The end of the Findon

Jack Long & the old Findon Windmill

By Valerie Martin

One person who actually recalled seeing the old Findon Windmill at the east of the village was Jack Long. He was born in Findon 1897 and he died one hundred years later in 1997.

The Findon Windmill had been standing derelict since the last recorded occupier, Edward Weller, in 1891. After this miller's tenure the mill was a forlorn sight on the hillside, overlooking the valley and directly in view of Muntham Court. I believe that the Thynne family may have considered the dejected "industrial site" a blot on their landscape and this was the reason for its ultimate demolition. The Long family eventually moved from Findon to Pulborough when Jack was in his teens. One Saturday in 1917 Jack Long returned for a brief visit to take out a village girl he had set his eye on. During the outing he called at the Gun Inn with Harry John Gurd (a valet and chauffeur employed on the Muntham Estate owned by the Colonel Ulric Thynne). It was while they were supping their pints that Harry suggested to Jack that he could also work on the Muntham Estate. This was to be a turning point in Jack's career. He duly arrived at Muntham the next day, Sunday, to be interviewed by Mr. Sutton, the Farm Manager, and was promptly offered the position of cowman. For her finally accepted a position, Jack dared to speak up and tell the manager that there was also his father, mother and his brother, Harry, requiring employment. A suitable job was then found for his father, who eventually became a shepherd. Mr. Sutton promised that something could be put Harry's way later. This is how the Long family returned and settled in one of the Muntham Farm cottages. Jack started work as a cowhand, with the added incentive of the prospect of also breaking in horses. His varied duties involved driving a cart to Worthing to collect the coke and coal to stoke the mansion's boiler. Twelve months or so on, Jack joined the army and left Findon once more. Following the cessation of hostilities, Jack duly arrived back and found work, this time at Gallops Farm. As a sideline he continued to break in any horses required. During Jack’s army period, a herd of pedigree cows had been installed at one of the Muntham Farms. It later became one of his tasks to take the cattle down to and from Worthing Railway station when they attended shows. In the early twenties Jack received his marching orders after argument with the Colonel's agent. With utter dismay, the Long family had to vacate their cottage. Jack's mother then rented one of the dilapidated Mill Cottages close to the old windmill site (ironically also owned by Colonel Thynne). The Mill Cottages were a disgrace and in a state of terrible disrepair by 1926 and the formidable Colonel was ordered to carry out renovations. Controversy was caused when he refused to do so. The scenario that followed was reported in the press at the time and readers wrote in to say they had no idea that a windmill had existed in Findon. One of the first residents to move into the newly built council estate in Findon in the 1920s were Jack Long and his young wife Emma. It took a while, but the Colonel eventually relented and Jack gained part-time employment back on his estate, just a couple of days work on and off. This was mainly at threshing time, and again to break in the odd horse or two as required. Over the years Jack was still the holder of a key to the Muntham stables. Unfortunately, on one visit Jack arrived to feed the horses to encounter the foreman from Cobden Farm face to face. The foreman demanded the stable key be handed over. A heated argument ensued. It resulted in Jack throwing down the key and telling the foreman what he could to do with it. Thus, Jack departed from employment with the Colonel for the second time, and forever. Jack lived at 14 Old Council Cottages near the Fire Station in Findon (opened in 1965), until he was 99 years old. He received a telegram from the Queen upon obtaining his 100th year and a party was held in Findon.

Plan of Findon Windmill

Jack could recall how around 1903, when almost 6 years old, he witnessed the disused windmill being demolished. He also remembered beer being carried up Stable Lane from the Gun Inn to the thirsty workmen.