Visit to Little Park, Hurstpierpoint

by Anthony Bower
April 2005

In April of this year two long lost cousins and their families met up in Hurstpierpoint after the two branches had gone their own ways some 250 years ago. Dave Upshon of Johannesburg and 5th cousin Anthony Bower of Hamburg made contact via this website some months ago.

It was a pleasant family reunion, Dave being accompanied by his wife Liz and son Andrew, Anthony by his wife Renate. Dave and Anthony’s last common ancestor was William Marchant, an army surgeon of Cheshunt (1759 - 1790).William was a great-grandson of Thomas the diarist of Hurstpierpoint. It was Dave’s first visit to Hurst and he was anxious to see Thomas’s ancestral home.

------------- Click on the pictures to enlarge them. -------------

Cream Tea From left to right: Renate Bower, Liz Upshon, Sonja and Kitt Kernon, Dave Upshon and Andrew Upshon

Fish Panel This panel in the original kitchen demonstrates Thomas Marchant’s interest in fish farming.

Former Kitchen A beautiful room overlooking the fish stew pond.

With our knowledge of the family and their knowledge of Little Park there was an interesting exchange of information. We handed them a proof-reader’s copy of Thomas’s diary and various old photographs of the house which they appreciated.

The house still bears marks of the Marchant family – on the western wall an old drainpipe bearing the initials of the original Marchant owners William and Mary and a Sun Fire Mark for their insurance. In the former kitchen one wall is panelled with stylised carp carvings reminding us of one of Thomas’s business interests – carp and tench farming.

------------- Click on the pictures to enlarge them. -------------

Little Park View from the north.

Little Park Front View View from the south.

Upshon Bower Taken on top of Ditchling Beacon. Dave Upshon, Renate Bower, Anthony Bower and Liz Upshon.

Dave took many photographs – Anthony not so many. Some of them are displayed here.

Leaving Little Park we walked down the Twitten known as Bowling Alley which joins Little Park to the main street. At the end of this alley is Thomas Marchant’s town house – now a delicatessen bearing another old Hurst name – Hamper’s.

Dave took some more pictures before we stopped off at the New Inn for refreshment. The weather was glorious so we were able to sit in the spacious garden behind the pub.

------------- Click on the pictures to enlarge them. -------------

Fire Mark A Firemark issued to the Marchants by the Sun Insurance Company.

Drain Pipe Erected by William and Mary Marchant when they bought and rebuilt parts of the house.

We finished our tour of Hurst with a visit to the church and the Marchant graves and then a quick look at Wanbarrow Farm where Thomas’s widowed mother used to live with one of her other sons.

Finally we made a fleeting visit to Ditchling Beacon to enjoy the view of Sussex from the summit and then dropped back down into the village of Ditchling to visit the church. Inside we located more relatives – the Turners of Oldland and Dave took another set of pictures of their graves. At this point more refreshment was needed and this was taken in Wineham where Anthony’s son Martin lives. After a dinner with local friends we parted promising to meet again soon in Sussex, Johannesburg or Hamburg.