St. Botolph’s reopens

St._Botolph's
A special re-opening event is to be held at St Botolph’s Church, in Annington Road, Botolphs, on Saturday 6th December 6, at 2:00pm (followed by a carol service at 3:00pm), to allow people to see the results of the year-long first phase of the £380,000 restoration project. Mulled wine and mince pies will be served. The charge is £3 per head, children under 16 free with an adult. More here.

Our earlier posts on this project were Churches Conservation Trust takes over St. Botolph’s (April 2013) and The restoration of St. Botolph’s (April 2014).

3Bs in WWI (reprise)

Upper Beeding Boy Scouts 1916
Beeding and Bramber Local History Society have curated a display about life in Beeding, Bramber, Botolphs and Small Dole during the First World War. It includes medals, photographs, letters and postcards from the front, the story of the men who died and those who survived. The display ran for three days in early November at the Gladys Bevan Hall in Upper Beeding. You now have one final chance to see it, on Saturday 6th December from 12:00–3:00pm in the small back room of Upper Beeding Village Hall (opposite the car park).

Portable antiquities

Portable antiquities found near Fulking
Over the last decade, nearly fifty small archaeological objects (aka ‘portable antiquities’) have been discovered in and around Fulking. The British Museum has a website where you can view a database that includes a lot of information about these finds together with a photo or drawing (in most cases). You can view it here.

Remembrance Sunday

Roll  of Honour St. Andrew's Church Edburton

These Men of Edburton died in defence of the British Empire and the Freedom of Mankind ~ We salute them and humbly commend their Souls to HIM who shall judge the World with Righteousness and the People with HIS Truth ~ This stone is set up by the Parishioners as a Memorial before the Lord and to tell them that come after.

3Bs in WWI

Upper Beeding Boy Scouts 1916
Beeding and Bramber Local History Society have put on a display about life in Beeding, Bramber, Botolphs and Small Dole during the First World War. The display runs from today, Saturday 8th November, until Monday 10th November, from 10:00am to 4:00pm each day, in the Gladys Bevan Hall, Church Lane, Upper Beeding. This is at the far end of Church Lane, opposite St Peter’s Church. For more information, click the image above.

Mapping the woods [update 2]

Secret of the High Woods
Our two earlier posts on the LiDAR-based archaeological research into what lurks within the wooded areas of the South Downs were in July 2013 and March 2014. The SDNPA is now calling for volunteers to (i) poke around in the woods [field surveys], (ii) poke around in dusty boxes in Chichester [archive research], or (iii) interrogate elderly locals [oral history]. More information here and at the WSCT.

If you go down to the woods today, you’re sure of a big surprise.

Changing Times reprinted


Privately published in an edition of 550 copies in 2008 in aid of St. Andrew’s, Tony Brooks’s The Changing Times of Fulking & Edburton 1900–2007 has been out of print ever since. Secondhand copies occasionally show up on Amazon for £35.00–£50.00. The book recounts the twentieth century history of the parish by telling the story of each building and its inhabitants. It is based on Tony’s extensive collection of documents and photographs and his interviews with numerous residents and former residents. Tony himself has been in Fulking since 1965 and thus knows much of the history at first hand.

If you somehow missed out on the first edition six years ago, or if you are (relatively) new to the village, then you have another chance to get this fascinating book. It has just been reprinted in a limited edition of 50 copies. The reprint has an advantage over the original: many of the photographs are reproduced in colour (the original edition was black & white throughout).

It is available now from the Shepherd & Dog, Springs Smoked Salmon, or Tony himself (tel. 200) for just £15 (he might even be willing to sign it for you). You had better move immediately — it is bound to sell out rather quickly.