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SRFN: Miscellany: Henry Burstow: Reminiscences of Horsham |
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INTRODUCTION 
IN deciding to compose and publish this little book the writer had but one object in view, viz.: that of rendering help to old HENRY BURSTOW, Horsham's famous Bellringer and Song Singer, who, in the declining years of his long life, with neither son nor daughter, and but few friends able to help him, was found to be in indigent circumstances. To most Horsham people HENRY BURSTOW is well known, but there will probably be many readers of these pages to whom he is a stranger, and to whom, therefore, an introduction will not be superfluous; whilst to all readers, and especially subscribers, the writer feels he ought to give an explanation of, if not an apology for, his solicitation of their support. HENRY BURSTOW was born and brought up in a humble sphere, and started in a path that rewarded constant hard work with but poor pay. He pursued this path, working early and late, maintaining himself, and later his wife, and getting in return for his labour but a mere subsistence wage sufficient only for food, clothes, and house rent week by week. Concurrently he indulged his hobbies: Church bellringing, which, whilst touching the sentiments of thousands who love the fabric, and perhaps the doctrines, of the Church, and making him famous near and far, added but little to his income; and song singing, which, whilst enlivening many a jolly evening, preserving many good folk |
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songs, and adding to his fame, was still less useful to him as a source of profit. He also found time to indulge, in a lesser degree, in bird fancying and water-colour painting. Two specimens of the latter, "Collyer's Free School" and "The Sussex County Gaol," will be found in this book.
Perhaps it was this humble occupation and the enjoyment of these hobbies, together with his excellent health and spirits, that provided a suitable environment for the cultivation and preservation of those qualities that have commanded the respect of his fellow townsmen, and continue to radiate in so charming a manner from his old age; his cheerful temperament, generous disposition, delight in thinking and doing good without hope of reward, firmness in shunning evil without the pressure of fear of punishment, enjoyment of life to the last, fearless of death whenever it may come; a truth and peace-loving Humanitarian, and honest and bold Freethinker, he has maintained through life a disposition that never earned him an enemy; a cheery optimism that has warmed the hearts of all who have come into contact with him, and a character that would have adorned many a highly-placed dignitary did he possess it. Those who might say that he ought to have provided for his old age may refer to page 23, where he gives the amount of wages he received for his labour, and may reflect that had he died at the end of the so-called span of life - threescore years and ten - he would have been dependent neither upon charity nor the sale of this book; and further, that by any just and scientific system of the distribution of wealth, instead of the "get-what-you-can" principle that has obtained through his life, and has dealt out but too frequently large fortunes to sharp rogues |
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and penury to honest toilers; by any such system he would have received ample provision for his old age and been free from the anxiety that always haunts the sensitive nature when in the bond or region of poverty.
It seemed something of a reproach that one with such a character, one so widely known by means of his fame as a bellringer and song singer, should suffer distress through being deprived by ruthless age of the ability to earn his living, which, with the willingness he still possesses, he exercised for as many years of his long life as possible; and so, knowing what an excellent memory he possessed, and also that he had lived all his life in his native town, the writer took down his recollections in the hope that if and when published they might be sufficiently interesting to sell and produce a profit for his benefit. Mr. BURSTOW'S statements have been corroborated where access to documentary evidence respecting them has been obtained. A search of records has not only verified and amplified many of his statements, but has also furnished much other interesting information, including particulars of the Sussex Assizes, of public executions by hanging and burning, of smuggling, of barrack life, of electioneering, and of the old Court Leet system of local government, &c., all concerning the town of Horsham. This matter, which is quite outside Mr. Burstow's knowledge, it was intended to publish, together with his recollections; but his advancing age and declining strength, and the delay, to say nothing of the greater expense involved in putting it into consecutive and readable form, make it advisable that his recollections be published alone, and as soon as possible; hence the present little volume. |
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It may be thought by some readers that too much mention is made of the drunkenness that disfigured many of the events and episodes of which accounts are given. The question whether inclusion or omission of such unpleasant facts is the better is, perhaps, a debatable one, but as this little book is something of an attempt to give a picture of Horsham of from forty to eighty years ago, the writer, with a view to correctness and completeness has thought it advisable to include the alcoholic colour. The disappointment, too, caused by his inability to to find documentry evidence of many interesting tales about Horsham has been a further inducement to put the facts on record, rather than leave them to the doubtful care of tradition. For instance, it is said that in former times gambling for large stakes was prevalent at Horsham, and that the peculiar intricacies of some of the properties of the Town resulted from winnings and losings at the gaming table. Sometimes the ownership of a room or two rooms of a house would, by card playing, be changed, and the room or rooms be transferred to the owner of the adjoining house. Records of these transactions would be much more satisfactory than mere tradition, but no such records as far as the writer is aware are available. If the inclusion of the unpleasant facts alluded to give offence to those who like the truth to be shaped to their fancy, it will give satisfaction to those who would rather look back upon things as they actually were, than as they would like them to have been. Youthful readers may think the colour is laid on too thickly; such, however, is not the case, it could truthfully have been deepened. Those who knew Horsham thirty or forty years ago can see a great improvement in the habits of the people, whilst those whose recollections go further are well aware that the
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Town's evil reputation in this matter was only too well-earned.
It seems usual to include in the preface to a book either an apology for its production or a positive statement that no apology is needed. Having regard to the object of issuing this book, and the great interest that items of local information have for all whose sentiments are attached to the old Town of Horsham, an apology is perhaps due; but not from the writer. It is due rather from those who, with greater leisure and talents, and higher training, are better equipped for making such a publication more profitable, more readable, and more valuable to the local topographer. Conscious as the writer is of its many errors, not of statement but of workmanship, which deprive it of all value as a literary production, he feels it had better appear with its blemishes than not at all. Of those able and disposed to criticise he must ask mercy; of those who like doing a good turn no more need be said. The writer begs to express his thanks to many people for their kind assistance, especially to Mr. Wm. H. Blaber, of Hove, who kindly gave him access to valuable papers; Mr. R. Garraway Rice, J.P., F.S.A., of Pulborough, who kindly allowed him to quote fully from his publication "Some account of Richard Eldridge, of Horsham," and "Notes upon the Bells of St. Mary's Church"; to his (the writer's) uncle, Mr. Edward Aldridge, of London, late of Horsham; Mr. Charles West and Mrs. Roberts, both of Brighton, late of Horsham; Miss Lucy Broadwood, Hon. Sec. of the Folk Song Society; Mr. Tom Charman, and many other people either for information or corroboration; to Mr. T. Gurney Stedman |
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for encouragement and help; and to the Worthing Road Book Society, which, as a result of his reading portions of the Reminiscences to some of its members, kindly undertook their publication.
The matter then is given to the printer with diffidence, yet with hope that it may in some degree achieve the object of writing it. If, in addition, it should be thought sufficiently interesting to be given a humble place in local libraries, the writer will feel amply repaid for many hours given to a somewhat trying but congenial task. 18, LONDON ROAD, |
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