SRFN Miscellany: Henry Burstow: Reminiscences of Horsham: 3

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SRFN: Miscellany:
Henry Burstow: Reminiscences of Horsham

26	Reminiscences of Horsham.

There was a procession round the lawn, headed by the band, in the afternoon, and a public dinner at the King's Head Hotel in the evening. The celebration was somewhat overshadowed by the prevailing political conditions and was quite eclipsed by the Reform dinner and festivities which took place on Wednesday, the 1st August, 1832, to celebrate the passing of the Reform Bill. I was present with my elder brother at these festivities, and can recall particulars of the event, as if they took place but last week. The morning was ushered in by a peal of bells from the old Church, the band afterwards playing round the town. Towards noon throngs of people from all quarters entered the town, on foot and in vehicles of all kinds. At 2 o'clock the people assembled in four different parts of the town, the parties distinguished from one another by different colours; pink, green, yellow, or white, and marched to the Carfax, whence, headed by the band, all marched to the Cricket Field, which was then in the North Parade, just south of where Hurst Road is now. By about 3.30 p.m. the whole company, nearly 3000 people, were seated at 62 tables, loaded with cold roast and boiled beef and mutton, vegetables, hot plum pudding, and beer. A special platform was erected for the chairman, T. Sanctuary, Esq., late High Sheriff of Sussex, and his supporters. At the sound of a bugle grace was said before and after the dinner. There were all kinds of sports and amusements, races, &c., until about 6 o'clock in the evening, when, unfortunately, it came on to rain hard, and my brother then carried me home on his back. The day closed with a brilliant display of fireworks; rockets, candles, vertical wheels, mines, balloons, Bengal lights, jacks-in-boxes, maroons, tourbillions, &c., &c. About 4,000 people altogether were present at the Cricket Field. In the evening there was a grand ball at the King's

Recollections of Henry Burstow.

Head Hotel. A second and third display of fireworks took place in the evenings of the two succeeding days.

This happy event, however, took place in very troublous times. The country, generally, was in a very unsettled state, and in the neighbourhood of Horsham, as elsewhere, there was a great amount of agricultural distress and rioting, no less than five young men were hanged here between 1831 and 1834 for rick firing at various places in Sussex. There were further disturbances about 1834-5 upon the introduction of the new Poor Law, which was very unpopular with the labouring classes. The magistrates, unable to maintain order through the constables, frequently sent to Brighton for a troop of cavalry to do so. These soldiers were usually billetted here for several weeks together. Their presence in the town at this time, when the spirit of "Reform" was in the air and demands for greater liberties and privileges were being made by all workers, was very irritating to our parents; but from a spectacular point of view was very satisfactory to us boys. I can see them now, one captain, one lieutenant, one sergeant, two corporals, and usually about twenty-five troopers, marching round the town; sometimes they would pass down the Bishopric to Broadbridge Heath Common for drill and sword exercise. Our limited vision apprehended nothing but their outward prettiness, and our sympathies were entirely with the soldiers, who in their smart uniforms, with their bright swords and prancing horses, all untouched by the grinding industrial conditions of the time, compared but too favourably with the poor labourers, who in their poverty were taxed and sweated for the soldiers upkeep.

In former days the labourers were all called happy men,
As well they might be; labourers could keep a grunter then;
But in these times a grunter is but a poor man lent—
Hard times — now he must kill and sell his pig to pay the rent.

28	Reminiscences of Horsham.

Before the new Union Workhouse was built, in 1838, through the operation of the new Poor Law, Horsham Parish Workhouse was in the Normandy, where the Alms Houses are now. There, some of the disturbances above alluded to took place, and the magistrates in a body were once mobbed and pelted with stones by the angry labourers. A dismal kind of place, too, where the mad as well as the poor were kept. I have heard of two mad people kept there, one a man named Evans, a raving maniac, who occupied one cell for 22 years, and was released only by grim death. He was succeeded in the same cell by his daughter, who was there in chains, also for many years; I don't know how many. She was kept, as it were, on show, visitors being allowed to look at her through iron bars in the door, and watch her cultivating the friendship of rats — rats of enormous size, which she used to nurse in her lap and feed from her hands. Upon the slightest noise by visitors the rats would disappear leaving the poor maniac convulsed with rage and uttering the most awful imprecations upon their disturbers. I can well remember the Parliamentary Election, the "Reform" election as it was called, of 1832. Against Mr. Hurst, the popular Horsham candidate, the Duke of Norfolk ran his auditor, Mr. Blount, but the town soon showed it resented the Duke's political interference. Early on polling day his candidate, finding he had no chance of winning, gave up the contest. Soon afterwards, not knowing this, a party of his supporters, with band playing and colours flying, paraded the town. As they came down the Bishopric my father, with whom I was standing at the door of our cottage, cried out to them in glee, "Ha! Ha! Blount has given up, you're done as brown as bricks." There was a great

	Recollections of Henry Burstow.	29

amount of drunkenness at this and the following elections; Public Houses were "open" and drinks were "free." But by far the greatest amount of drunkenness at any election in my time took place at that of 1847 — one of the most notoriously drunken and corrupt elections in the United Kingdom. "Free" liquor could be had at every public house and beer shop in the parish for several weeks. The consequence was, that whilst some people kept sober others were continually drunk, and many others were continuously ditto. On nomination and polling days it may almost be said that the town was entirely drunk. The bribery was almost as bad as the drunkenness; many "free and independent" citizens were bribed for their vote, others were bribed not to vote. A platform, called the Hustings, was erected against the Town Hall, and here the candidates and friends and the returning officer assembled on the nomination day for the purpose of nominating the candidates, and on the following day —election day— to receive votes, which used to be given openly by word of mouth, not by ballot. A feature of old time electioneering at Horsham were the "white boys," of whom, in 1847, I was one. Each candidate had about twenty. Each white boy was dressed in a white round frock and carried a pole about six feet long, painted red or blue, according to the colour favoured by the candidate in whose interests he was engaged. We were paid 5s. each per day, and we could have as much to eat and drink as we liked. Our duties were to keep the way to the hustings clear for voters, and to make ourselves otherwise generally useful. Polling ceased punctually at 4 p.m., but the member who won found himself in a very shaky seat indeed. A petition against his return was lodged, and so flagrant had been the conduct of the election by his supporters

30	Reminiscences of Horsham.

that it was found he had not a leg to stand, or rather sit, upon. No defence was made, and he was unseated. This verdict had the effect of sobering the town, for the subsequent election, in 1848, was perfectly tame and respectably conducted. The defeated candidate of 1847 again put up, and was this time elected by a large majority over his new opponent; but he was not allowed to take his seat; a petition against his return was lodged for exactly the same offences, and at the same election as that upon which he had petitioned against his former rival, and he was also unseated. There had been enough drunkenness in 1847 to unseat fifty members of Parliament; but there has never been anything approaching it at any election at Horsham since. On Sunday, Mar. 31st, 1833, there was felt, all over the Town, quite a severe shock of earthquake. It took place at a quiet time, about 8.30 p.m., when most people were sitting at home, and everybody was greatly alarmed. Housebells started ringing of themselves, scales were put in motion, and pictures swung on the walls; people ran out of their houses fearing the beams would give way and apprehensive of the safety of themselves and their goods. Fortunately no serious damage was done, and no further shock was felt. On Thursday, Sept. 15th, 1835, I went to see the horse racing that then took place in St. Leonard's Forest. The first race meeting held there, in 1834, was rather small, but met with much encouragement and success. The '35 meeting was quite a grand event: early in the morning every approach was crowded with vehicles of all kinds, and with people on foot and on horseback. By 10 o'clock, the hour at which the first race was timed to start, it was estimated that quite 12,000 people and 1,000 horses were present. It was said that these races

Recollections of Henry Burstow.

attracted more people to the neighbourhood of Horsham than any other event ever did. The day was beautifully fine and the races were run in a delightful spot. The course, one-and-a-half miles in circumference, was on the west side of the big house, New Lodge. I climbed up a tree and had a full view of the whole day's proceedings, of which I give a programme.

ST. LEONARD'S FOREST RACES, On Tuesday, Sept. 15th, 1835, At ten o'clock precisely. A Saddle and Bridle for Ponies under 13 hands. The last half mile.
Master Smith's gr. g. "Speculation," yellow and black stripes, black cap
Mr. Mr. Mr. Mr. Mr. Mr.	Trowers' bl. m. "Deception," yellow body, black cap Lee's br. m. "Fanny," white, black cap Geo. Sharp's br. g. "Hazard," scarlet, black cap Oakes' br. g. "Bounce," blue body, black cap Bartlett's br. g. "XXX," pink body, white sleeves, green and yellow cap Thomas' b. m. "Lady Hamilton," blue, white cap	1 2
The Victuallers' Cup and Sweepstakes. For Horses not thorough bred, nor exceeding 14 hands 3in. One mile and a distance.
Mr. Mr. Mr. Mr. Mr.	Martin's bl. g. "Willie Wilkin," aged, 12st, pink body, green sleeves, black cap Rickword's gr. m. "Mermaid," 5 yrs., 11st., green, black cap Redford's br. m. "Brown Bess," aged, 12st., crimson, black cap Chasemore's b. m. "Chance," aged, white, black cap Rawlinson's b. g. "Maplehurst," 4 yrs., 10st., crimson and black stripe, black cap	2 1 3
The Town Cup and Sweepstakes. For horses not thorough bred. Two miles and a distance.
Mr. Mr. Mr.	Coppard's gr. m. "Miss Peggy," 4 yrs., 10st. 10lbs., crimson and black stripes, black cap Howes' b. m. "Lilley of the Valley," 4 yrs., 10st. 10lbs., green body, white sleeves, white cap Lee's b. g. "Fencer," 4 yrs., 10st. 10lbs., white, black cap	2 1

Reminiscences of Horsham.

The Ladies' purse of thirty sovereigns, added to a subscription of £5 each. Two miles and a distance. The owner of the second horse to receive back his stake.
Mr. Mr. Mr. Mr.	Platt's gr. m. "My Lady" (by Skim), 6 yrs., 12st., light blue jacket, blue stripe cap Redford's br. m. "Brown Bess," aged, 11st. 6lbs., crimson, black cap Bazelgette's gr. g. "Spicy," aged, 13st., white, black cap Padwick's b. g. "Roadster," aged, 11st. 6lb., lilac, black cap	3 1 2
The Hunters' Sweeptakes and purse. For horses not thorough bred, belonging to gentlemen who have regularly hunted with Mr. Steere's hounds. Two miles and a distance. The owner of the second horse to receive back his stake.
Mr. Mr. Mr. Mr. Mr. Mr. Mr.	Platt's gr. m. "My Lady" (by Skim), 6 yrs., 12st, light blue jacket, blue stripe cap Sanctuary's gr. m. "The Lady Abbess" (by Little John), 5 yrs., 11st. 6lbs., orange, black cap Martin's gr. m. "Fair Maid" (by Acu Punctu), 4 yrs., 10st., crimson and black striped, black cap Coppard's gr. m. "Miss Peggy" (by Acu Punctu), 4 yrs., 10st., crimson and black stripe, black cap Aldridge's ns. b. m. "Accommodation," 7 yrs., 12st. 2lbs., crimson, black cap Lee Steere's ns. b. m. "Lilly of the Valley," 4 yrs., 10st. 10lbs., green body, white sleeves, white cap Lee's b. g. "Fencer," 4 yrs., 10st. 10lbs., white, black cap	2 1
The Yeomanry Cup, presented by H. D. Goring, Esq., M.P., for horses belonging to the Arundel and Bramber Yeomanry. To carry 12st. each. One mile and a distance.
Mr. Mr. Mr. Mr.	G. Penfold's ch. h. "Wiggenholt," aged, pink body, white sleeves, pink cap G. Duke's m. "Hope," aged, pink body, blue sleeves, black cap R. Watkyns' h. "Bobino," aged, green body, pink sleeve, black cap Cook's "Arundel" Any winner of a previous cup or stakes to carry 6lbs. extra.	1 3

JOHN SHELLEY, Esq.,
LEE STEERE, Esq.,
ROBERT ALDRIDGE, Esq.,
G. E. PLATT, Esq.,

Stewards.

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