouse Business Centre,Old Crawley Road, Horsham, West Sussex, RH12 4RUE-mail: [email protected] www.horshampress.co.uk

Last month’s issue was a week or so late in gettingto you – so apologies to one and all. Holidayarrangements got tangled up with the productionschedule, but hopefully we’re now back on track.

This month we feature another of Peter Ward’sdrawings, and do get in touch with him if youwould like to know more about his work. RobertWorley also throws a welcome and importantspotlight on two of Horsham’s hidden stretches ofwater off Harwood Road, and is keen that work isdone to clean them up.

Copy date for the August issue is 4 July.

By The Way

Where are the swifts?

Common Swifts are summer visitors, but sad tosay a species in decline. As far as I am aware,

there were just two nesting sites in Horsham (theyfavour house eaves, church spires and similarlocations), St Mary’s and the old NorthbrookCollege in Hurst Road, the latter now empty and thesubject of possible redevelopment (see last month’sissue).

These birds generally return from their wintersojourn in sub-Saharan Africa in early May, andwhile you can still see them scything the air aroundthe church steeple, screaming in that unmistakableway, as previously reported, the eaves of the HurstRoad house have been netted, possibly to preventthem taking up residence again (the species haslegal protection and nests, when occupied, cannotbe destroyed). There seems to be no sign of themelsewhere in Hurst Road, so the town might nowhave just one colony.

All this is very sad. Along with Barn Swallows (asthey are now called) and HouseMartins, Common Swifts are – orwere – an integral part of our latesprings and summers. So dowrite in if you know of anynesting sites elsewhere in thetown. It is just a personal view,but it seems shameful that, at atime when the populations of somany of our once familiar birdsare declining, any action is takenthat might yet further discouragebreeding levels. BS

A local laundryIf you’ve nothing more pressing to do, take a look at page 51, where I’ve

tried to iron out a little of the history of the splendidly named HorshamSanitary Steam Laundry. My interest was generated after the purchase of thisshare certificate – but please don’t get too starchy (or hang me out to dry,even) if you find the story a bit damp. I wouldn’t want you to think it a totalwash out.

Gypsies on Gaol GreenFrom the February 1870 parish magazine:

‘There can be but one opinion that the state of the Carfax, or Gaol Green, islittle creditable to the Town; gypsy encampments, which from time to time arepermitted without any attempt at interference with the encroachers, must bemost annoying to those living near it, and before now has proved veryprejudicial to the Town in a sanitary point of view. Signatures are beingsought to the following, and already a good number have been received: “We,the undersigned Inhabitants and House-holders of the Town of Horsham,consider, That the present state of the Gaol Green is a nuisance to the Town,and that it is desirable that measures should be adopted to have it placed undermore efficient control and supervision, and that a representation to that effectshould be made to the Duke of Norfolk”’.

Barn Owl – happy newsNo sooner had the last issue been circulated than Oliver Farley got on thephone and reported the happy news that he had seen a Barn Owl around 7.20pm on 22 May along the River Arun by Chesworth. So it looks as if my reportlast month about the loss of a local bird was over-pessimistic, I am delightedto say.

Editor’s note

Another fine drawing by Peter Ward.Peter can be contacted on 01403276570 or [email protected]

Do please write in: letters for publication toBrian Slyfield, Arun House, Denne Road,Horsham RH12 1JF

Happy memories

Iwas most interested in the article in theMay Newsletter about the old surgery in

North Street. My parents lived in a flat innumber 11 next door. It was a large ramblingbuilding with downstairs rooms let out to a MrBenson, a music teacher, and the Conservativeladies for their meetings. I often wonderedwhat it was originally. Dr Sparrow was mymother’s doctor, who found time for a chatwhen he was called. He was paid ten shillingsa visit (50p today), which was quite a lot then.

From our large window we watched the worldgo by - the tramps on their way to the ForestHospital, where they spent the night, and thecrowds on their way from the station to thecricket field for Cricket Week. I went toschool in St Mark’s right opposite, so I didn’thave far to go. I remember Drs Bradford,Morgan and Dew, and de Lacy who was verypopular with his patients.

My mother started going to St Mark’s church,but was asked to move pews, as the seats werereserved for the Misses Lyons (I think that isright) who lived in King’s Road. My brotherFred Short worked as the projectionist at theWinter Garden and Carfax cinemas for a time.Later he went to the new Odeon, built whereDr Sparrow had lived.

I wonder if anyone else remembers going tothe Carfax on New Year’s Eve to welcome inthe New Year. I think they used to fire acannon from Warnham Park at 12 o’clock. Itwas a very happy start to the New Year.

I also noted the death of Mr Pearsall, mydentist for many years, after Mr Hanreck. Iwent to him one Saturday morning with a verytroublesome tooth, to find him gardening andhis surgery closed. Instead of turning meaway, he took me in and did what wasnecessary. I was very grateful, as you canimagine, and never forgot his kindness.

I do enjoy your Newsletters very much,especially when they bring back happymemories. Thank you to all concerned.

Mrs E FleetOaks Road, Tenterden, Kent

PS: Was that photo of Dr Kinneir’s house theone that became The Old House in LondonRoad, where Major and Mrs Middletonlived?

Mrs Fleet: Thank you for a most interestingletter – and yes, it was and still is The OldHouse. Ed.

Town Hall loss

Thank you for including details of theHorsham Painting Group Spring

Exhibition in the May issue of the Newsletter.The loss of the Town Hall will be a severeblow to the cultural life of our town, particu-larly as there does not appear to be a suitablealternative for events of this nature. I do hopethat people will take every opportunity toenjoy this facility before it is so ruthlesslytaken from us and destroyed.

Freda LambourneNew Street, Horsham

Pedestrian crossing progress

When my grandson started at Tanbridgeschool I became aware of the

inadequacy of the small island in the middleof Guildford Road, which many children usedwhen they crossed to and from school onto thefootpath that runs between Irwin andMerryfield Drives. It is a very dangerouscrossing. I contacted several organisationsabout this and the Newsletter also published aletter from me about the danger. You alsoasked me to report on progress.

Well, several years later a notice has beenposted by WSCC Traffic Department statingthat a pedestrian light-controlled crossing is tobe installed there. I would like to say thatother people have taken up this matter duringthe intervening years and I think they shouldbe thanked for their efforts – but I also think,above all, it illustrates that one should nevergive up when dealing with the authorities.They can surprise you by respondingpositively, even if it does take several years.

Alan BlickIrwin Drive, Horsham

Sir Prescott Hewett

Iwas very interested in the article (May2007) about Sir Prescott Hewett of Chestnut

Lodge. My husband’s great grandmother,Fanny Hewett, was a niece of this gentleman.Although she mainly spoke about his cousinto my father-in-law when he was a boy,(Admiral William Nathan Wright Hewett),she was closer to the surgeon, as he was herfather’s brother. It’s so nice to read that hewas well liked and greatly thought of; otherreports of him share the same opinion. Thanksto Brian Slyfield for his interesting story.

S Kelsey, by email

Owl Beech –another perspective

Iwould like to respond to John Dodds’article: Owl Beech: heathland or trees (May

issue) and put another perspective. Many ofthe paths that ran through the pine plantationshave gone, but there is a well used circuit

around the perimeter of the site, whichexplains why many of the lesser paths arebecoming impassable. HDC is not obliged toprovide open access across the whole of thesite and one should not expect that in acountryside site.

The assertion that half of the Scots Pinescould be expected to live a further 200 yearsis optimistic, given that they have had littlemanagement in the initial years. Plantationplanting crowds the trees together, forcingthem to compete for light, water and nutrients.If a commercial management regime had beenadopted in the past, many of the trees wouldalready have been thinned out. The remainingtrees would be approaching the point that theywould be felled en masse for their timber,leaving the site in the same situation.

The use of the timber as bio-fuel forelectricity generation is actually a carbon-neutral exercise. Although burning wood doesrelease carbon dioxide, it is only releasingback what the trees have trapped during their30 year lifetime. The burning of fossil fuelssuch as coal and oil releases huge quantities ofgreenhouse gases which took millennia toform and have been ‘locked up’ for millions ofyears.

The author’s argument that the CommonLizard and other heathland species do nothave the right to co-exist with him is alsoflawed. Local authorities have a duty toprotect and enhance habitats for biodiversity(Natural Environment and Rural Comm-unities Act 2006). Countryside sites such asthese are immensely important for wildlife, asthey are for people to get close to nature. If theauthor is so bothered by the inclementweather could he not take an umbrella?

Board walks have been erected for theconvenience of walkers and the area has beenfenced for grazing. This is the traditionalmanagement of heathland, and will helprestrict the spread of brambles and bracken.

Finally the author’s belief that the whole ofsouthern England was covered in forest isdefinitely out of date. It is now thought thatover half the original woodland had beenfelled by the time the Romans came to Britain.Moreover much of that woodland was notsome dark dense forest, but a mosaic of gladesand open areas where for example heathlandmight develop.

If the author or any of your readers areinterested in learning more, both HDC andGatwick Greenspace Partnership (tel: 01293550730) run volunteer activities on sites inand around Horsham, including Owl BeechWood, and I would be happy to explain more,whilst helping to manage these sites for bothpeople and wildlife.

Peter CrawfordGatwick Greenspace Partnership

Unit 7, Tilgate ParkTilgate, Crawley RH12 5PQ

50 The Horsham Society Newsletter July 2008 The Horsham Society Newsletter July 2008 55

Letters to the EditorFrom The Committee

Coote’s Green protected

We are pleased to report that anothergreen space has been protected

from possible development. Back inMarch 2005 the Society, on behalf oflocal residents, applied for Coote’s Green,along Merryfield Drive, to be givenvillage green status under the CommonsAct. It needed to be shown that the landin question, for no less than 20 years, hadbeen used by a significant number of thecommunity for ‘lawful sports andpastimes as of right’, and that it wouldcontinue to be utilised in this way.

This test was successfully completed, andon 19 May the WSCC rights of waycommittee agreed to register the greenand its nearby pond officially as a towngreen, thus protecting it from development.

This is the third example within the lastyear or two of the Society, together withothers, taking action which has resultedin various ways in green spaces withinthe town being protected from develop-ment – the others being Hadman’s Greenand Ramsey Close.

Hotel matters

Another bit of good news is that HDChas agreed that the area of the Park

formerly occupied by the nursery schoolwill be returned to parkland. CouncillorGordon Brown had put forward the viewthat it would a good site for a hotel, butthis proposal was criticised by many, andis now a non-starter.

Meanwhile, a more welcome suggestionis that put forward by Travelodge, whowant to build a hotel at the bottom ofWest Street by the bus station, where manyyears ago the Black Horse, an old coachinginn remembered fondly by many, oncestood. This proposal, which looks to be inkeeping with the surrounding area, wouldanswer the problem of a lack of accommo-dation in central Horsham, and if parkingissues can be resolved, the Society has noobjection.

Notes on selected planningapplications and appealsDulcima House, Carfax: We are pleasedto report that the Society has now reachedagreement with the developer regardingan appropriate colour tone (‘biscuit’) forthe front of the building.

Rusper Road: New application for 2semi-detached houses. Society objectedbut developer has responded by quotingan appeal decision in an apparentlysimilar case. Decision pending.

Chichester Terrace: Convert 3-storeyhouse to 4 flats. Society objected – changeof use (over-development). Applicationwithdrawn.

Denne Parade: Demolish service centreand 3 houses and build 14 x 3-story flats.Society not objected. Decision pending.

Agates Yard, Faygate: Build 156retirement units etc. Society objected –layout (conflict with strategic gap andBUAB policy). Application refused.

Guildford Road: Demolish 5 existingdwellings and build care home. Societyobjected – layout (single block out ofcharacter). Application refused on groundsof general bulk and likely resulting levelof activity out of character with area.

Milnwood Road: Demolish 1 house andbuild 10 dwelling units. Society objectedon grounds that flats are too large.Decision pending.

A vision for the future:a member responds

In the May issue we discussed the needfor a vision for the future of the town –

what do we want it to be like in 10 years’time? – and invited contributions fromother members. So thanks to IvanGillibrand, a life member and also editorof World Medical Journal, for thefollowing, in which he sets out a numberof positions:

1. Health. If a major new acute hospitalat Pease Pottage by the motorway is ap-proved by the General Medical Council(2009), then access to health care facili-ties throughout Sussex – with direct con-nections to London – will be transformed.Telemedicine links to the University ofSussex Teaching Hospital at Brighton,

using postgraduate medical skills, willfurther enhance general practice. Plansare being drawn up by Dr Skipp, untilrecently from Park Surgery.

2. Environment. More gardens should bedeveloped in open spaces around thetown, not just for a beautiful Carfax andenvirons but also with an educationalvalue for local schools. Nesting boxes forbirds could be sited in mature trees.

3. Property. Surplus town centre officespace? Boarded up buildings losing theirvalue? Such eyesores could be convertedto residential use, for young marriedcouples starting out in life together.

4. International tourism. Located justsouth of Gatwick airport, Horsham couldbe the ideal centre for tourism throughoutSussex and along the south coast, forinternational airline passengers in transit.BAA ownership may soon be sold, whichwould promote healthy competition be-tween airlines and services at Gatwick(many of its employees live in Horsham),raising standards and providing leisureactivities.

5. Internet services. An on-line wwwcafe, as part of the Library, would enableyoung whizz kids etc to keep up with jobvacancies in an expanding global market.

6. Shopping. More local, individualisedshops should be developed – withcomputerised ordering from catalogues.Many of the more elderly residents couldbe disabled or unable to carry heavyloads of shopping and would appreciatedelivery right up to their doorsteps.

Ivan Gillibrand

Thanks to Mr & Mrs Bridges

We thank Mr and Mrs Bridges, whohave generously donated a copy of

Dorothea Hurst’s History and Antiquitiesof Horsham (2nd edition, 1889) to theSociety archive. This is an important bookin the story of our town, written by amember of the family which once lived inPark House and latersold it and the parklandto Horsham UrbanDistrict Council. It is animportant source of con-temporary information,and will be well caredfor.

Artist’s impression.

A few years ago I picked up arather splendid company

share certificate from a second-hand book shop in Chichester(front page), framed it, stuck it ona wall and forgot all about it. Notbefore time, I’ve now dusted itdown and taken a look at a little ofthe background to the HorshamSanitary Steam Laundry Company,which in its hey-day would haveprovided an essential service to thegood folk of our town.

Its premises were variouslydescribed as being at Victoria

Street, off New Street, opposite the ‘electric lighting works’(1905), and at 48 Stanley Street (1929), and it boasted in itsadvertisements that it was housed in ‘a specially constructedmodel building for carrying on laundry work under the bestsanitary conditions. Linen always returned promptly, correctlyand well aired’. In 1905 it could claim ‘a large and efficient staff’who could deal with ‘curtains, lace, muslin and frilled,cretonnes, chintzs, blankets, counterpanes etc, cleaned and gotup in the best possible style’ – and all under the supervision ofMrs H Hogben.

The photograph of its staff is from the collection of the late CecilCramp, and was taken by London and Counties Studios of 14West Street, it is thought around 1913-14. It was pretty much awomen-only operation (19 ladies in the photo) and no doubt thetwo lone men were responsible for collections and deliveries.Certainly everyone has an efficient look about them, with apronscrisp and starched. I wonder which one is Mrs Hogben (perhapsin the middle of the back row?); if anyone can identify a familymember do write in.

As for the £5 share certificate (number 349), it was issued toRobert Woodruffe Crowhurst, described as a tailor and hatter, on29 December 1888. Crowhurst was a partner at James Lea andCo, 10 Middle Street, and his home was at 8 Chichester Terrace.

The Steam Laundry’s secretary was Alfred Aldridge of AstonVilla, Bedford Road, and one of the directors was Robert Gallier,

a well known figure in the town. His principal line of work wasas a chemist and druggist, and he had premises at the corner ofMiddle Street and the Carfax (Ernest Kittle’s old shop) and alsoat 1 Queen Street. He sold a number of remedies under his ownname, and informed the public in one advertisement that ‘priceshave been carefully revised and will bear favourable comparisonwith those of any respectable and reliable house’. In other words,watch out for quacks.

The laundry was a significant operation in its time, and wouldhave been launched to capitalise on the town’s growingpopulation and prosperity. The earlier 19th century market forsingle washerwomen taking in work would have been undercut,

and their days now numbered. The future was allabout mechanisation, efficiency and group organi-sation, and Mrs Hogben and her ladies were just theones for the job. They were the future.

Mrs Hogben stayed at the helm until the SecondWorld War – a remarkable run – and the laundryitself remained until the 1950s. In 1951 it promoteditself, justifiably, as being ‘old established and wellrecommended’. But there was one sad story relatingto the business. Back in 1904 Mr H Hogben, pre-sumably Mrs Hogben’s husband and then describedas the laundry’s proprietor, was committed toGraylingwell psychiatric hospital at Chichester,suffering from ‘delusions’. He was only 37, and thepoor man died there on 3 April from the effects ofmouse poison that he had taken earlier.

BS


Horsham’s hidden lakes

Shielded by trees and tucked away in a semi-rural enclave offDepot Road at the rear of Horsham railway station are two

sizeable ponds or small lakes which can be accessed fromHarwood Road, Stirling Way and Ayshe Court Drive. They areoverlooked by two purpose-built blocks of flats – Bourns Courtand Lyon Court, named after the Lyon family (thought to berelated to the Bowes-Lyons) which lived in nearby HarwoodHouse prior to its demolition in the 1960s. ‘Bourns’ is clearly amis-spelling by a council official of ‘Bowes’, named when theapartments were completed in 1969.

The ponds or lakes are referred to locally as ‘upper’ and ‘lower’.The so-called ‘upper’ lake nearest Harwood Road is the older ofthe two and is a former clay pit when the area was littered withbrick fields. The ‘lower’ lake was designed as an ornamental fishpond in the extensive grounds of an Edwardian house, AysheCourt, which was completed around the year 1915 and stood onthe site of a far older property, The Poplars. Both houses werelocated roughly on a site which now forms the junction ofPoplars and Ayshe Court Drive. Entrance to the big house was inthe form of a winding path from Depot Road.

A substantial residence, Ayshe Court was for many years thehome of a well known Horsham figure, Colonel ArthurMiddleton (the father of ‘Baggy’ Middleton, the man behind TheCapitol) who lived there with his wife until her death in 1927.Following Middleton’s departure, the house became the propertyof one Percy Hedworth Foulkes and his wife, who occupied ituntil its demolition in 1967 in order to make way for a housingdevelopment.

Houses, bungalows and flats erected in roads named Poplars andAyshe Court Drive were developed by a Brighton-basedcompany, Kenstairs Developments who, having purchased theentire Ayshe Court estate, sold off a parcel of land on one side ofthe lakes to Davis Estates, which now forms Stirling Way andWaterfield Close. But neither developer was keen to acceptresponsibility for the upkeep of either the ‘upper’ or ‘lower’ lake.Leasehold maps of both Bourns Court and Lyon Court clearlyshow their land boundary ends at the water’s edge. And so thetwo lakes would have remained unwanted and unloved had it notbeen for an initiative by a group of residents in Stirling Way whosome twenty years ago formed the Lakeside ConservationVolunteers, which became affiliated to the British Trust forNature Conservation. Their invaluable voluntary work inmaintaining the lakes and much of the surrounding woodlandcontinues to this day.

Both lakes support a good deal of wildlife. Varieties of nestingbirds, including Mallards and Moorhens, frequent the tree-linedlakes and surrounding grassed areas, whilst a vixen and herplayful cubs are often nocturnal visitors and numerous squirrelsmake the woodland their home - all of which makes the lakesidean attraction for young children and their parents who haveaccess to the area from a pathway or twitten which runsalongside the lakes joining Depot Road with Harwood Road.

Conservation volunteers can do just so much to preserve andenhance the area, but trees felled by winter gales remainuntouched. And over the years both lakes have become silted up,which tends to create an unpleasant smell for flat dwellers duringthe hot summer months. So, on health and safety grounds alone,urgent action is required if the lakes and their surroundingwoodland are to be preserved for the benefit of futuregenerations. In places the lakes are no more than inches deepand specialist plant will be required to remove the silt from the‘lower’ lake in particular. And it is the considered opinion oflocals that Horsham District Council owes a duty of care toresidents in the immediate area. Health considerations apart,Horsham’s hidden lakes – set in an area of high density housing- are surely an amenity that is well worth preserving. Hopefullythe council will make a positive response.

Robert B Worley

The Horsham Sanitary Steam Laundry

Robert WorleyUpper Lake.

Demolition of Ayshe Court, Spring 1967. John Cannon

Horsham Football Club

The committee has considered the issues surroundingthe application by Horsham Football Club and has

heard the very strong views both for and against. Our viewis that this is a unique situation and a finely balanced onewhere the potential problems associated with intensifyingthe use of an existing sports ground have to be weighedagainst the possible future scenarios for the ground if HFChas to withdraw. For these reasons we believe it is a matterprimarily for the residents that will be affected and if themajority are against the application we would hope that theCouncil will act accordingly. That said we believe thatsome of the concerns that have been expressed aboutpossible ancillary uses by HFC such as concerts and otherpublic events could be controlled through the planningprocess and should not be allowed to cloud the main issue.

John Steele


Allotments no more

In May 2007 Audrey Tope started off an interesting Newslettercorrespondence by asking where the town’s old rope walks

might have been, particularly one that Sam Davis, a well knownrope maker in Victorian Horsham, would have used. Since thenshe has obtained, thanks to West Sussex Record Office, a copy ofthe Ordnance Survey 25” to 1 mile map of the town, a section ofwhich is shown on the opposite page. Most interestingly, itclearly shows that a rope walk existed in 1875, when the mapwas first surveyed, and it was situated alongside the beginning ofwhat is now known as Oakhill Road, off New Street and oppositeHamper’s Farm. We do not know for sure that it was Sam Davis’s,but it is good to see confirmation of one in black and white.

These old and detailed maps are full of interesting information,and let’s study this one. Just see, for example, how green it stillwas in 1875 on either side of New Street, north of Bedford Road.But going south development was underway, with the first ofthose small family houses that now give such an attractivecharacter to that part of town.

Fields belonging to Hamper’s Farm covered the area betweenNew Street and the railway line, and across the other side of theroad it was an allotment gardener’s paradise. Look how extensivethey were – but soon to be swallowed up by bricks and mortar.East Parade (now Brighton Road) runs across the bottom lefthand corner of the map, the Bedford Hotel is clearly marked atthe top, and a section of Depot Road cuts across the top righthand corner.

When, in another 125 years or so, members of the stillflourishing Horsham Society (now with an area of responsibilitycovering many more square miles) settle down to study a similarlydetailed map, this time for the area west of Horsham andsurveyed in 2008 – just before another great building boom –surely they will marvel, as we do now, at how much green spacethere once was around the town. Just look at all those farmers’fields, they will say, that once stretched between BroadbridgeHeath and Tower Hill, but now covered by so many houses. Howquaint! How green and pleasant our land once was! But will theyalso say, in 2135, how well these houses have matured over allthe years? Sadly, you and I will never know.

Fairyland in Denne Road

Throughout the winter of 1918-19 Mr Frank Burton of theHorse and Groom and others had been busy planning what

they liked to call a ‘Recreation Ground and Dancing Green’ inDenne Road, and all their hard work came to fruition with itsceremonial opening on the evening of 22 May 1919. The gateswere open from 6 pm, and the Horsham Town Band, resplendentin its new uniform, was on hand to play from 7-10.30 pm.

Everyone had been enjoying exceptional weather, and true toform it was fine on the night. The Ground was ‘admirably andpicturesquely situated, and laid out with close attention to theneeds of the public’, teas and light refreshments were available‘at minimal charge’, admission was just 1s 6d (to includedancing and use of the cloakrooms), and provision had beenmade to store bicycles for 2d a time.

In fact the whole thing was a huge success, and a reporter at thetime noted that ‘seldom if ever have the public of Horsham beenmore pleasantly surprised. On entering the Grounds they couldalmost imagine they were entering a fairyland, as everything hadbeen so piquantly arranged’.

Apparently ‘the Dancing Lawn was a model of neatness’ and hadbeen ‘specially laid’, and ‘the artistically erected stage was muchappreciated by the Town Band, as it gave much neededprotection from the sun in the early part of the evening’.Everything else was perfect as well. ‘The light refreshmentswere of superior quality and served in a prompt and excellentstyle, the cloakrooms for both sexes were judiciously erected andthe lighting could not have been surpassed’. Finally ‘Master ofCeremonies Mr Emmett controlled the dances in his usual tactfulway’. What could this mean?

Let’s hope Frank Burton’s initiative worked out. The plan wasfor the facility to be open to the public on Mondays andThursdays during the summer, and it was also available forprivate hire (sports events, parties and so on) at other times. Butwhere exactly was it, I wonder? My best guess is the site onwhich the Drill Hall was built, first acquired by the Army for theRoyal Sussex Regiment in 1922.

The National Trust

The North Sussex Centre of The National Trust wasestablished over 25 years ago, covering the Horsham and

Crawley area. We offer winter lectures which take place in theWesley Hall, Horsham, and also social activities and outings (nottotally confined to National Trust properties), holidays andbridge drives – designed to raise funds for NT projects. We area friendly group, and membership at £4 per person is inexpensiveand includes three newsletters a year. For further information call01403 255253 or 01403 253384. Joan McLauchlin

Horsham Interfaith Forum

As part of its programme of guest speakers, the Forum held awell attended meeting on 24 May in the Causeway Barn, at

which Horsham’s new vicar, Rev Guy Bridgewater, spoke. Hischosen theme was ‘consumerism v. spirituality’, and in anexcellent talk his arguments were put forward thoughtfully andwith an engaging sense of humour – making them all thestronger.

HIF acts as host to speakers of many faiths, and its meetings arealways enlightening. To find out more get in touch withmembership secretary Chris Smith on 01403 258334 or email:chris [email protected]

Concert at St Andrew’s, Nuthurst

Shipley Arts Festival is returning to St Andrew’s church,Nuthurst, building on the success of last year. A concert of

popular classical music will be held on Sunday 6 July at 6.30 pm.Members are cordially invited to enjoy this Celebrity ClassicalConcert, which includes pieces by Mozart, Vaughan Williamsand Cecilia McDowall. The concert will also feature the worldpremier of Haydn’s Double Bass Concerto completed by TonyOsborne. The internationally based Chamber Orchestra will beconducted by John Parsons and Andrew Bernardi.

Tickets are £15 each, or £10 for students under 18, and can beobtained from Eve Mauchel (01403 260335), Derek Bradnum(01403 891181) or The Village Store at Mannings Heath. Placesare limited! Wine will be available during the interval.

A few years ago I picked up arather splendid company

share certificate from a second-hand book shop in Chichester(front page), framed it, stuck it ona wall and forgot all about it. Notbefore time, I’ve now dusted itdown and taken a look at a little ofthe background to the HorshamSanitary Steam Laundry Company,which in its hey-day would haveprovided an essential service to thegood folk of our town.

Its premises were variouslydescribed as being at Victoria

Street, off New Street, opposite the ‘electric lighting works’(1905), and at 48 Stanley Street (1929), and it boasted in itsadvertisements that it was housed in ‘a specially constructedmodel building for carrying on laundry work under the bestsanitary conditions. Linen always returned promptly, correctlyand well aired’. In 1905 it could claim ‘a large and efficient staff’who could deal with ‘curtains, lace, muslin and frilled,cretonnes, chintzs, blankets, counterpanes etc, cleaned and gotup in the best possible style’ – and all under the supervision ofMrs H Hogben.

The photograph of its staff is from the collection of the late CecilCramp, and was taken by London and Counties Studios of 14West Street, it is thought around 1913-14. It was pretty much awomen-only operation (19 ladies in the photo) and no doubt thetwo lone men were responsible for collections and deliveries.Certainly everyone has an efficient look about them, with apronscrisp and starched. I wonder which one is Mrs Hogben (perhapsin the middle of the back row?); if anyone can identify a familymember do write in.

As for the £5 share certificate (number 349), it was issued toRobert Woodruffe Crowhurst, described as a tailor and hatter, on29 December 1888. Crowhurst was a partner at James Lea andCo, 10 Middle Street, and his home was at 8 Chichester Terrace.

The Steam Laundry’s secretary was Alfred Aldridge of AstonVilla, Bedford Road, and one of the directors was Robert Gallier,

a well known figure in the town. His principal line of work wasas a chemist and druggist, and he had premises at the corner ofMiddle Street and the Carfax (Ernest Kittle’s old shop) and alsoat 1 Queen Street. He sold a number of remedies under his ownname, and informed the public in one advertisement that ‘priceshave been carefully revised and will bear favourable comparisonwith those of any respectable and reliable house’. In other words,watch out for quacks.

The laundry was a significant operation in its time, and wouldhave been launched to capitalise on the town’s growingpopulation and prosperity. The earlier 19th century market forsingle washerwomen taking in work would have been undercut,

and their days now numbered. The future was allabout mechanisation, efficiency and group organi-sation, and Mrs Hogben and her ladies were just theones for the job. They were the future.

Mrs Hogben stayed at the helm until the SecondWorld War – a remarkable run – and the laundryitself remained until the 1950s. In 1951 it promoteditself, justifiably, as being ‘old established and wellrecommended’. But there was one sad story relatingto the business. Back in 1904 Mr H Hogben, pre-sumably Mrs Hogben’s husband and then describedas the laundry’s proprietor, was committed toGraylingwell psychiatric hospital at Chichester,suffering from ‘delusions’. He was only 37, and thepoor man died there on 3 April from the effects ofmouse poison that he had taken earlier.

BS


Horsham’s hidden lakes

Shielded by trees and tucked away in a semi-rural enclave offDepot Road at the rear of Horsham railway station are two

sizeable ponds or small lakes which can be accessed fromHarwood Road, Stirling Way and Ayshe Court Drive. They areoverlooked by two purpose-built blocks of flats – Bourns Courtand Lyon Court, named after the Lyon family (thought to berelated to the Bowes-Lyons) which lived in nearby HarwoodHouse prior to its demolition in the 1960s. ‘Bourns’ is clearly amis-spelling by a council official of ‘Bowes’, named when theapartments were completed in 1969.

The ponds or lakes are referred to locally as ‘upper’ and ‘lower’.The so-called ‘upper’ lake nearest Harwood Road is the older ofthe two and is a former clay pit when the area was littered withbrick fields. The ‘lower’ lake was designed as an ornamental fishpond in the extensive grounds of an Edwardian house, AysheCourt, which was completed around the year 1915 and stood onthe site of a far older property, The Poplars. Both houses werelocated roughly on a site which now forms the junction ofPoplars and Ayshe Court Drive. Entrance to the big house was inthe form of a winding path from Depot Road.

A substantial residence, Ayshe Court was for many years thehome of a well known Horsham figure, Colonel ArthurMiddleton (the father of ‘Baggy’ Middleton, the man behind TheCapitol) who lived there with his wife until her death in 1927.Following Middleton’s departure, the house became the propertyof one Percy Hedworth Foulkes and his wife, who occupied ituntil its demolition in 1967 in order to make way for a housingdevelopment.

Houses, bungalows and flats erected in roads named Poplars andAyshe Court Drive were developed by a Brighton-basedcompany, Kenstairs Developments who, having purchased theentire Ayshe Court estate, sold off a parcel of land on one side ofthe lakes to Davis Estates, which now forms Stirling Way andWaterfield Close. But neither developer was keen to acceptresponsibility for the upkeep of either the ‘upper’ or ‘lower’ lake.Leasehold maps of both Bourns Court and Lyon Court clearlyshow their land boundary ends at the water’s edge. And so thetwo lakes would have remained unwanted and unloved had it notbeen for an initiative by a group of residents in Stirling Way whosome twenty years ago formed the Lakeside ConservationVolunteers, which became affiliated to the British Trust forNature Conservation. Their invaluable voluntary work inmaintaining the lakes and much of the surrounding woodlandcontinues to this day.

Both lakes support a good deal of wildlife. Varieties of nestingbirds, including Mallards and Moorhens, frequent the tree-linedlakes and surrounding grassed areas, whilst a vixen and herplayful cubs are often nocturnal visitors and numerous squirrelsmake the woodland their home - all of which makes the lakesidean attraction for young children and their parents who haveaccess to the area from a pathway or twitten which runsalongside the lakes joining Depot Road with Harwood Road.

Conservation volunteers can do just so much to preserve andenhance the area, but trees felled by winter gales remainuntouched. And over the years both lakes have become silted up,which tends to create an unpleasant smell for flat dwellers duringthe hot summer months. So, on health and safety grounds alone,urgent action is required if the lakes and their surroundingwoodland are to be preserved for the benefit of futuregenerations. In places the lakes are no more than inches deepand specialist plant will be required to remove the silt from the‘lower’ lake in particular. And it is the considered opinion oflocals that Horsham District Council owes a duty of care toresidents in the immediate area. Health considerations apart,Horsham’s hidden lakes – set in an area of high density housing- are surely an amenity that is well worth preserving. Hopefullythe council will make a positive response.

Robert B Worley

The Horsham Sanitary Steam Laundry

Robert WorleyUpper Lake.

Demolition of Ayshe Court, Spring 1967. John Cannon

Horsham Football Club

The committee has considered the issues surroundingthe application by Horsham Football Club and has

heard the very strong views both for and against. Our viewis that this is a unique situation and a finely balanced onewhere the potential problems associated with intensifyingthe use of an existing sports ground have to be weighedagainst the possible future scenarios for the ground if HFChas to withdraw. For these reasons we believe it is a matterprimarily for the residents that will be affected and if themajority are against the application we would hope that theCouncil will act accordingly. That said we believe thatsome of the concerns that have been expressed aboutpossible ancillary uses by HFC such as concerts and otherpublic events could be controlled through the planningprocess and should not be allowed to cloud the main issue.

John Steele

Do please write in: letters for publication toBrian Slyfield, Arun House, Denne Road,Horsham RH12 1JF

Happy memories

Iwas most interested in the article in theMay Newsletter about the old surgery in

North Street. My parents lived in a flat innumber 11 next door. It was a large ramblingbuilding with downstairs rooms let out to a MrBenson, a music teacher, and the Conservativeladies for their meetings. I often wonderedwhat it was originally. Dr Sparrow was mymother’s doctor, who found time for a chatwhen he was called. He was paid ten shillingsa visit (50p today), which was quite a lot then.

From our large window we watched the worldgo by - the tramps on their way to the ForestHospital, where they spent the night, and thecrowds on their way from the station to thecricket field for Cricket Week. I went toschool in St Mark’s right opposite, so I didn’thave far to go. I remember Drs Bradford,Morgan and Dew, and de Lacy who was verypopular with his patients.

My mother started going to St Mark’s church,but was asked to move pews, as the seats werereserved for the Misses Lyons (I think that isright) who lived in King’s Road. My brotherFred Short worked as the projectionist at theWinter Garden and Carfax cinemas for a time.Later he went to the new Odeon, built whereDr Sparrow had lived.

I wonder if anyone else remembers going tothe Carfax on New Year’s Eve to welcome inthe New Year. I think they used to fire acannon from Warnham Park at 12 o’clock. Itwas a very happy start to the New Year.

I also noted the death of Mr Pearsall, mydentist for many years, after Mr Hanreck. Iwent to him one Saturday morning with a verytroublesome tooth, to find him gardening andhis surgery closed. Instead of turning meaway, he took me in and did what wasnecessary. I was very grateful, as you canimagine, and never forgot his kindness.

I do enjoy your Newsletters very much,especially when they bring back happymemories. Thank you to all concerned.

Mrs E FleetOaks Road, Tenterden, Kent

PS: Was that photo of Dr Kinneir’s house theone that became The Old House in LondonRoad, where Major and Mrs Middletonlived?

Mrs Fleet: Thank you for a most interestingletter – and yes, it was and still is The OldHouse. Ed.

Town Hall loss

Thank you for including details of theHorsham Painting Group Spring

Exhibition in the May issue of the Newsletter.The loss of the Town Hall will be a severeblow to the cultural life of our town, particu-larly as there does not appear to be a suitablealternative for events of this nature. I do hopethat people will take every opportunity toenjoy this facility before it is so ruthlesslytaken from us and destroyed.

Freda LambourneNew Street, Horsham

Pedestrian crossing progress

When my grandson started at Tanbridgeschool I became aware of the

inadequacy of the small island in the middleof Guildford Road, which many children usedwhen they crossed to and from school onto thefootpath that runs between Irwin andMerryfield Drives. It is a very dangerouscrossing. I contacted several organisationsabout this and the Newsletter also published aletter from me about the danger. You alsoasked me to report on progress.

Well, several years later a notice has beenposted by WSCC Traffic Department statingthat a pedestrian light-controlled crossing is tobe installed there. I would like to say thatother people have taken up this matter duringthe intervening years and I think they shouldbe thanked for their efforts – but I also think,above all, it illustrates that one should nevergive up when dealing with the authorities.They can surprise you by respondingpositively, even if it does take several years.

Alan BlickIrwin Drive, Horsham

Sir Prescott Hewett

Iwas very interested in the article (May2007) about Sir Prescott Hewett of Chestnut

Lodge. My husband’s great grandmother,Fanny Hewett, was a niece of this gentleman.Although she mainly spoke about his cousinto my father-in-law when he was a boy,(Admiral William Nathan Wright Hewett),she was closer to the surgeon, as he was herfather’s brother. It’s so nice to read that hewas well liked and greatly thought of; otherreports of him share the same opinion. Thanksto Brian Slyfield for his interesting story.

S Kelsey, by email

Owl Beech –another perspective

Iwould like to respond to John Dodds’article: Owl Beech: heathland or trees (May

issue) and put another perspective. Many ofthe paths that ran through the pine plantationshave gone, but there is a well used circuit

around the perimeter of the site, whichexplains why many of the lesser paths arebecoming impassable. HDC is not obliged toprovide open access across the whole of thesite and one should not expect that in acountryside site.

The assertion that half of the Scots Pinescould be expected to live a further 200 yearsis optimistic, given that they have had littlemanagement in the initial years. Plantationplanting crowds the trees together, forcingthem to compete for light, water and nutrients.If a commercial management regime had beenadopted in the past, many of the trees wouldalready have been thinned out. The remainingtrees would be approaching the point that theywould be felled en masse for their timber,leaving the site in the same situation.

The use of the timber as bio-fuel forelectricity generation is actually a carbon-neutral exercise. Although burning wood doesrelease carbon dioxide, it is only releasingback what the trees have trapped during their30 year lifetime. The burning of fossil fuelssuch as coal and oil releases huge quantities ofgreenhouse gases which took millennia toform and have been ‘locked up’ for millions ofyears.

The author’s argument that the CommonLizard and other heathland species do nothave the right to co-exist with him is alsoflawed. Local authorities have a duty toprotect and enhance habitats for biodiversity(Natural Environment and Rural Comm-unities Act 2006). Countryside sites such asthese are immensely important for wildlife, asthey are for people to get close to nature. If theauthor is so bothered by the inclementweather could he not take an umbrella?

Board walks have been erected for theconvenience of walkers and the area has beenfenced for grazing. This is the traditionalmanagement of heathland, and will helprestrict the spread of brambles and bracken.

Finally the author’s belief that the whole ofsouthern England was covered in forest isdefinitely out of date. It is now thought thatover half the original woodland had beenfelled by the time the Romans came to Britain.Moreover much of that woodland was notsome dark dense forest, but a mosaic of gladesand open areas where for example heathlandmight develop.

If the author or any of your readers areinterested in learning more, both HDC andGatwick Greenspace Partnership (tel: 01293550730) run volunteer activities on sites inand around Horsham, including Owl BeechWood, and I would be happy to explain more,whilst helping to manage these sites for bothpeople and wildlife.

Peter CrawfordGatwick Greenspace Partnership

Unit 7, Tilgate ParkTilgate, Crawley RH12 5PQ


Letters to the EditorFrom The Committee

Coote’s Green protected

We are pleased to report that anothergreen space has been protected

from possible development. Back inMarch 2005 the Society, on behalf oflocal residents, applied for Coote’s Green,along Merryfield Drive, to be givenvillage green status under the CommonsAct. It needed to be shown that the landin question, for no less than 20 years, hadbeen used by a significant number of thecommunity for ‘lawful sports andpastimes as of right’, and that it wouldcontinue to be utilised in this way.

This test was successfully completed, andon 19 May the WSCC rights of waycommittee agreed to register the greenand its nearby pond officially as a towngreen, thus protecting it from development.

This is the third example within the lastyear or two of the Society, together withothers, taking action which has resultedin various ways in green spaces withinthe town being protected from develop-ment – the others being Hadman’s Greenand Ramsey Close.

Hotel matters

Another bit of good news is that HDChas agreed that the area of the Park

formerly occupied by the nursery schoolwill be returned to parkland. CouncillorGordon Brown had put forward the viewthat it would a good site for a hotel, butthis proposal was criticised by many, andis now a non-starter.

Meanwhile, a more welcome suggestionis that put forward by Travelodge, whowant to build a hotel at the bottom ofWest Street by the bus station, where manyyears ago the Black Horse, an old coachinginn remembered fondly by many, oncestood. This proposal, which looks to be inkeeping with the surrounding area, wouldanswer the problem of a lack of accommo-dation in central Horsham, and if parkingissues can be resolved, the Society has noobjection.

Notes on selected planningapplications and appealsDulcima House, Carfax: We are pleasedto report that the Society has now reachedagreement with the developer regardingan appropriate colour tone (‘biscuit’) forthe front of the building.

Rusper Road: New application for 2semi-detached houses. Society objectedbut developer has responded by quotingan appeal decision in an apparentlysimilar case. Decision pending.

Chichester Terrace: Convert 3-storeyhouse to 4 flats. Society objected – changeof use (over-development). Applicationwithdrawn.

Denne Parade: Demolish service centreand 3 houses and build 14 x 3-story flats.Society not objected. Decision pending.

Agates Yard, Faygate: Build 156retirement units etc. Society objected –layout (conflict with strategic gap andBUAB policy). Application refused.

Guildford Road: Demolish 5 existingdwellings and build care home. Societyobjected – layout (single block out ofcharacter). Application refused on groundsof general bulk and likely resulting levelof activity out of character with area.

Milnwood Road: Demolish 1 house andbuild 10 dwelling units. Society objectedon grounds that flats are too large.Decision pending.

A vision for the future:a member responds

In the May issue we discussed the needfor a vision for the future of the town –

what do we want it to be like in 10 years’time? – and invited contributions fromother members. So thanks to IvanGillibrand, a life member and also editorof World Medical Journal, for thefollowing, in which he sets out a numberof positions:

1. Health. If a major new acute hospitalat Pease Pottage by the motorway is ap-proved by the General Medical Council(2009), then access to health care facili-ties throughout Sussex – with direct con-nections to London – will be transformed.Telemedicine links to the University ofSussex Teaching Hospital at Brighton,

using postgraduate medical skills, willfurther enhance general practice. Plansare being drawn up by Dr Skipp, untilrecently from Park Surgery.

2. Environment. More gardens should bedeveloped in open spaces around thetown, not just for a beautiful Carfax andenvirons but also with an educationalvalue for local schools. Nesting boxes forbirds could be sited in mature trees.

3. Property. Surplus town centre officespace? Boarded up buildings losing theirvalue? Such eyesores could be convertedto residential use, for young marriedcouples starting out in life together.

4. International tourism. Located justsouth of Gatwick airport, Horsham couldbe the ideal centre for tourism throughoutSussex and along the south coast, forinternational airline passengers in transit.BAA ownership may soon be sold, whichwould promote healthy competition be-tween airlines and services at Gatwick(many of its employees live in Horsham),raising standards and providing leisureactivities.

5. Internet services. An on-line wwwcafe, as part of the Library, would enableyoung whizz kids etc to keep up with jobvacancies in an expanding global market.

6. Shopping. More local, individualisedshops should be developed – withcomputerised ordering from catalogues.Many of the more elderly residents couldbe disabled or unable to carry heavyloads of shopping and would appreciatedelivery right up to their doorsteps.

Ivan Gillibrand

Thanks to Mr & Mrs Bridges

We thank Mr and Mrs Bridges, whohave generously donated a copy of

Dorothea Hurst’s History and Antiquitiesof Horsham (2nd edition, 1889) to theSociety archive. This is an important bookin the story of our town, written by amember of the family which once lived inPark House and latersold it and the parklandto Horsham UrbanDistrict Council. It is animportant source of con-temporary information,and will be well caredfor.

Artist’s impression.

July 2008

OUR CONCERN IS THE PAST, PRESENT AND FUTURE OF THE TOWN

Newsletter56 The Horsham Society Newsletter June 2008

DirectoryThe Horsham Society is an independent body supported by members’

subscriptions, a registered charity (No.268949), affiliated to theCampaign to Protect Rural England and registered with the Civic Trust.

It is a member of the English Historic Towns Forum.

PRESIDENT: Dr Annabelle Hughes

VICE-PRESIDENTS:Oliver Palmer, Francis Maude PC MP, Nigel Friswell

CHAIRMAN John Steele2 Old Denne GardensHorsham RH12 1JATel: (01403) 272814Email: [email protected]

Hon TREASURERRoy Bayliss15 PatchingsHorsham RH13 5HJTel: (01403) 262262

MEMBERSHIP SECRETARYPat Gale46 Bedford RoadHorsham RH13 5BJTel: (01403) 253946

Horsham Society website: www.horshamsociety.org

SUBSCRIPTION RATESIndividuals: £5 per year Single Pensioner: £3.25 per yearFamily Membership:: £7.50 per year Family Pensioner: £5 per yearBusinesses: £10 per year Single Life Membership: £100

Family Life Membership: £150£2.50 postage is added to the above rates for out-of-town members

All correspondence should go to the Hon Secretary in the first instance.The Newsletter is published monthly except for August. Letters andarticles to be considered for publication should be sent to the Editor,Brian Slyfield, Arun House, Denne Road, Horsham RH12 1JF. Opinionsin the Newsletter, whether Editor’s or contributors’, are not necessarilythe policy of the Society.

VICE CHAIRMANIan Dockreay

24 Wimblehurst RoadHorsham RH12 2EDTel: (01403) 241582

Hon SECRETARYSandie Brittain

2 FairviewHorsham RH12 2PYTel: (01403) 260915

NEWSLETTER DISTRIBUTIONORGANISER

Kathy Gleeson13 Millthorpe Road

Roffey RH12 4ERTel: (01403) 210511

© Individual contributors 2008. No material may be reproduced, copied or stored in aretrieval system without the prior consent of the relevant contributor, which should besought via the Editor.

New membersThanks very much to the following for joining: Mr and MrsBrown, Bostock Avenue, Horsham; Mr Sillett, WimblehurstRoad, Horsham; Mr and Mrs Rodgers, Stoneybrook, Horsham;Mrs Smith, Copsale Road, Maplehurst; Mr Baxendale,Kenardington Manor, Kenardington, Kent.

Join the OCA!The Old Collyerians’Association is a splendid organisation withan excellent newsletter, summer outings, a winter reunion anda lively website. It is open to everyone who attended the oldgrammar school or today’s college, and the subscription isminimal. A good few Horsham Society members must becandidates, so why not join up and keep in touch with yourcontemporaries? The man to talk to is Mark Collins, 4 StallettWay, Tilney St Lawrence, Kings Lynn, Norfolk PE34 4HT. Tel:01945 880236, email: [email protected]

01403 265608

Personal & Professional Servicefrom a company establishedover 30 yearsBusiness Stationery • Brochures • LeafletsEnvelope Printing • Folders • Design • MailingDigital Printing in Colour and Black & White

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Horsham Press7/8/9 Newhouse Business Centre,Old Crawley Road, Horsham, West Sussex, RH12 4RUE-mail: [email protected] www.horshampress.co.uk

Last month’s issue was a week or so late in gettingto you – so apologies to one and all. Holidayarrangements got tangled up with the productionschedule, but hopefully we’re now back on track.

This month we feature another of Peter Ward’sdrawings, and do get in touch with him if youwould like to know more about his work. RobertWorley also throws a welcome and importantspotlight on two of Horsham’s hidden stretches ofwater off Harwood Road, and is keen that work isdone to clean them up.

Copy date for the August issue is 4 July.

By The Way

Where are the swifts?

Common Swifts are summer visitors, but sad tosay a species in decline. As far as I am aware,

there were just two nesting sites in Horsham (theyfavour house eaves, church spires and similarlocations), St Mary’s and the old NorthbrookCollege in Hurst Road, the latter now empty and thesubject of possible redevelopment (see last month’sissue).

These birds generally return from their wintersojourn in sub-Saharan Africa in early May, andwhile you can still see them scything the air aroundthe church steeple, screaming in that unmistakableway, as previously reported, the eaves of the HurstRoad house have been netted, possibly to preventthem taking up residence again (the species haslegal protection and nests, when occupied, cannotbe destroyed). There seems to be no sign of themelsewhere in Hurst Road, so the town might nowhave just one colony.

All this is very sad. Along with Barn Swallows (asthey are now called) and HouseMartins, Common Swifts are – orwere – an integral part of our latesprings and summers. So dowrite in if you know of anynesting sites elsewhere in thetown. It is just a personal view,but it seems shameful that, at atime when the populations of somany of our once familiar birdsare declining, any action is takenthat might yet further discouragebreeding levels. BS

A local laundryIf you’ve nothing more pressing to do, take a look at page 51, where I’ve

tried to iron out a little of the history of the splendidly named HorshamSanitary Steam Laundry. My interest was generated after the purchase of thisshare certificate – but please don’t get too starchy (or hang me out to dry,even) if you find the story a bit damp. I wouldn’t want you to think it a totalwash out.

Gypsies on Gaol GreenFrom the February 1870 parish magazine:

‘There can be but one opinion that the state of the Carfax, or Gaol Green, islittle creditable to the Town; gypsy encampments, which from time to time arepermitted without any attempt at interference with the encroachers, must bemost annoying to those living near it, and before now has proved veryprejudicial to the Town in a sanitary point of view. Signatures are beingsought to the following, and already a good number have been received: “We,the undersigned Inhabitants and House-holders of the Town of Horsham,consider, That the present state of the Gaol Green is a nuisance to the Town,and that it is desirable that measures should be adopted to have it placed undermore efficient control and supervision, and that a representation to that effectshould be made to the Duke of Norfolk”’.

Barn Owl – happy newsNo sooner had the last issue been circulated than Oliver Farley got on thephone and reported the happy news that he had seen a Barn Owl around 7.20pm on 22 May along the River Arun by Chesworth. So it looks as if my reportlast month about the loss of a local bird was over-pessimistic, I am delightedto say.

Editor’s note

Another fine drawing by Peter Ward.Peter can be contacted on 01403276570 or [email protected]

56 the horsham society newsletter june 2008...

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