The Fernhurst Society
Tales from the Archives - 33
James Hill, a gentle man of Fernhurst
The white, rough-cast shed at Fernhurst Crossroads has seen many occupants and uses, but for at least forty of its years it was the sanctum of James Hill. Hill was many things: secretary of the local Foresters (a self-financing health and social services organisation before the NHS), school correspondent and churchwarden at St Margaret’s.
In his day the shed consisted of undressed oak slabs topped by a chip-thatched roof and there, when his more active life was finished, he was mostly to be found surrounded by the odds and ends of his trade, nails, screws and all sorts of gadgets. The shed became the ‘village record office’ where he attended to his correspondence, wrote up his minutes, balanced accounts etc.
His day, however, was constantly interrupted by villagers from all walks of life coming to talk over village affairs, seek personal advice, air a grievance, etc. All were met with a calm, measured response and if any came with gossip or tittle-tattle found their anger or malice tempered by his presence. Advice or stricture would be given in the most palatable way, often with a touch of humour that left the recipient feeling uplifted.
If you look at the old photos of Fernhurst in the Community Room in the Village Hall there is James Hill in the one of Church Road, every inch the kindly village elder. Alice Tudor in ‘Fernhurst: The Story of a Sussex Village’ said ‘He died in 1925, aged seventy-nine and Fernhurst has not filled his place’.
If you would like to know more about this story, or research other local topics, the Archive is open on Tuesdays, 2.30-5pm in the Village Hall. Other times by arrangement.
Christine Maynard
Fernhurst ArchiveOne of a series of short articles bringing you some of the incidents from our rich village history. Collated by Christine Maynard, based on documents preserved at the Fernhurst Archives, these originally were published in the monthly Fernhurst News.
The Fernhurst Archives
Fernhurst History
