The Fernhurst Society

Memories of Fernhurst

Compiled by the Fernhurst Women’s Institute in 1958

This is a transcription of a 78-page manuscript "FERNHURST IN LIVING MEMORY", produced in 1958 by the Women's Instititute (WI). The original, with several line drawings in the text, is in the central WI Archives, but a copy is held in the Fernhurst Archives. Transcribed by Christine Maynard.

next page

Contents:

Fernhurst
The village
Agriculture
Mrs. Whiting Remembers
Miss Woodman's Store
Interesting Items
Nonconformist Churches
Fernhurst Church. Remembered Activities
May Day. May Queens
Ghost Stories
Well-remembered Personalities
Industries
Club Days. Excursions
Opening of King Edward VII. Sanatorium.
Children’s Outing
Opening of the Village Hall
Education
War Years
Red Cross in Fernhurst
Country Walks
Girl Guides
Scouts
Gymnasium
Early Flower Show
Cricket
The Village Choir
The Library
Verdley
Timberscombe
Spread Eagle
Research 1958
Women’s Institute
Coronation of Queen Elizabeth II
Country Lore

Memories of Fernhurst cover page

Ferns have always enhanced the countryside of Fernhurst and the surrounding woods and lanes of West Sussex. Especially remembered are Harts Tongue, Hard Fern, Bracken, Spleenwort, Holly Fern, Common Polypody Fern, Limestone Polypody, Mountain Polypody and Shell-branched Polypody. These named ferns form the design on the cover.

FERNHURST

An enchanting design on the end paper and cover introduces one to Fernhurst.

I liked the reference to farming. ‘It was not an industry, it was a way of life recorded down the years.’ The description of the horse brasses, the bells, rosettes and studded reins brought out into the evening sunlight made a vivid and effective picture.

Some good material on Verdley Research Station, and a pleasant little memory of Nobby Aplin and Tennyson.

‘It has been fun living in Fernhurst revisited!’

Oral History Project

The Fernhurst Oral History Project was supported by the Local Heritage Initiative. The Local Heritage Initiative was developed by the Countryside Agency and was funded by the Heritage Lottery Fund and Nationwide Building Society.