BRIEF HISTORY OF STORRINGTON

EARLY HISTORY

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This area has been occupied from earliest times. A walk south from Chantry Post will reveal the shadows of lynchets of the "Celtic Fields" where crops were grown by early settlers. To the east is the Iron Age hill fort of Cissbury and west are the cross-dykes

Ancient green tracks utilised the dry ridges of the Downs and the greensand belt before the Romans came to build hard roads, and long before the South Downs Way followed much of this old route.

The remains of a Roman temple were excavated in Chanctonbury Ring in 1910, and again after the hurricane of 1987 felled many of the trees, and at Wiggonholt a Roman bath-house was built and a causeway raised across the floodplain to connect the area with the great Roman Stane Street from Chichester to London, which is visible today.

A hoard of silver Anglo-Saxon coins found at Upper Chancton Farm point to a well-established community, as does the probable Anglo-Saxon origin of the village name, Storrington - the stork farm.

THROUGH THE CENTURIES

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11th century

The Domesday Book, the first major survey of the land and its potential and value records two manors here.

ESTORCHETONE which Robert held of the Earl and Durand held of him. In the time of King Edward the Confessor and at the time of the Survey it was worth �4, later 40s. Originally having 6 hides of land, it then had 51/2 hides with work for 3 ploughs. In demesne (directly under the lord of the manor) there were 6 villeins, and 7 cottars with 1 plough and he himself had 2 ploughs.

There was a church and two mills worth 11s

STORCHESTONE was also held by Robert and Alwine held it of him. We are told that he held it of King Edward "and could go where he pleased". It was about half the size of Estorchetone, just 3 hides with 2 ploughs. There was 1 plough in the demesne, one villein, 5 cottars and 2 serfs and mill of 5s. Its value remained unchanged from the time of King Edward at 30s

12th century

Church enlarged by the Normans

13th century

1213 A Vicar was established as well as a Rector in Storrington
1275 A date on the clapper of the great bell, found in the churchyard by Rev. George Faithfull in the 20th century
1287 Stephen de Berewestede was the first recorded Rector of Storrington

14th century

The Lord of the Manor, then the Earl of Arundel, was granted the right to hold two fairs a year, in May and October.

15th century

4 Church Street, a mediaeval hall house probably built.
1443 Vicarage incorporated with the Rectory

16th century

The White Horse, 3 High Street, probably the Half Moon and the Anchor in existence
The Manor of Storrington alienated to John Apsley of Thakeham.
His daughter and heir married William Newton of Southover who became Lord of the Manor
1539 Money was left by Isobel Benett " ... for mendyng of the grete bell of Steryngton .."
1540 Henry VIII granted the "Manor of Perham ... the late Monastery of St Peter's Westminster ... now dissolved ..." to Robert Palmer for £1255. 6s. 5d
1543 Money was left by Th. Munde of Wiston for " ... reparacyon of the Belles of Sterington ... "
The Rector Henry Wilsha willed one acre of land, the "Curfew Acre" for ringing the great bell in Storrington for half an hour every night from All Saints to the Purification
1558 Legacy from Richard Burnell for "... reperacions of the Hie Alter in my parishe churche of Storrington"
1577 Foundation stone of Parham House laid
1591 Queen Elizabeth I believed to have dined at Parham

17th century

1621 The Abbey, (the Rectory at that time), extensively rebuilt and repaired by the incumbent, William Mattock
Mulberry House was built, Swan and Dawes Inn (probably older, first known deeds 1691)
1690 Apsley Newton sold the Manor of Storrington to William Wheeler

18th Century

1704 Date on the earliest gravestone in the churchyard, that of Thomas Battcock Senr.
1731 Spire of the Parish Church struck by lightning and destroyed
1745 The badly repaired tower fell bringing down one third of the nave
Swan and Dawes name changed to The King's Arms. Dr Dennett's pest house was established on Bog Common. Vaccination against smallpox was started locally
1751 Thomas Coates, owner of The King's Arms, leased from the Lord of the Manor, William Wheeler, a plot of land on Byne Common for 500 years to erect and use a windmill
William Wheeler III transferred the Manor of Storrington to John Butler
1754 Tower and nave of the church rebuilt by John Battcock, "bricklayer"
1750 - 80 Three private galleries were built with separate staircases over north aisle of the church
1760 Five new bells cast for the Parish Church to replace three old ones
1763 Jane Downer left money in trust for a school to educate 20 poor children in Reading, Writing and Arithmetic, Church Psalmody and Catechism
1774 Remains of Parham village razed to the ground
1779 Mary Coates endowed a charity to provide bread for the poor, not receiving parish relief, the wheat was grown on Bread or Charity Farm, the bread distributed in church on Sundays
1784 The old name restored to The Swan and Dawes
1793 Storrington Cricket Club founded
1795 Sir Cecil Bishop raises The ParhamTroop during the Napoleonic crisis
1799 William Battcock purchased the Manor of Storrington
for £7000

19th century

1812 Act of Parliament to create a new turnpike road from the end of West Street to Amberley and Houghton, replacing the old route through Parham Park
1813 Barrel organ installed in the Parish Church
1824 The Dawes sold to George Mant by William Botting
1835 Cootham and Thakeham Parish workhouses sold up. The Board of Guardians of Thakeham Union Workhouse met to discuss the running and staffing of a new workhouse
1841. The Tithe Map and schedule drawn up showing all owners and tenants of property in Storrington
1842 Private galleries in the church taken down and new one built over north aisle. New chancel arch replaced the old one
1851. Oldfield Common, Byne Common, West Common, Cootham Common and Bog Common enclosed. [Today's] Recreation ground allotted out of the West Common "for all time"
1857 First telegram arrived at Storrington Post Office from Brighton addressed to "Mant, Storrington". First village policeman appointed, WilliamTribe.
1860 Storrington Gas Co. formed.
1861 Street lighting by gas for the first time
1864. First Storrington Cottage Gardeners' Flower Show
1871.The new rector, Rev. George Faithfull introduced. "The College" (army crammer) which was established in Church Street. The Abbey was partially rebuilt (then the Rectory) using much of the old building material. Rev. James Beck of Parham built a large new house immediately north of the church. The church was gaslit for the first time
1874 Cootham Chapel was built to hold C of E services in order to counter a growing non-conformist community there. The old pound (for straying cattle) taken into the churchyard
1875 The Post Office moved to Hammond's shop in Church Street. Regina v. Storrington in the case of Hurston Lane was heard at Lewes Quarter Sessions.
1876. A route was surveyed for a cross country branch of L.B.& S.C.Railway, with station at top of School Hill. The scheme was abandoned, but the Railway Inn opened for business in School Hill. New south aisle built on the church. Interior rearranged
1873 Chancel extended and new Bath stone chancel arch erected
1881 Pipe organ replaced barrel organ in the Parish Church. Rev George Faithfull exchanged [The Abbey] for new rectory, James Beck's new house north of the church, later known as Chanctonbury House.
1882 The old Pillery Gardens taken to extend the churchyard
1894 The Village Hall was built on land donated by the Rector
1889 First Praemonstratensian Canons arrive in Storrington
1891 Famous cricket match played in the ice at Chantry mill pond
1895 First Storrington Parish Council formed, replacing the Vestry Meetings
1898 Commercial House burnt down on Bonfire night

20th century

1900 Last of the twice-yearly fairs held
Post Office moved to Georgian House, Church Street
Rev Arthur Faithfull succeeded his father as Rector of Storrington
The Chantry and Greyfriars built by Mr Hainsworth
The old school became Storrington Board School with Mr Rhoden as headmaster 1901 - 1932
1904 George Trotter founded Storrington Military Band
Services at Cootham Chapel discontinued
1905 Foundation stone laid by Bishop Corderoy, of the new Roman Catholic church
Flower Shows restarted after a lapse of 30 years
1909 The first Chapel built in High Street
1911 Sullington Warren fire burnt down the White Windmill
1913 Start of the No. 1 bus service, Worthing Motor Road Car Co.Ltd, Worthing, - Storrington - Pulborough
Duke and Ockenden drilled for water at Coldharbour,
Gerston (St Joseph's Hall) was built for Mr Trotter in Lutyens style
1914 WWI
Telephone service started in Storrington
A Red Cross branch was formed by Mrs Henderson of The Chantry. Charles Mant loaned The Geddings in Church Street for their HQ
Plantations at Cootham and Sandgate felled for props in the trenches in France
Miss Petre started a cottage hospital in Brewer's Yard
1915 A plot of land sold by the Rt. Hon. Darea, Baroness Zouche of Parham to Thakeham Rural District Council for £15 to construct a borehole, reservoir &c to supply Storrington with its first mains water
Sawmills started in Thakeham Road by William Bourn

1917 First Storrington Fire Brigade Committee formed
1920 The Geddings closed down as Red Cross HQ
1921 Electricity was generated from Chantry Mill to light lambing yards and electric milking parlour of Sullington Farm. Limited supply to village shops and houses
War memorial erected and dedicated in the churchyard
1922 Reading Room and caretaker's flat built on to the village hall
Cootham Chapel turned into a Village Hall for Cootham district
1924 The Corner Garage built by Mr and Mrs Saggers
1925 Charles Mant became Chief Fire Officer of Storrington Volunteer Fire Brigade
1926 Rev. Richard (Dick) Faithfull succeeded his father as Rector of Storrington
1927 Merryweather Manual Fire Engine purchased.
Marley Tiles opened in Chantry Lane making roofing tiles
Late 1920s A sandpit was opened in Thakeham Road by Frank Knight
1928 Fryern Estates sold
1928 Treble bell presented to the Parish Church in memory of Harold Pettitt.
Chiming mechanism for the clock installed at the same time
1930 Thakeham Union Workhouse closed down
1931 Steyning Electricity Co. brought mains electricity to Storrington
1932 Mr C.R.Waller became headmaster of Storrington Primary School
1933 Frank Knight registered his company as Thakeham Tiles
1934 The Rectory north of the church was bought by Chanctonbury Rural District Council for its offices, Chanctonbury House. A new rectory was built on the church meadow behind it.
1929 Post Office moved to the back of Ivens Kelletts and Childs shop in High Street
Telephone exchange moved to a house at the bottom of Manley's Hill
1930 The college in Church Street closed down
Dramatic Society?
1932 The Chapel was built in North Street and opened by Pastor Mustow
1934 Manhunt on the Downs for the burglar who shot PC Jex. Mrs Sadler was asked to bring her bloodhounds, who tracked him to Myrtle Grove
1935 A great mile-long carnival procession marked the Silver Jubilee of King George V and Queen Mary
1937 Storrington Gas Co. became British Gas Light Co.
1938 The Colonnade was built