Sue Sutherland's Nostalgic Memories of North Lancing
Summary
Sue Sutherland shares nostalgic memories of her childhood in North Lancing, England. She recounts vivid details of her primary school, piano lessons, and interactions with local businesses, including a Tythe Barn and Pat Barton's stables. Sutherland fondly remembers her time in the Girl Guides, where she learned traditional skills like digging latrines and cooking on a wood stove. She also reflects on the community events she attended, such as the annual fete at the manor and the horse-drawn carts used for milk delivery and coal transport. Sutherland expresses her gratitude for growing up in such a unique and enriching environment.Childhood in North Lancing
I came across your website by sheer accident and was delighted to find it.
Even though I am thousands of miles away, I often think of North Lancing. I lived there during my childhood and went to North Lancing Primary School. I remember so clearly sweet Miss Humphry and the sometimes intimidating Miss Tate. Miss Tate was my teacher, and Mr Stears was also my teacher and piano teacher, to whose house on Penhill I dutifully went every Saturday morning. The only thing I can remember was that his front room was extremely cold, and my forte was not playing the piano.
I remember the Tythe Barn and we used to buy our eggs there (it's so sad it is no longer), our veggies either came from the garden (my mother was in the land army) or from a house which was just down from the end of the manor and next to the Corner House.
Adventures in the Woods
Even though I am thousands of miles away, I often think of North Lancing. I lived there during my childhood and went to North Lancing Primary School. I remember so clearly sweet Miss Humphry and the sometimes intimidating Miss Tate. Miss Tate was my teacher, and Mr Stears was also my teacher and piano teacher, to whose house on Penhill I dutifully went every Saturday morning. The only thing I can remember was that his front room was extremely cold, and my forte was not playing the piano.
I remember the Tythe Barn and we used to buy our eggs there (it's so sad it is no longer), our veggies either came from the garden (my mother was in the land army) or from a house which was just down from the end of the manor and next to the Corner House.
Adventures in the Woods
Someone had also mentioned the path through the woods at the back of the manor. We used to play in those woods all the time, and there were two cottages which were the old woodsman cottages leftover from when the manor was a fully functioning estate. Next to the cottages was an air-raid shelter which no one ever went into. We thought it was haunted. They are probably gone now, too.
Time at Pat Barton's Stables
I worked at Pat Barton's stables, and for a day of mucking out stalls, I got a free riding lesson. In the summer, we collected the hay from the top of the downs between the end of Mill Road and the Clump. Some weekends, John (son) and I would take the donkey and cart over the downs to Steyning and sell manure. Pat Barton also let me come to the point-to-point races and even let me use a pony and paid for my entry into a race at a gymkhana we all went to. I remember him as a very proud gentleman who fought incredible pain from a hunting accident in Ireland. Although the farm was run down, all the animals were well looked after. Those days were, in retrospect, probably the happiest of my entire life.
Memories of the Girl Guides
I was also in the Girl Guides. I have forgotten the name of the Captain, other than she was a Miss and had been a captain forever. She did not believe in any modern conveniences, and we dug our own latrines, made our own furniture, and all cooking was done on a wood stove (if you didn't get dry wood, you did not eat). William Baden-Powell would have been proud.
Annual Fete and Community Spirit
I also remember so clearly the yearly fete at the manor. We did country dancing, and there was also a parade where the coal company still had the horse-drawn cart. Our milk was delivered by horse and cart (South Coast Dairies), and occasionally, a rag and bone man would show up with his pony and cart.
I was very fortunate to grow up in such a wonderful environment.
Best Regards
Sue Sutherland
Update.. Sue wrote this footnote: FYI, I was talking to my cousin today, who still lives in the area, and she remembered the name of the captain of the Girl Guides, and it was Miss Norris.
Regards, Sue Sutherland.
