Sussex Book Club Autumn/Winter 2019 Newsletter number 44

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NEWSLETTER 44 Founded by David Arscott

CHRISTMAS 2019

EASTBOURNE

BUildiNg A dUkE’S dREAm ALEX ASKAROFF Country Books paperback 230 x 155mm 200 pages £9.99 Over 100 B&W illustrations Country Books hardback 246 x 189mm 194 pages £19.99 Over 100 B&W illustrations Legend tells that Eastbourne can never be destroyed because the 7th Duke of Devonshire left his heart here.The Nazi’s had a good go. Eastbourne was one of the most bombed towns on the South Coast. They failed miserably. Even with all the modern buildings Eastbourne retains something unique, a special quality that’s hard to define. A stroll anywhere along the promenade from Meads to Fisherman’s Green will fill you with awe and admiration. The stunning Victorian architecture, the beautifully laid out boulevards, gardens and pier all add to Eastbourne’s intoxicating mix. A dream, that started in the middle of the Victorian Era, continues to flourish to this day. Eastbourne still holds the accolade as one of the finest seaside resorts in the world. But how did the dream start? Where did it all begin? How were a few outlying hamlets and farmers fields so superbly redesigned to bring this empress of watering places to life? In Eastbourne, Building A Duke’s Dream, world renowned author Alex Askaroff tells the story in his own unique style, reviving long forgotten characters from the town including the odd ghost, gruesome murder, sacred wells, smugglers, kings and queens, even a witch! It is a tale not to miss.

www.sussexbooks.co.uk

Email: info@sussexbooks.co.uk

Tel: 01629 640670


2

EDITORIAL

Dear Members, Another year, and the autumn/winter edition is a Christmas newsletter. A mix of old and new, but something for everyone – I hope! This newsletter features books on Eastbourne (3), Crawley & Gatwick, Charles II (who escaped to exile from Shoreham), Sheila Kaye-Smith, Southern steam, Hastings & St Leonards, Historic Britain East & West Sussex, Horsham, two books by David Arscott, Ships & Mariners of Shoreham, Henfield, Letters to a Parttime Barmaid, Chruch Gallery Minstrels of Old Sussex, Bexhill-onSea, and Fifty Years of the Seaford Head Local Nature Reserve. RAF TANGMERE IN 101 OBJECTS the new now expected publication date is 30/11/2021. The volume of new books published has decreased somewhat since the halcyon days of David Arscott. I welcome members’ thoughts on the future of the Sussex Book Club. Should I reduce the newsletters to one a year at Christmas? Or continue with two? I am always glad to hear of news from members on any subject. Alex Askaroff has a new book on Eastbourne – two editions, hardback and paperback. Happy reading and best wishes for Christmas and the New Year,

Dick Richardson

Fifty Years of The Seaford Head Local Nature Reserve 1969 ~ 2019 Alison Baker Country Books paperback 246 x 189mm illustrated 124 pages £13.50

1969 was a momentous year. Man walked on the Moon for the first time, the iconic Woodstock pop festival was held, the Beatles released their equally iconic Abbey Road album and, not to be outdone, Seaford Head became a Local Nature Reserve. Declared a Site of Special Scientific Interest (SSSI) in 1953 as part of the Seaford to Beachy Head designation, this popular and much used site is also part of the Sussex Downs National Park and the Sussex Heritage Coast. It is a Site of Nature Conservation Importance, a Local Geological Site, a Regionally Important Geomorphological Site and was declared a Voluntary Marine Conservation Area in 1987. The Vanguard Way long distance footpath passes through on its way from Newhaven to Croydon. 2019 marks the fiftieth anniversary of the designation of this unique location as a Local Nature Reserve and this book was commissioned to document and celebrate those first fifty years.

Written by Alison Baker for the Seaford Head Local Nature Reserve Management Committee SUSSEX BOOK CLUB · COURTYARD COTTAGE · LITTLE LONGSTONE · BAKEWELL · DERBYSHIRE DE45 1NN


KEVIN GORDON

3

A-Z OF EASTBOURNE PLACES-PEOPLE-HISTORY KEVIN GORDON Amberley paperback 234 x 165mm 96 pages £14.99 100 illustrations The East Sussex seaside resort of Eastbourne at the end of the South Downs, alongside the famous Beachy Head, is largely a creation of the Victorian and Edwardian eras. In the 19th century small hamlets in the area were developed by wealthy landowners, particularly William Cavendish, 7th Duke of Devonshire, as an elegant planned town, and aided by the new railway connection to London the town grew rapidly. Visitors are still attracted to its unspoilt sea front without shops or amusement arcades and today it is one of the fastest growing seaside towns in Britain with an increasingly young population and is a burgeoning centre of industry, commerce and culture for the area. A-Z of Eastbourne delves into the history of this Sussex resort, revealing interesting and significant moments in the story of the town. It highlights well-known landmarks and famous residents, and digs beneath the surface to uncover some of the lesser known facts about Eastbourne and its hidden gems. This fascinating A-Z tour of Eastbourne’s history is fully illustrated with photography and will appeal to all those with an interest in this popular seaside town in East Sussex.

www.sussexbooks.co.uk

Email: info@sussexbooks.co.uk

Tel: 01629 640670


4

SUSSEX

WRITERS

kevin gordon is a retired police officer who has a lifelong interest in Sussex History. He is the author of several Eastbourne and Seaford history books and has contributed many items for local newspapers. Kevin is a trustee of Seaford Museum and the Chairman of the Alfriston & Cuckmere Valley Historic Society. In 2016 he was appointed as the Honorary Historian for Seaford Town Council. He has been a volunteer at Seaford Museum for 20 years and maintains their Facebook page. Eddy greenfield is a local historian based in West Sussex who has written for a number of local magazines in the Sussex area. david muggleton is a professional lecturer and writer with a particular interest in pub and brewery history. He is a member of the British Guild of Beer Writers, Pub History Society, Brewery History Society and CAMRA. Over the years, David has gained an extensive knowledge of Brighton pubs both by drinking in them and by delving deep into local archives to uncover their fascinating histories. Alan Spree is the great-grandson of the postcard publisher John Henry Spree. Alan was born in Nottingham and went to school in Bilborough before moving to Portsmouth and growing up there. His first job was at Portsmouth Dockyard then he gained a degree in Civil Engineering and became a professionally qualified Civil Engineer. He worked with the Department of Environment and Preston City Council before retirement in Spain. kevin Newman is an author of history textbooks who also advises theatre and TV production companies on their historical plays and programmes. As well as being a GCSE History examiner, he gives a number of historical talks and presentations throughout the South of England every year and still manages to squeeze in some history teaching when not running his organisation, All-Inclusive History. A full time history teacher for 15 years, Kevin always tried to bring the past alive through exploring its buildings, and still takes educational and corporate groups, such as Sotherby’s School of Art on architectural tours. Christopher Horlock is an author and avid collector of old photographs of Brighton. He writes regularly for 'Sussex Life' magazine and has previously written history books for a local publisher as well Amberley. Tina Brown leads guided tours in Hastings, Eastbourne, Middlesbrough and other areas in Britain, and has also worked with the council of Hastings to produce local trails books. She has written books on Haunted Hastings, Haunted Sussex Theatres and Haunted Middlesbrough. As well as running guided tours and her own website, she also tutors evening classes on the history of Gin, tattoos and other various specialist history topics.

SUSSEX BOOK CLUB · COURTYARD COTTAGE · LITTLE LONGSTONE · BAKEWELL · DERBYSHIRE DE45 1NN


TINA

5

BROWN

SECRET CRAWLEY AND GATWICK TINA BROWN Amberley paperback 234 x 165mm 96 pages ÂŁ14.99 100 illustrations

The Crawley and Gatwick area are fascinating, both have seen so many changes with the airport at Gatwick being central to this area, and now the second largest urban area in Sussex. Crawley has always been known as trade route with good connections both to the city of London and then down to the coast at Brighton. The coming of the railways brought prosperity to Crawley and saw its first major expansion as well as the development of Gatwick race course and the original Gatwick airfield; the site of both has now been swallowed by today’s airport. After World War 2, the town was designated a New Town and has seen a vast increase in population and building to become one of the most important business and employment centres in the South East of England. Crawley has many buildings of historical importance dating back to the 15th century, and many Grade 1 and 2 listed buildings of all ages up to the present day. Settlements close by on the Weald that are served by Crawley also have many secrets and stories connected to them, including numerous historical churches and manor houses. Gatwick airport itself and some of the buildings that surround the main terminal buildings today, such as the origins of the name of the Beehive Public House in the South Terminal. www.sussexbooks.co.uk

Email: info@sussexbooks.co.uk

Tel: 01629 640670


6

MARTYN

R

BEARSDLEY

CHARlES ii ANd HiS ESCAPE iNTO EXilE MARTYN R BEARDSLEY

Pen and Sword hardback 234 x 156mm 192 pages £19.99 32 B&W illustrations Returning to England to try to reclaim his throne, King Charles II was defeated at the Battle of Worcester — but the battle to save his own life had only just begun. Pursued wherever he went by soldiers from the conflict as well as local militia, Charles donned peasant clothing, crudely cut his hair and tried to adopt a rustic accent. With the secret help of a succession of loyal citizens, he walked till his feet were shredded, waded rivers, coolly mixed with anti-royalists and enemy troopers — and, of course, hid in an oak tree. Never sure of who could be trusted, it was touch and go all the way to the coast and, hopefully, a boat that would take him to freedom.

SUSSEX BOOK CLUB · COURTYARD COTTAGE · LITTLE LONGSTONE · BAKEWELL · DERBYSHIRE DE45 1NN


SHAUN

COOPER

7

THE SHINING CORD OF SHEILA KAYE-SMITH SHAUN COOPER

Country Books paperback 210 x 148mm ÂŁ12.50 214 pages 13 col and 3 B&W pictures Sheila Kaye-Smith 1887-1956 Sheila Kaye-Smith was a Sussex writer. She wrote more than 30 novels, most of them set in that county, and some in Kent, and she also wrote short stories, poetry, articles, and non-fiction books. One of her most popular novels was made into a film. This new biography about her contains a lot of original research, as well as excerpts from book reviews, articles, interviews, and other sources. Highlights will undoubtedly be the quotes from and plot descriptions of two unfinished novels; details about some of her lesser known stories, as well as the sections about Baa, Trimmer and Pearl, Platnix, The Lodge, Old Gadgett, City Red, The Fairy Housemaid, The Little Flower, the gleams, and, of course, the Shining Cord. Extras: Picture Gallery (in full colour), Production Notes, and Easter Eggs.

www.sussexbooks.co.uk

Email: info@sussexbooks.co.uk

Tel: 01629 640670


8

DON

BENN

SOUTHERN STEAm RECOllECTiONS DON BENN

Pen and Sword hardback 189 x 246mm 192 pages £25.00 150 illustrations

This book examines in words and pictures the huge changes that have taken place in the last 50 years on the British railway network. We see how steamage infrastructure has gradually given way to a streamlined modern railway. The beginning of the period saw the final stages of the Beeching cuts, with the closure of some rural branches and lesser-used stations. Since the 1980s the tide has turned and numerous lines and stations have joined or rejoined the network. As for freight, we see how the complex operations of the 20th century have been replaced by a far smaller number of specialised terminals, while marshalling yards in the traditional sense have all but disappeared. And the long process of updating our railway signalling has continued apace, even though some semaphore gems have managed to survive into the 21st century. SUSSEX BOOK CLUB · COURTYARD COTTAGE · LITTLE LONGSTONE · BAKEWELL · DERBYSHIRE DE45 1NN


SECRET

EAST

SUSSEX

9

SECRET HASTiNgS & ST lEONARdS Tina Brown Amberley paperback 234 x 165mm 96 pages £14.99

Secret Hastings & St Leonards explores the lesser-known episodes and characters of the town through the centuries. With tales of remarkable people, unusual events and tucked-away historical buildings, it will appeal to all those with an interest in the history of this East Sussex town. 100 illustrations

SECRET EASTBOURNE

Kevin Gordon Amberley paperback 234 x 165mm 96 pages £14.99

The elegant Victorian and Edwardian seaside resort of Eastbourne has a long and fascinating history. Kevin Gordon takes the reader on an enlightening and entertaining journey through the town’s past, delving beneath the surface to reveal dark deeds and strange tales with long-forgotten facts and amusing stories. Here you’ll meet royalty, abusive flower sellers and a bored saint, discover the murderous exploits of a teacher and even rioting salvationists. Secret Eastbourne lifts the lid on the hidden secrets that even many local people don’t know.

100 illustrations

www.sussexbooks.co.uk

Email: info@sussexbooks.co.uk

Tel: 01629 640670


10

KEVIN

NEWMAN

VISITORS’ HISTORIC BRITAIN:

EAST SUSSEX S A C W TONE

GE TO

OLD

AR

Kevin Newman Pen & Sword paperback 234 x 156mm 216 pages £14.99 30 B&W illustrations and maps Many writers have written about the delights of the former kingdom of the South Saxons, its Downs, villages, countryside, people and their ways but Visitors’ Historic Britain is the first series of books to take readers on a tour of discovery of each of the county’s historic eras in turn. Visitors’ Historic Britain – East Sussex follows its West Sussex predecessor and starts with the prehistoric era. We explore East Sussex from west to east, investigating both littleknown and well-visited sites that tell the story of our ancestors’ past. We encounter wild warriors, formidable founders of the county, indefatigable industrialists, excitable eccentrics whilst investigating the lives of Sussex and invaders and inhabitants. Sussex is a country celebrated by writers, painters, royalty, artists and the millions who have enjoyed its changing coastline and verdant villages.Visitors’ Historic Britain – East Sussex provides a unique series of journeys for those who are inquisitive about this quirky and history-changing part of the South-East.

SUSSEX BOOK CLUB · COURTYARD COTTAGE · LITTLE LONGSTONE · BAKEWELL · DERBYSHIRE DE45 1NN


KEVIN

NEWMAN

11

VISITORS’ HISTORIC BRITAIN:

WEST SUSSEX S A C W TONE

GE TO

OLD

AR

Kevin Newman Pen & Sword paperback 234 x 156mm 216 pages £14.99 30 B&W illustrations and maps A unique approach to West Sussex’s history – this is the first book for those residing or visiting West Sussex to take people on a series of journeys across the county’s different past eras – from west to east. The book pays homage to great past Sussex travel writers such as EV Lucas and Hillaire Belloc by suggesting visitors attempt ‘Sussex without Sat-nav’ – ditching modern technology to use directions and maps, foot and cycle instead of merely cars and sat-navs. The book provides suggested routes to explore the county an era at a time, provided by an author who has spent many years exploring the county’s well and lesser-known sites of interest. Never before has such a comprehensive and varied selection of sites been collected together. VHS will provide even the most knowledgable Sussexian with new ideas for visits and days out. The book supports local food, drink and hostelries with sections suggesting places to rest and revive as well as restaurants, cafés and fine inns, with our ‘lunch locally’ and ‘Sussex stay-overs’ sections. We even discover a café that provides ice cream for dogs! www.sussexbooks.co.uk

Email: info@sussexbooks.co.uk

Tel: 01629 640670


12

MAGGIE

WEIR-WILSON

SECRET HORSHAM

MAGGIE WEIR-WILSON Amberley paperback 234 x 165mm 96 pages £14.99 100 illustrations The West Sussex town of Horsham, lying on the River Arun in the Weald, has given its name to the famous Horsham Stone.The area was known for its fossils in Victorian times and rival collectors of the day made important discoveries in and around Horsham, including three Iguanodons. St Leonards Forest on the edge of Horsham has also shaped the town, iron smelting taking place there from Roman times, as well as charcoal and brick making. In this book author Maggie WeirWilson reveals the hidden history of Horsham. Unsavoury tasks were banished to the Common on the edge of town such public hangings, an isolation house in times of disease and leather tanning, while the town centre was the home of several weekly markets and annual fairs. A dragon was reported to be stalking the area in 1614 and is now a symbol of the town.The area was also the home of the young Catherine Howard, Henry VIII’s fifth wife, as well as William Penn, the founder of Pennsylvania, and the radical poet Percy Bysshe Shelley. There are tales of ghastly crimes and punishment, the impact of wars at home and abroad, famous and notorious characters, writers and artists, poverty, industry and wealth, and more, in Secret Horsham as the author explores the little-known history of the town.

SUSSEX BOOK CLUB · COURTYARD COTTAGE · LITTLE LONGSTONE · BAKEWELL · DERBYSHIRE DE45 1NN


D AV I D

ARSCOTT

13

UP THE dOWNS!

A RuNNER’S CELEBRATION OF THE SuSSEx HILLS Jack Arscott

Pomegranate Press paperback 235 x 155mm 76 pages 22 pages colour illustrations £7.99 When Jack Arscott first began to run the Sussex Downs he little thought it would turn into an obsession. Yet within months the chalk hills from Eastbourne in the east to the Hampshire border had provoked an ambition to test his stamina on the notoriously exhausting Moyleman marathon – a distance he had never attempted before. Our novice enthusiast charts a dozen of his favourite offroad routes, records the gruelling weather conditions. Colourfully illustrated, and with hard-won tips on body management and running techniques, this burgeoning sport will appeal both to absolute beginners seeking encouragement and to diehard veterans who will sympathise with every strained tendon.

lAdY THATCHER’S WiNk DAVID ARSCOTT

Pomegranate Press paperback 234 x 156mm 170 pages £7.99 The novel envisages a general election a few years from now, with the government’s austerity programme cruelly intensified. Former Lewes MP and Coalition minister Norman Baker has compared its dark humour to the works of George Orwell. The plot revolves around a portrait of Margaret Thatcher in 10 Downing Street which is obscenely defaced. A chance encounter alerts the caretaker prime minister, a landed grandee, to the grim reality of the country he nominally runs. As he swings to the left, Labour leapfrog him to fill the vacancy and an elderly Charles III is worryingly susceptible to the attempts of a rabidly nationalistic party to increase the powers of the House of Windsor. The author’s note says: ‘Any resemblances between the fictional characters in this book and figures in British public life are intentional.’ www.sussexbooks.co.uk

Email: info@sussexbooks.co.uk

Tel: 01629 640670


14

HENRY

CHEAL

JUNIOR

THE SHIP-BuILDING HISTORY OF SHOREHAM

THE SHiPS ANd mARiNERS OF SHOREHAm HENRY CHEAL JuNIOR FACSIMILE OF FIRST EDITION

1909

Paperback 220 x 140mm £14.50 141 pages with 16 half tone illustrations “The days have gone by when sailing ships of large tonnage were launched at Shoreham. The vast strides made in marine engineering and the building of steamships long since silenced the once busy yards so far as the building of sailing ships is concerned, though indeed, as we shall have occasion to observe later, the industry of yacht-building still flourishes. Ship-building flourished in Shoreham from an early date, down to our own day, but some thirty years have now lapsed since the last merchant ship went off the stocks. Of all those that had been built, two only have been seen in the Harbour within the last two or three years, but in this (1909) year’s registers no vessels built by any of the old Shoreham builders are given as now existing. This being so, it seemed to the writer something of a reproach that some attempt had not been made to rescue from partial if not entire oblivion, a record of these wood-built sailers, which were indeed so famous in their time that none of their size could beat them.” HENRY CHEAL JuNIOR 1909

CONTENTS: The River Adur; Ancient ships and mariners; Shoreham pirates and privateers; The flight of the King; The Shoreham men-of-war and their commanders; The Shoreham merchant ships; Shoreham shipwrecks and disasters; The oyster fishery; Smuggling at Shoreham; List of master mariners at Shoreham.

SUSSEX BOOK CLUB · COURTYARD COTTAGE · LITTLE LONGSTONE · BAKEWELL · DERBYSHIRE DE45 1NN


REV

HENRY

DE

CANDOLE

15

THE STORY OF HENFiEld

by Rev Henry de Candole (Former Vicar of Henfield) Country Books paperback 220 x 136mm 230 pages £14.50 Published by Country Books in 2005, this is a facsimile of the first edition published in 1947 and was the first published history of Henfield. In early 1940 the Rev Henry de Candole was appointed vicar. Although a scholar, his history of the village is not dull and boring, but is written in a natural easy style. He was a friendly and accessible man with a sense of humour and he cared for the people of Henfield through the war years. He later became the Bishop of Knaresborough. Contents: The name and site; the Saxon castle; Norman Henfield; the Manor of Stretham; river, road and rail; turnpikes; the church and village in the middle ages; the Bysshopp family; wars and taxes; Thomas Stapleton; the church chest and registers; church marks; vicars and vicarage; registrar and clergy; the survey of 1647; Henfield Place and the Holneys; Shiprods and the Cheales; churchwardens’ accounts; overseers of the poor; the Workhouse; the visit of Sir William Burrell 1773; an 18th century vicar; briefs, or letters from the King; vicars bad and good; the restoration of the church; village life, trade and industries; watermills and windmills; the three commons; field names; population; smuggling and smugglers; the Prosecuting Society; Nonconformity; houses and building materials; inns and fairs; schools; Henfield in the 19th century; Chestham; Barrow Hill; the village.

Old houses, formerly at the corner of Church Street www.sussexbooks.co.uk

Email: info@sussexbooks.co.uk

Tel: 01629 640670


16

W H AT ’ S

ON

IN

SUSSEX

EAST FuLL MOON FIRE CEREMONY Rodmell, Barn Croft. 7pm. £10.00. Tuesday 12th November 2019.

WEST PETWORTH TOWN BAND 16th November 2019. St Mary’s Church, Petworth.

RYE BONFIRE CELEBRATIONS 9th November 2019.

CRAFTS FOR CHRISTMAS 24-29 November 2019. Ardingly Showground.

ROBERTSBRIDGE FIREWORKS CELEBRATIONS 16th November 2019. HASTINGS HERRING FAIR Sea-shanty festival. 23-24 November 2019. ASHDOWN FOREST MORRIS MEN Thursday 26th December 2019. Hatch Inn, Coleman’s Hatch TN7 4EJ. Wednesday 1st January 2020. The New Inn, Hadlow Down. COPPER FAMILY Christmas Concert Saturday 7th December 2019 Old Chapel Centre, The Tye, Alfriston BN26 5TL. Saturday 4th January 2020 Elephant & Castle, White Hill, Lewes BN7 2DJ HASTINGS JACK IN THE GREEN 1-3 MAY 2020. Morris and traditional dance. SuSSEx FAERIE FESTIVAL 15-17 May 2020 Alfriston Camping Park. Pleasant Rise Farm, Polegate

NATIVITY PLAY 1-5 December 2019. Wivelsfield Parish Church. CHRISTMAS TREE FESTIVAL 6-8 December 2019. Holy Trinity Church, Cuckfield. SNOW WHITE & THE SEVEN DWARFS 13-31 December 2019. Ropetackle Centre, Shoreham-by-Sea. MAYPOLES TO MISTLETOE Thursday 19th December 2019. Broadwood Morris Men. Hawth Theatre, Crawley RH10 6YZ. CHANCTONBuRY MORRIS MEN & MuMMING PLAY Boxing Day 2019. The Farmers, Lancing BN15 8AE. 11am. White Horse, Steyning BN44 5YE. 12.30am APPLE HOWLING Saturday 4th January 2020. Chanctonbury Morris Men. Old Mill Farm, Bolney RH17 5SE. ROYAL PHILHARMONIC CONCERT 7th March 2020 with Chamber Choir. Boxgrove Priory.

SUSSEX BOOK CLUB · COURTYARD COTTAGE · LITTLE LONGSTONE · BAKEWELL · DERBYSHIRE DE45 1NN


NEW

SUSSEX

BOOKS

17

lETTERS TO A PART-TimE BARmAid by Victoria Seymour Paperback 156 pages £11.99

A bundle of love letters, found at an auction in Hastings, tell the true story of a 1950s postal courtship. Their writer is Dunkirk survivor Maurice Nash who, fourteen years after the historic evacuation, was working as builder, travelling around England repairing and rebuilding a still broken country. The object of his shy affection was part time barmaid Peggy Cockrill, who served behind the bar of one of the many pubs in which Maurice found solace in the lonely evenings. Depth is added to the story by Hastings past and present barmaids and builders, who talk about their working lives. In this, the final book in her series on Hastings wartime and post war history, Victoria Seymour also re-visits Lavender Cottage, via the memoirs of a WWII soldier, whose family were the first occupants of this now famous house.

SuSSEx WRITERS

Victoria Seymour Victoria Seymour’s first book was published in 2002, after she retired from the post of the director of the family owned language school. Since then she written eight further books on Hastings and Kent modern social history – 1930s to 1950s. She has also abridged her first title as a CD. For the past year she has been writing a double-page spread feature called “Looking Back”, for The Hastings Observer. These articles will be reproduced as a year book for Christmas 2014. Victoria says her interests are her large family, researching, writing, and time-travel.

www.sussexbooks.co.uk

Email: info@sussexbooks.co.uk

Tel: 01629 640670


18

REV

K

H

MACDERMOTT

THE CHURCH gAllERY miNSTRElS OF Old SUSSEX REV. K. H. MACDERMOTT Country Books paperback 210 x 148mm 128 pages £14.50 Black and white photographs FREE Cd with thirteen traditional Sussex village carols This book was first privately published by the Rev. K. H. MacDermott in 1922 as SUSSEX CHURCH MUSIC IN THE PAST and printed by Moore & Wingham of Chichester. He was rector of Selsey in West Sussex, and as a young man, he had met and corresponded with gallery musicians born in the 18th century. Here is an account of the old Singers and Minstrels, the Bands, Psalmodies and Hymn-books of Sussex Churches from the end of the 17th Century to the latter half of the 19th Century. There is an appendix on the author’s collection in Lewes at the Barbican House Museum. The FREE CD features thirteen traditional Sussex carols performed by ‘Hope in the Valley’ recorded in 1983 and are listed below. 1. THE diTCHliNg CAROl Music by Peter Parsons, shoemaker of Ditchling, who died in 1901 aged 76. 2. HORSHAm TiPTEERS’ CAROl Arranged by Vic Gammon. Sung by mummers in the neighbourhood of Horsham 1878-81. 3. THEN lET US BE mERRY From a manuscript written by William Harris, the blacksmith of Rodmell, 1842. 4. THE SiNNER’S REdEmPTiON Arranged by Vic Gammon. From the singing of William Lanning, Terwick, 1911. 5. BlOW YE THE TRUmPETS From John Bailey of Ringmer’s manuscript book, started 1833. 6. HARk, HARk WHAT NEWS Sam Willet, ‘the singing baker of Cuckfield’ communicated this to Lucy Broadwood in 1901.

8. ON CHRiSTmAS NigHT All CHRiSTiANS SiNg Arranged by Vic Gammon. Tune from Mrs Cranston of Billingshurst, 1907. Text from George Night of Horsham and Mrs Verral of Monksgate. 9. THE COmTON TiPTEERS’S CAROl Arranged by Vic Gammon. From The Wonderful Weald by Arthur Beckett. 10. THE BURWASH CAROl FOR CHRiSTmAS dAY Claimed for John Fleming by his grand-children, and still sung by old men in 1932. 11. WAkE YE SHEPHERdS From the manuscript of William Voice of Handcross. 12. COmE  All YE WORTHY CHRiSTiAN mEN Arranged by Vic Gammon. From the singing of Henry Hills of Lodsworth. 13. SHEPHERdS ARiSE From the singing of the Copper family of Rottingdean.

7. THE FAlmER CAROl Communicated by Fred Jones to MacDermott.

SUSSEX BOOK CLUB · COURTYARD COTTAGE · LITTLE LONGSTONE · BAKEWELL · DERBYSHIRE DE45 1NN


# ORDER

FORM

19

Please make cheques payable to: Sussex Book Club and send your order to: Sussex Book Club, Courtyard Cottage, Little Longstone, Bakewell, Derbyshire DE45 1NN Email: info@sussexbooks.co.uk Tel: 01629 640670 Name: Date of order: Address:

Email address: Quantity

Title

Price each

Total (£)

TOTAl OF ORdER £

Membership of the Sussex Book Club is free. You will not be sent unsolicited titles. Your books are delvered free of charges for postage and packing. We will not make our members’ details available to other organisations. The books you order from the club will be sent direct to you from the individual publishers and should arrive within two weeks, unless a later publication date has been advertised. I can’t keep track of deliveries, so please alert me promptly if you experience unacceptable delays.

Save a stamp and order online at www.sussexbooks.co.uk www.sussexbooks.co.uk

Email: info@sussexbooks.co.uk

Tel: 01629 640670


20

ALAN

S TA R R

SECRET BEXHILL-ON-SEA ALAN STARR AMBERLEY PAPERBACK 234 X 165MM 96 PAGES £14.99 100 ILLUSTRATIONS

The seaside town of Bexhill-on-Sea in East Sussex is famous for its modernist 1930s De La Warr Pavilion but has a wealth of other fascinating stories connected with its history. Although still a small town at the start of the 19th century it was home to the King’s German Legion in 1804, made up of German troops who had escaped Hanover when taken over by Napoleon and who fought in the British Army. Later in the 19th century the De La Warr family transformed Bexhill into an elegant resort, the 8th Earl bringing motorracing to the town but also scandalising it with his two divorces. Author Alan Starr reveals the town’s connections with the Indian philosopher Krishnamurti and the Maharajah of Cooch Behar, who influenced building styles in the town, the Mysterious Cobbler who exercised his psychic imagination from his shoe shop, literary associations, including Spike Milligan’s time stationed in the town while in the Army, and much more.

With tales of remarkable characters, unusual events and tucked away historical buildings, Secret Bexhill-on-Sea will appeal to all those with an interest in the history of Bexhill.

SUSSEX BOOK CLUB · COURTYARD COTTAGE · LITTLE LONGSTONE · BAKEWELL · DERBYSHIRE DE45 1NN


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