SOUTH DOWNS

The photos to the left are views of Holt Farm, Clapham, from my back garden

"The Downland Shepherds" is a delightful book and very special to me as the Author, Barclay Wills, lived in Worthing, West Sussex for most of his life. It tells the story of many famous Shepherds of the South Downs in the early part of the 20th Century. Sheep farming then was very different - indeed the Downs themeselves would be almost unrecognisable today. He tells of Sheep Folding and the chimes of Sheep Bells; of the last teams of Sussex Oxen ploughing the fields; the Shepherds ancient crafts, traditions and folk songs. Of the Shepherds year of caring for the Sheep in all weathers through to Lambing and Findon Fair and it`s importance.

Written nearly a hundred years ago, it tells the story of the Downs in their glory as they will never be again. Oh well, they are yet still a delight to behold.


Kirk Dickenson
Sheep belonging to Oscar E.Pyle of Southdown Farm being driven from Angmering and meandering over Long Furlong on the way to the Findon Sheep Fair on 14th September 1935. Oscar Pyle owned a famous Southdown flock.

An Austin pulls over for them, 1936

These photographs are shown by kind permission of Valerie Martin - www.findonvillage.com
and these and more can be seen in the Findon Village Antiquities section of her website at
http://www.findonvillage.com/0169_the_50_50_chance.htm

The following pictures can be purchased at: http://www.westsussexpast.org.uk/pictures/dserve.exe?dsqIni=Dserve.ini&dsqApp=Archive2&dsqCmd=Overview.tcl&dsqDb=Catalog&dsqSearch=(((text)=%27south%27)AND((text)=%27downs%27))&dsqPos=0&dsqNum=10&PF=No
West Sussex Past Pictures is an excellent website which has thousands of past photos and pictures of Sussex. The Library Service has recently bought a vast private collection and are doing a superb job of cataloging them.

Sheep on the South Downs c1914
A downs Shepherd near Brighton c1920
Circa 1910
Findon Sheep Fair c. 1930
Sheep on South Downs near Poynings c1905
Sheep at a Dew Pond on the South Downs c1932[IMGRIGHT=http://files.myopera.com/blackpatch[IMGRIGHT=http: