PRINCIPAL INHABITANTS 1881 Census

RW Standing 2004


This summary, with respect to occupations, is based upon Heads of Households only.

Where possible Tithe Numbers from the c1840 tithe map are quoted [T...] to locate the house, although in many instances the original buildings have been demolished or rebuilt extensively.

Most of the house locations may be found in the maps associated with the c1840 Houses List.


The Farming Interest
This census is one of those with interesting information about the various farms, providing estimated acreages, and the numbers of workers. Indoor domestics were additional to that. The principal family of farm tenants at that time was the brothers Miles, with George on the downs at Upper Barpham [T18H] and an estimated 260 acres with seven men and three boys; whilst down south at Upper Ecclesden [T300] Edwin had 300 acres and employed eight men and three boys.

At Lower Barpham [T20] only a housekeeper was present in the house, with Moses Miller the farm bailiff, in a nearby cottage, and so where the land was farmed from is uncertain. South of that the great 490 acres Park Farm [T220R] was occupied by Robert Elliott with his nine men and four boys. In fact, according to the rate book, he had over seventy acres more land in the area, besides the main farm. He was wealthy enough to employ a governess for his children. North of the A27, Nelson Laker at the new Norfolk House, had Swillage farm of 270 acres, employing seven men and five boys, but part of this land would have been in the adjoining parish of Patching.

South of the A27, greatest of the farmers was John Tompkins at Old Place [T451] which included New Place, but also no doubt extended into Poling adjoining. He was credited with having 773 acres in all, and a commensurate large workforce of 24 men, 11 boys and 2 women. Two to three men to each hundred acres was about the norm at that time. To a similar scale, John E Heasman had recently taken over Ecclesden Manor [T309] with 700 acres, 26 men and 16 boys, but here again more than one holding was included in that total, no doubt Ham Manor owned by Henry Fletcher [T68H].

In the medium scale, George D Hide had Avenals Farm [T265] some 257 acres, worked by 8 men, 3 boys, and 4 women. Even this included Chalk's farm south of the village. William Jarrett, was more of an opportunistic tenant, living at one of the new houses at the east end of the Street, Eagle and Gothic, with several holdings in his 110 acres, including the Pound, Older's school-land, and glebe. He employed five men, three boys and two women. Sextus Clarke at Church Farm [T395] may not have had the whole of that holding, the extent is not stated.

This leaves only those ancient and minimal farms at Pigeon House [T356] and Hangleton [T322]. Thomas Standing on his sixty acres with three men, and James Belchamber and another three men on his fifty acres. Other lands were undoubtedly occupied from outside the parish as with the RA Warren estate, centred on Preston Place in East Preston.

Surprisingly the only miller listed in the village was Frederick Luck, living in the new houses in the Square next to Mr Peskett, south of the Red Lion. His mill in the High Street was the only one left working in the past twenty years, employing one other man and a boy.

Gentry
Sir Henry Fletcher at Ham Manor, with no less than ten servants living-in, besides others in cottages nearby, an MP and JP, was one of the gentry of Sussex. Apart from him a small coterie of the professional and leisured continuing to centre itself on the corner of Rectory Lane - by its modern name. Watertone House was presently unoccupied [T391], but at the two residences comprising White Lodge [T392] ML Mousley was a "lady of no profession", and James West in "property and shares". Whilst George Smith at Elmhurst [T390] was described as an "artist".

Others of similar background were scattered about the village. In particular William Kerl from the City of London, annuitant, at the Malt House [T353]. Quite probably also acceptable were Edward Bennett at Angmering Cottage in the Square [T379] and Francis Holloway of Ivy Cottage [T420] and also Jane Rosgless at Ann's Cottage in the Square who was really Jane Ragless the daughter of a previous master of Older's School.

Clergy
The old Rectory in the Street, Syon House [T422] is where James Orme had begun his career in the parish in 1866 and would see out the century, before retiring to East Preston. Near the railway crossing, Roundstone [T544] continued as the home of the curate of East Preston, at present Samuel Walker. There was a Baptist Chapel House in Station Road occupied by Thomas Harmer but no resident priest.

Teachers
There were now two schools in the parish, with the Roman Catholic church and school having been built in Arundel Road some ten years previously, complementing the ancient Older's School [T385] of Protestant theology. Elizabeth Berryman occupied the School House of the new establishment, whilst Charles Challen was schoolmaster at the School House for the other academy.

Village Inns
With a population stagnating throughout the 19th century at around a thousand people, Angmering was well supplied with public houses, at five in all, and that with an occasional beer shop. Passing traffic may have boosted trade to some extent, and the Fox was on the parish boundary, with Patching supplying more business.

Host at the Fox [T193] was Frank Artlett, and a short distance towards Arundel the Woodman's Arms had Henry Harris as its victualler. Within the village William Cheeseman was at the Red Lion [T410] and across the road a larger establishment at the Lamb [T380] was hosted by Thomas Wilkinson, with many years yet to go. At the Ecclesden end of the Street, the quite recently established Spotted Cow, had John Diaper as its inn keeper.

Public Office, and Railways
This census is one of few that mentions officers of various kinds from parochial to county. At Conyers [T383] Arthur Baker not only owned adjoining houses, but also collected local rates and taxes. In the Street, James Sayers, an erstwhile small farmer at Yew Trees [T370] was now a labourer but also the parish clerk. Living nearby at the Court House [T366] Frederick Fuller kept the peace as the village county policeman. As grocer, draper and post-master, Arthur Elliott had his shop at the Rosary or London House [T408] in the Square. And almost as a public figure, the current stationmaster at the railway station, was George Searle.

Tradesmen
Besides the farming occupations, from labourer to shepherd, a miscellany of other trades kept the village ticking, including at least one seamstress, bricklayer, bootmaker, shoemaker, gardener, coachman, woodman, gamekeeper and even a potter at Yarmouth near Poling.

At this time the Linfield family at Littleworth [T347-8] appear to have been predominate as builders, but it is peculiar that both William junior and senior were stated as employing twelve men. It may be suspected they were running the one business between them.

Others were associated with building as carpenters of various sorts. George Boore at Rectory Cottage, next to Syon House. John Walder in the new cottages south of the church, and Mark Wady snr and junr in the Mill Cottages, near Luck's mill.

Several men were engaged in blacksmith work. These included Zebedee Peskett in his house south of the Red Lion, later the ironmongers shop, and George Jupp at Olders Lodge in Station Road [T523].

Shops
Full scale or at least cottage shops in household and other needs included some that are well known. James Terry at Aberdeen House in Arundel Road the butcher [T389]. William Langley, grocer and draper at Blaber House, and William Elliott already mentioned, both in the Square. And yet a third grocer and draper, Richard Winchester in the Street [T413].

Only one greengrocer is listed. Perhaps many people made do with home grown produce on the allotments. Luke Payne at Mill Cottages served those who were not self-sufficient.

There were two bakers for the village. Mary Etherington in the shop adjoining the Red Lion [T411] and Henry Grant of Thorpe Cottage further along the Street [T419].

Henry Freeland combined chemist shop with stationery, at Commerce House [T367] and had been a well known professional photographer.

This leaves only the essential trade of saddler. William Batcock at what therefore became known as the Saddlers [T414] but also Henry Phillips at East End or Old House [T429]. Indeed, Henry would soon take over the business at Saddlers.

RW Standing, 2004