2025
Special meeting with Lodsworth Parish Council : 10 March, 2025
At a meeting of the Society’s committee last week we discussed the release by the South Downs National Park of its Local Plan Review, involving proposals for a range of housing developments, including in Lodsworth. While the Society doesn’t normally get involved in individual development proposals the committee felt that the nature and extent of some of these proposals warranted special attention.
As a result your committee has been in contact with the chair and members of the Parish Council, who have agreed to hold a special meeting on MONDAY 10 MARCH at 7pm, before the Council meeting, at the Village Hall. This will provide LHS members with an opportunity to hear further about the National Park’s proposals. The committee would like to encourage all members to attend this meeting in view of the seriousness with which we view these plans, and the opportunity to offer views to the National Park by Monday 17 March.
Private Visit to Sussex Downs Art Exhibition at Champs Hill, Tuesday 3 June, 230pm:
We are delighted to announce that we have arranged for a private visit to a special exhibition at Champs Hill, near Petworth, of paintings of the South Downs by the distinguished artist, the late Peter Iden. Local resident and professional artist Jenny Tyson, who knew Peter Iden , has kindly agreed to introduce the paintings. After the visit there will be an opportunity for members to spend time in the beautiful Champs Hill gardens. We will make a further announcement about the visit, for which Champs Hill is requesting a small donation, but in the meantime please let Peter Beckingham at Peter.beckingham@hotmail.com if you would like to attend.
AGM/ Meeting to honour Local Resident David Mearns on Award of OBE: Thursday 5 June, 730pm
To recognise the OBE honour given to local resident David Mearns by HE The King for his work in salvaging numerous shipwrecks, the Society are thrilled to announce that David has agreed to attend our AGM on Thursday 5 June at 730pm, when he will be in conversation about his fascinating work with Martin Lester. The award is a singular honour, and we believe it is important for the Society and the village as a whole to recognise publicly his achievement and important contribution to our national heritage. Please put the date in your diary for this event. We will announce further details nearer the time.
Previous events 2024
VISIT TO THE OLD VICARAGE CAPS A MEMORABLE YEAR OF EVENTS BY HERITAGE SOCIETY
Members of Lodsworth’s Heritage Society had a treat of a visit in October to one of the village’s oldest and most fascinating homes, The Old Vicarage. Owners Laura and Mark Sherlock welcomed guests into their home, and they gave the Society a complete tour of the house, literally from top to bottom, from bedrooms to wine-cellar.
Laura and Mark explained that they had sought and been granted permission from the District Council to renovate, restore and gently modernise the home, which when they acquired it was in need of substantial work. The Old Vicarage, mentioned in the most authoritative book on West Sussex buildings, Pevsner’s Architectural Guide, dates to the 18th century, and a Lodsworth ‘tithe map’ of 1842 shows the footprint of the house and layout of the buildings to the north. The original Georgian house was extended by two wings in the 19th century. The house was added to the statutory ‘List of Buildings of Architectural Interest’ at Grade 2 in 1987.
As well as seeing all the beautifully completed work inside the home, the Heritage Society were given a brief explanation of some of its significant external features by Jamie Brooks-Fisher, a former trustee of the Heritage Society and architect. The warm and generous hospitality of Laura and Mark was completed with wine and canapes, and everyone left after the two hour visit with a much better picture of the beautiful home they have created behind the ‘leaning Wall of Vicarage Lane’!
Newer residents of Lodsworth who had signed up as members of the Society joined the visit. It was the last of this year’s Heritage Society events, which have included a fascinating account of E H Shepard’s time living at Woodmancote, just up the road from The Old Vicarage, and a memorable evening of poetry and songs by Geraldine James and Frances Hammond which filled The Hollist, who laid on fish and chips.
All residents are encouraged to join the Society, for the small annual membership fee of only £10 per family. Please contact Ann Summers, Vanessa Mclean or Peter Beckingham for more information.
- Vanessa Mclean and Peter Beckingham, co-chair, Lodsworth Heritage Society
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Detectoring with Martin Wiltshire
Thanks to the initiative of some local residents, and an introduction to the Heritage Society, we are able to report on an exciting, wide range of coins, medallions, buttons, small pieces of armoury and many other finds dating back several hundred years by a visiting metal detectorist.
Martin Wiltshire, owner of Adur Furniture, was invited by a local resident to use his metal detector over their grounds. Members of the Heritage Society were able to have an initial view of Martin’s extraordinary collection in February, with no less than 70 items unearthed over a period of several days exploration. Commenting on the finds Heritage co- chair Vanessa Mclean said they revealed what an amazing amount of fascinating material must still lie buried under our soil, and how fortunate the village was to have these initial findings. She hoped there would be more to come.
The Heritage Society arranged an interview with Martin, who describes the extensive findings he has made.
I started metal detecting during lockdown as a way of getting out and filling my spare time as work had decreased. I have always found this interesting and this seemed the perfect opportunity to start.
There are approx 5 acres of paddock, gridding and flagging areas to cover and explore in this area of Lodsworth.
On one of my first digs, I was lucky enough to find a 1560 Elizabeth 1 hammered silver penny.
One of my most exciting finds was finding a dagger pommel that dates back to the 1500’s.
I have also found a silver button that has the name John Hollist etched on it.
We believe he was a resident of Lodsworth but so far, we have not been able to find out any more information regarding him but it does look very old.
I share all my findings with the land owner and if there is any value to any of the findings, this is split 50/50. If the finding is of historical value, it must be reported to the Finds Liaison Officer for further investigation and this may then be offered to a museum for display. They will pay what the item is worth and again, this would be split 50/50 with the land owner. I have also agreed that any findings relating to Lodsworth can be put on display in the village.
Martin has generously offered to show members of the Heritage Society his findings at one of our future meetings. In the meantime he would be pleased to hear from anyone in Lodsworth who might be interested to discuss metal detecting on their grounds. He can be contacted by phone or text on 07941 274830 or email info@adurfurniture.com
EVENTS HELD IN 2023
Tuesday 7 November 2023
SUSSEX SHOWCASE – BOOK LAUNCH AT HERITAGE SOCIETY MEETING
Members and guests of the Heritage Society will have an opportunity on Tuesday 7 November to hear and see how Sussex has influenced some of Britain’s most famous and popular artists. Local resident and co – chair of the Society, Peter Beckingham, is giving an exclusive talk that evening, with drinks from 7pm, at the Village Hall about his new book ‘Sussex Showcase: 2000 Years of Great Art from Bignor to Brighton’.
This new book follows the Heritage Society’s highly successful publication, ‘ South Downs Showcase’, which is being reprinted this month. In his talk Peter describes the growth of interest in painting in Sussex, starting with Roman mosaics, medieval church frescoes, and moving on to the magnificent landscapes of John Constable and J M W Turner in Petworth, Brighton, Arundel and other locations.
‘Sussex Showcase’, which has a foreword by The Duke of Richmond on the significance of art at Goodwood House, will be launched in October at the prestigious Petworth Literary Festival.
Copies of the book will be available on the night, or from the Lodsworth Larder, or Petworth Bookshop, at £16.99. A great early present for Christmas! Peter is donating any profits from the book to the Motor Neurone Association of West Sussex.VENTS
Thursday 22 June 2023
AGM plus – Goodwood Then and Now, a presentation by Mark Featherstone
Membership available at event. £10 per family
Saturday 15 July 2023
Visit to Botany Bay Nature Conservancy, Duncton
Saturday 15th July, 4pm
This small conservancy located in Lavington Park close to the entrance of Seaford College, is a beautiful haven of ancient woodland, meadow and chalk stream gill. Our group will be guided by Anne Dennig, co-owner and specialist in the rewilding and restoration of this precious habitat. We will explore the site, taking in the flora and fauna that thrives in its unusual microclimate, enjoy a cup of tea and for those who’d like to, pop over to The Cricketers for a drink
Autumn 2023: 01 October 2023
Boundary Walk led by James Tree
As in previous years a section of the boundary walk will be walked, whatever the weather. Wellies essential and weather proof clothing is up to you. Sunday 01 October 2023.
This year we will walk round the north end of the parish and as has been customary we will end up at a pub, the Three Horseshoes (formerly the Lickfold Arms) where lunch has been arranged.
We will gather outside The Hollist Arms at 10:00am, from where cars will ferry us (with well behaved dogs if desired) up to the start of the walk in Bexley Hill. The map attached shows the approximate route only as part of the north-east section is inaccessible.
The walk will be about three miles in length. As usual the dress code is weather dependent, but please do wear appropriate clothing, and walking boots.
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