Bury

Bury the village is indeed buried away from  car travellers rushing past the turning off the A29 on their way to Pulborough. Although not steeped in documented ancient history it has had some colourful and renowned residents, especially women; some physically strong like  Ada Marshall, a mother of eight who was the “Ferryman” rowing people across the Adur to Amberley for many years; or” Big Ben” and “Mendoza” two very popular bare fisted knuckle prize-fighters in the 18th century.  The married women of that era, not to be outdone, challenged and vanquished the unmarried women of the Parish in a game of cricket and followed on by challenging any team in the County.

Not least of all is the lady whose book “ All About Bury”((published 1947) provided much of the source material for this village profile – Lillian E Brown. It is probably the most comprehensive, lovingly researched village history ever written.  It followed from  a W.I. suggestion to members that they record their village history.

A very formidable Bury lady decided no invading foreigners would drive her out of her home. Elizabeth Higgings had inherited and was farming the Bury Manor Estates when the Spanish Armada set forth to invade England in 1588. She quickly set about preparing for a long siege; cattle were rounded up and the men were told to prepare to defend Bury Hill and set up warning fires. The women were to make stores of provisions and fresh water and be prepared to look after and tend the wounded men.

We all know the Armada didn’t succeed. However I am reminded of two other women not from Bury but who had the same determination; Elizabeth 1 and Mrs Thatcher. All three are perfectly described by the improvised saying of the latter  - “ We ladies are not for Turning”.

Since the time of Edward the Confessor (1042) the Manor of Bury has been variously owned. Land owning feudal families were regularly dispossessed and their property handed to the Crown but Henry V111 actually bought the estate. However the current owner is –The Duke of Norfolk, whose family had owned it on various occasions 

The Manor House Estate was sold by the Duke in 1906 and was farmed privately until bought by Dorset School. Originally based in Littlehampton it is now a very highly respected preparatory school, feeding pupils to colleges such as Lancing.  The position and view from this magnificent school property is outstanding; having site that is elevated and close to the river overlooking Amberley Castle. The whole village is a

magnet for artists

Two 20th century household names lived in the “Street” (main road) and both were authors and playwrights; Mabel Constanduros wrote and starred in the epic comedy series on radio; The Buggins Family. It ran continuously for twenty years from 1920 – 1940. John Galsworthy wrote the Forsyte Saga which when made into a T.V. series starring Eric Porter, Nyree Dawn Porter, Kenneth More and Susan Hampshire which, became to most people “unmissable” every week for the duration of the series.

Mabel lived at Prattendens Cottage at the very top of the ‘Street’ and just a hundred yards or so below lived John Galsworthy in Bury House that has a blue plaque on the front recording his stay. Today the house has been converted to private residences.

A little further down the ‘Street’ there is another house of no particular fame, except that virtually every first time visitor stops to take a photograph. Not for it’s beauty, more for its ugliness; it displays a remarkable number of grotesque gargoyles.