Notes from the Past by Robert Piper October 2022
Now we have moved into Autumn, we look back to 1862 when wheat was being sold at £14-5-6 ( RPI £1127.05) a load. In 1872 the wheat harvest was very poor as it was sown late in October 1871 because of a very wet Autumn. By October 1892 the village had its own fife and drum band. At the Harvest Thanksgiving service on the 9th October the church was well decorated with vegetables, fruit and flowers. After the service they were sent to the children hospital in Brighton and the offertory of £2-12-4 (RPI £234.20) was sent to the Royal Agricultural Benevolent Institution.
In October 1902 the telegraph office open in the post office in Worthing Road (which is where The Old Post Office is today) so the village was now connected to the outside world. The harvest service loaves were made from corn supplied by Mr Charman at Great House Farm and milled at the windmill and baked by Mr Mills. A splendid specimen marrow was brought to the church by a unknown person. The offertory went to Horsham hospital. The choirmaster held the choir outing in the vicarage garden as the vicar was very ill. Tea was paid out of the choir fund, and the boys played games.
In 1912 a request to the village for a working party to be held at Hillview for a sawing class to aid for medical mission in both India and China. The vicar asked if anyone had a two foot long bookshelf they did not wont, so he could use it in the vestry. The flower show committee said it would hold a concert to clear its debts. October 1942 the old crocks darts team beat the Home Guard four games to three in the Hen and Chicken pub. All men born between 1882 to 1924 and woman born between 1897 and 1922 had to report to the village hall on 1st November between 10am and 4pm to register for fire prevention duties. Mr David Palmer, an overseas soldier (more likely Canadian from Denne Park), was charged by Horsham police for stealing a tarpaulin from Great House Farm. The court fined him £2-10-0 (RPI £82.24) plus costs and told him to return the tarpaulin to Mr Charman at Great House Farm. On the 25th October 1952 people from the village went to Shipley church to see H.M Queen, The Queen Mother and Princess Margaret attend the wedding of Miss Patricia Buller and Commander Peter Ashmore. Miss Buller is the daughter of Admiral Sir Henry Buller K.C.V.O C.B and Lady Buller of Netherwoods Southwater.