THE MUDDLE FAMILIES

 

THE SUSSEX MUDDLE FAMILIES THE BUXTED MUDDLES

 

Chart of Spencer & Isabella Muddle's Family

 

Isabella’s third illegitimate child was Alice Minns who was born at Isabella’s parent’s home, Pound Lane Cottage in Herons Ghyll in Buxted Parish, Sussex on 7 September 1868, and baptised at St Margaret the Queen Church in Buxted on 15 November 1868; no father was recorded in the baptism register or on the official registration of birth. Alice was brought up as Spencer and Isabella’s eldest child and used the surname Muddle except at her marriage when she used the surname Minns and gave her father as Spencer Minns. In the census of 2 April 1871 Alice, at the age of 2, was living with her mother and ‘stepfather’, Spencer Muddle, in Royal Oak Lane at High Hurstwood. Then in the census of 3 April 1881 Alice, now aged 12, was a live-in domestic servant to the family of farmer Joseph Marten at Sleeches Farm in High Hurstwood.

When she was 19 years old Alice married 25-year-old Henry Marley at St Peter's Church in Brighton, Sussex on 7 April 1888. Henry was the son of Henry and Olive Marley and his birth had been registered in Brighton during the 3rd quarter of 1862. At the time of their marriage they were both living at 91 Church Street in Brighton and Henry was working as a footman. Five months later when their first child was baptised in September 1888 they were living in Buxted and Henry was now working as a butler. By late 1890 when their second child was baptised they had moved to High Hurstwood and Henry had became an agent for Prudential Assurance. In the census of 5 April 1891 they were living at Maypole Cottage, part of Old Maypole Farm, in High Hurstwood, with their then two children. Then in the census of 31 March 1901 they were still living at Maypole Cottage with their now four children, and Henry was continuing to work as an agent for Prudential Assurance. They had five children, who were born between 1888 and 1904, and when their last child was baptised in 1904 Henry had become a house painter. In the census of 2 April 1911 they were living at Mount Pleasant, Sandy Lane, High Hurstwood with four of their children and Henry was working as a house painter.

Their daughter Olive had Down's Syndrome and was mentally retarded, so they took a deaf and dumb Irish girl called Molly O'Hara as a foster child so that she would be a companion for Olive.

Henry died on 21 October 1930, at the age of 68, when he was run-down by a cyclist at Herons Ghyll, and he was buried in Holy Trinity Churchyard at High Hurstwood on 25 October 1930. Alice continued to live at Mount Pleasant with her unmarried children and Molly until her death on 16 July 1951, at the age of 82. She was buried with her husband in Holy Trinity Churchyard at High Hurstwood on 20 July 1951. Their grave is marked by a paved area with inscribed headstone. On Alice’s death Molly O’Hara went back to her family in Ireland, and Olive went to live with her married sister May Holmwood.

 

Henry and Alice’s eldest child was Henry Fred Marley, known as Harry, who was born at Buxted in Sussex on 9 July 1888, and baptised at St Margaret the Queen Church in Buxted on 9 September 1888. In the census of 5 April 1891 Harry, at the age of 2, was living with his parents at Maypole Cottage in High Hurstwood. Then in the census of 31 March 1901 Harry, now aged 12, was living with his parents at Maypole Cottage, and he was going to school. In the census of 2 April 1911 Harry, at the age of 22, was working as a under gardener and living with his parents at Mount Pleasant, Sandy Lane, High Hurstwood.

When he was 27 years old Harry married 20-year-old Alice May Smith at Holy Trinity Church in High Hurstwood on 31 July 1915. They were both then living at High Hurstwood and Harry was working as a gardener. Alice was the daughter of Trayton and Ellen Smith; she had been born at Framfield in Sussex on 10 March 1895. Harry and Alice lived at Waldron in Sussex, and then later at Longview in Hailsham Road at Heathfield, Sussex. They became Jehovah's Witnesses, and didn't have any children. Henry died at the age of 86, his death being registered in Hailsham registration district during the 4th quarter of 1974. Ten years later Alice died at the age of 89, her death being registered in Uckfield registration district during May 1984.

 

Henry and Alice’s second child was Bertram Charles Marley, known as Bert, who was born at High Hurstwood in Sussex, baptised at Holy Trinity Church in High Hurstwood on 12 October 1890. In the census of 5 April 1891 Bert, at the age of 8 months, was living with his parents at Maypole Cottage in High Hurstwood. Then in the census of 31 March 1901 Bert, now aged 10, was living with his parents at Maypole Cottage, and he was going to school. In the census of 2 April 1911 Bert, at the age of 20, was a live-in groom and gardener to Mrs Parker at The Homestead, Fowley Lane, High Hurstwood. Bert never married; he lived with his parents at Mount Pleasant in High Hurstwood until their deaths, after which he continued to live at Mount Pleasant by himself. Bert died on 15 February 1958, at the age of 67 (not 68 as given on his headstone), and he was buried in Holy Trinity Churchyard at High Hurstwood on 19 February 1958, his grave is marked by a kerb with inscribed headstone.

 

Henry and Alice’s third child was Alice May Marley, known as May, who was born at High Hurstwood in Sussex on 12 March 1893, and baptised at Holy Trinity Church in High Hurstwood on 4 June 1893. In the census of 31 March 1901 May, at the age of 8, was living with her parents at Maypole Cottage in High Hurstwood, and she was going to school. Then in the census of 2 April 1911 May, now aged 18, was living with her parents at Mount Pleasant, Sandy Lane, High Hurstwood.

May worked as a nanny at several place around the country before, at the age of 45, she married 47-year-old Henry Vincent Holmwood, who was a builder and known as Harry, at Holy Trinity Church in High Hurstwood on 18 April 1938. Harry was the son of Ambrose Michael James and Amelia Holmwood; he had been born at High Hurstwood on 25 September 1890, and baptised at Holy Trinity Church in High Hurstwood on 23 November 1890. Harry and May never had children, as they were both in their mid-forties when they married. They lived at Maywood in Burnt Oak Lane at High Hurstwood, which Harry built. May worked at Sleeches in High Hurstwood for a while after her marriage.

Harry died in Cuckfield Hospital on 21 August 1979, at the age of 88, from bronchopneumonia, and was cremated. May continued to live at Maywood until she had to go into a nursing home at Hadlow Down. She died on 7 April 1989, at the age of 96, and she was buried in Holy Trinity Churchyard at High Hurstwood on 17 April 1989; her grave is marked by an inscribed headstone.

 

 

Henry and Alice’s fourth child was Olive Isabella Marley who was born at High Hurstwood in Sussex, and baptised at Holy Trinity Church in High Hurstwood on 29 July 1900. In the census of 31 March 1901 Olive, at the age of 9 months, was living with her parents at Maypole Cottage in High Hurstwood. Then in the census of 2 April 1911 Olive, now aged 10, was living with her parents at Mount Pleasant, Sandy Lane, High Hurstwood, and she was going to school. Olive had Down's Syndrome and lived at home until her mother died in 1951; she then went to live with her married sister May Holmwood at Maywood in High Hurstwood, until she died on 4 August 1964 at the age of 64. Olive was buried with her parents in Holy Trinity Churchyard at High Hurstwood on 7 August 1964.

 

 

Henry and Alice’s fifth child was Reginald Spencer Marley, known as Reg, who was born at High Hurstwood in Sussex on 24 February 1904, and baptised at Holy Trinity Church in High Hurstwood on 17 April 1904. In the census of 2 April 1911 Reg, at the age of 7, was living with his parents at Mount Pleasant, Sandy Lane, High Hurstwood and he was going to school.

When he was 34 years old Reg married 24-year-old Phyllis Lucy Funnell, who was known as Phil or Pigeon, at Holy Trinity Church in High Hurstwood on 11 June 1938. Phyllis had been born on 6 January 1914. They lived at Stonehall in Royal Oak Lane at High Hurstwood, where they had a small farm. They had two children, born in 1940 and 1944, who are the only grandchildren of Alice and Henry.

Phyllis died on 14 May 1973, at the age of 59; she was cremated at Tunbridge Wells and her ashes were buried in Holy Trinity Churchyard at High Hurstwood on 29 September 1973. Reg died on 21 December 1979, at the age of 75; he was cremated at Tunbridge Wells and his ashes were buried with his wife’s in Holy Trinity Churchyard at High Hurstwood. Their grave is marked by an inscribed open book headstone.

 

Spencer and Isabella’s eldest child (Isabella’s fourth) was Emily Muddle who was born at High Hurstwood in Sussex on 28 August 1871, and baptised at St Margaret the Queen Church in Buxted on 3 December 1871. In the census of 3 April 1881 Emily, at the age of 9, was living with her parents at Huggetts in Fowley Lane at High Hurstwood, and she was going to school. When she was 22 years old Emily married 26-year-old Joseph Marten, known as Joe Twig, at St Peter’s Church in Brighton on 10 March 1894. Emily was then living at Montpelier Road in Brighton and Joseph was living at Croydon in Surrey where he was working as a labourer. Joseph was the son of Michael and Fanny Marten and he had been born at Uckfield on 15 January 1868. He was the cousin (their fathers were brothers) of the George Marten who married Emily’s aunt Eliza Minns.

Joseph and Emily had two children, one was a daughter born at Croydon four months after their marriage, and when this child was baptised in September 1894 they were living at Battersea in London and Joseph was a platelayer on the railway. The 1911 census recorded that Emily had two children and only one was than still alive, but it has not been possible to identify the child that had died. In the census of 31 March 1901 Joseph and Emily were living at 117 Sabine Road in Battersea with their daughter, and Joseph was a platelayer on the London & South West Railway. They occupied 4 rooms of the house and 76-year-old widow Elizabeth Elgar occupied one room.

They later moved to High Hurstwood where Joseph became a farmer, and in the census of 2 April 1911 they were living at Stonehall Farm, Royal Oak Lane, High Hurstwood where Joseph was farming on his own account. Their daughter was living with them and assisting with the housework, and they had Emily's father, Spencer Muddle, living with them as a boarder. They lived at a number of other places in High Hurstwood, the last being The Bungalow at Upper Nordens where Emily's father, Spencer Muddle, was still living with them when he died in 1930.

When they retired they went to live in a house called Nordens that they had built at Coopers Green in Five Ash Down. Emily died on 3 September 1938 at the age of 67, and Joseph died on 10 August 1944 at the age of 76. They are buried together in St Margaret the Queen Churchyard at Buxted, where their grave is marked by an inscribed kerb.

 

Joseph and Emily’s only child was Mabel Isabella Marten who was born at Croydon in Surrey on 3 July 1894, and baptised at Holy Trinity Church in High Hurstwood on 9 September 1894. In the census of 31 March 1901 Mabel, at the age of 6, was living with her parents at 117 Sabine Road in Battersea. Then in the census of 2 April 1911 Mabel, know aged 16, was living with her parents at Stonehall Farm, Royal Oak Lane, High Hurstwood and assisting with the housework.

When she was 26 years old Mabel married 24-year-old Ebenezer Walder, known as Eb, who was a carpenter, at Holy Trinity Church in High Hurstwood on 28 March 1921. Ebenezer was the son of Isaac and Emily Walder and he had been born at Chailey in Sussex on 26 December 1896. Ebenezer and Mabel had two children born in 1922 and 1926, and at least from 1926 to 1931 they were living at 4 Parkhurst Cottages in High Hurstwood. They then moved to Chailey where they lived until they moved to Haywards Heath after their retirement. Mabel died on 8 June 1984, at the age of 89, and Ebenezer died on 30 September 1987, at the age of 90.

 

Spencer and Isabella’s second child was Charles Muddle who was born at High Hurstwood in Sussex on 24 March 1874, and baptised at Holy Trinity Church in High Hurstwood on 10 May 1874. Charles died at Huggetts in Fowley Lane at High Hurstwood on 31 August 1877, at the age of three, after suffering for four months from a malignant disease of the head. Charles was buried in St Margaret the Queen Churchyard at Buxted on 2 September 1877. It’s thought that Charles was the young child that his sisters were in the future to refer to as the young child who continually cried and couldn’t be stopped.[2] If so this means that the end of Charles’ short life was probably very painful, in the days before medicine could do much to relieve his suffering.

 

Spencer and Isabella’s third child was Fanny Muddle, known as Fan, who was born at High Hurstwood in Sussex on 8 October 1876, and baptised at St Margaret the Queen Church in Buxted on 5 November 1876. In the census of 3 April 1881 Fanny, at the age of 4, was living with her parents at Huggetts in Fowley Lane, High Hurstwood, and she was going to school. Then in the census of 5 April 1891 Fanny, now aged 14, was a live-in general servant to the family of William Duvall, who had the Grocer's Shop at Five Ash Down. This was the William Duvall who, at this time, owned Newlands Farm and The Royal Oak public house at High Hurstwood.

When she was nearly 24 years old Fanny married Albert Edward Charman, who was nearly 28 years old and known as Bert, at St John's Church in Woolwich, London on 1 October 1900. At the time of their marriage they were both living at 58 Woolwich Common and Bert was working as a groom. Bert had been born at Findon in Sussex on 18 October 1872; he was the son of gamekeeper and gardener John Charman and his wife Annie, who in the 1891 and 1901 censuses were living in Maypole Cottage, part of the Maypole Farm at High Hurstwood, and next-door to the family of Fanny's sister Alice Marley.

In the census of 31 March 1901 Bert and Fanny were living in two rooms at 29 Hanover Road in Woolwich and Bert was a soldier, he was then serving in the Royal Horse Artillery. Bert and Fan had two children. When their first child was born in 1905 they were living at Framfield in Sussex and Bert was working as a coachman for Sir Francis Osbourne at The Grange. Then in the census of 2 April 1911 they were living at Downton Hall in Stanton Lacy near Ludlow in Shropshire with their 5-year-old daughter; and they had two boarders, 24-year-old domestic chauffeur Robert Chalmers and 20-year-old domestic groom William Edwards. Bert was now a domestic chauffeur presumably working for Sir William St Andrew Rouse-Boughton who was the owner of Downton Hall. Bert and Fan's second child was born later in 1911 while they were still living at Downton Hall.

Sometime during the next three years they moved to Barnsley in Yorkshire where they were living at 20 Hopwood Street and Bert was working as a chauffeur when on 16 December 1914 during the First World War Bert, at the age of 42, enlisted as Private M2/022352 in the Army Service Corps. He was then described as being 5ft 9½ins tall, weighed 143lbs, had a 36½ins fully expanded chest and good physical development. Bert was recommended to be a driver in the Mechanical Branch of the Army Service Corps, and he joined the Corps at Grove Park, Lewisham, London on 17 December 1914. He embarked on the SS Karna at Southampton on 27 January 1915 and arrived the following day at Le Havre in France, where he was attached to No 2 Motor Machine Gun Battery. Bert was granted leave from 8 to 17 November 1915 and then on 28 November 1916 he was posted to IX Corps HQ Signals Company of the Royal Engineers. He was awarded a Good Conduct Badge on 16 December 1916, after having served for two years, and was granted leave from 21 to 31 January 1917 and then again from 30 December 1917 to 13 January 1918. Bert left France on 20 January 1919 and was discharged at North Camp, Ripon, Yorkshire on 18 February 1919 to return to his home, which was now 7 Carrington Street in Barnsley.[3] For his service in France Bert was awarded the British War Medal, the Victory Medal and the 1914/15 Star.[4]

They left Barnsley for Worthing in Sussex in the mid-1920s after their eldest daughter had followed her young man there. They where living at 9 Sussex Road in Worthing from at least 1927 (from Kelly's Directory of Sussex). Bert was working as a motor mechanic when his eldest daughter married in 1929: he is understood to have also worked as an aircraft fitter. Fan died at 9 Sussex Road in Worthing on 13 February 1949, at the age of 72, and Bert died two months later on 22 April 1949, at the age of 76, in Worthing Hospital. Bert was described as being a builder's labourer on his death certificate.

 

Bert and Fan’s eldest child was Florence May Charman, known as May, who was born at Framfield in Sussex on 14 May 1905, and baptised at St Thomas à Becket Church in Framfield on 13 August 1905. In the census of 2 April 1911 May, at the age of 5, was living with her parents at Downton Hall in Stanton Lacy near Ludlow in Shropshire and she was going to school. Then by 16 December 1914 when her father enlisted in the army May was living with her parents at 20 Hopwood Street in Barnsley, Yorkshire, and four years later on 18 February 1919 when her father was discharged from the army they were living at 7 Carrington Street in Barnsley.

While living in Barnsley May become engaged to George Fell and when he moved to Worthing in Sussex she followed him there. In Worthing George Fell lived with a family in a house at the back of 154 Dominion Road, and it was at 154 Dominion Road that the man who was to become May's future husband lived with his parents.

When she was 23 years old May married 18-year-old Edward Leslie Mullins, known as Les, at the Parish Church of St Mary in Broadwater near Worthing on 26 January 1929. Les was then described as being a contractor. He was the son of James Percy Mullins and Clara Julia Brown and had been born at Chiswick in Middlesex on 24 July 1910. In the census of 2 April 1911 all three of them were living at 43 Ennismore Avenue in Cheswick; Les' father was a 50-year-old married advertisement canvasser and Les' mother was a 39-year-old spinster described as being a boarder. Les' parents were then presumably living together and only married at Kingston in Surrey on 2 March 1916, presumably after Les' father had became free to marry.

After their marriage Les and May lived in the house they had purchased at 162 Ham Road in Worthing where their only child, a daughter, was born in early 1930. This house was renumbered 184 Ham Road in about 1935 when twelve house were built on the site of the old laundry at the corner of Brougham Road. During the Second World War they had an indoor Morrison Shelter but used a neighbour's more substantial outdoor Anderson Shelter when the bombing was bad. In April 1949 when Les registered his father-in-law's death they were living at 184 Ham Road, and then in early December 1949 they moved to 200 Dominion Road. Les worked as a builder, carpenter and decorator and May worked in an office. The Telephone Directory listed Edward L Mullins as living at 200 Dominion Road from 1955 to 1958. It was at about this time that Les and May's marriage ended in divorce and Les moved to what had been his parents home and the Telephone Directory has Edward L Mullins as living at 154a Dominion Road from 1959 to 1984 when he retired.

After their divorce May moved to 12 Garrick Road in Worthing and she died there on 30 May 1973, at the age of 68. After his retirement Les continued to live at 154a Dominion Road until in 1987 he went to live with his daughter at 177 Dominion Road for about a year before he died in the Royal Sussex County Hospital in Brighton on 11 September 1988, at the age of 78.

 

 

Bert and Fan’s second child was Kathleen Annie Isabel Charman, known as Kath, who was born in Ludlow registration district in Shropshire on 16 September 1911. Then by 16 December 1914 when her father enlisted in the army Kath was living with her parents at 20 Hopwood Street in Barnsley, Yorkshire, and four years later on 18 February 1919 when her father was discharged from the army they were living at 7 Carrington Street in Barnsley. Kath moved with her parents to Worthing in Sussex in the mid-1920s.

When she was 22 years old Kath married 28-year-old Arthur Edward Stent in East Preston registration district in Sussex on 31 March 1934. Arthur had been born in East Preston registration district on 19 December 1905. Arthur and Kath had a son born in 1944 and adopted a daughter. They lived at Worthing in Sussex and Arthur worked as an electrician. Arthur died on 26 November 1971, at the age of 65, and Kath died on 18 July 1996, at the age of 84.

 

Spencer and Isabella’s fourth child was Isabella Muddle, known as Biss, who was born at Huggetts in Fowley Lane at High Hurstwood in Sussex on 14 April 1878, and baptised at St Margaret the Queen Church in Buxted on 16 June 1878. In the census of 3 April 1881 Biss, at the age of 2, was living with her parents at Huggetts. Biss went to Buxted National School, and in the school logbook it was recorded that on 2 June 1890 Biss, who was then in the upper division of the school, was awarded an excellent grade certificate. In the census of 5 April 1891 Biss, now aged 12, was still living with her parents at Huggetts, and she was continuing to go to school. Then in the census of 31 March 1901 Biss, at the age of 22, was a live-in housemaid to two sisters, widow Emma Resbell and spinster Alice Peacock, at 6 Second Avenue in Hove, Sussex. When Biss registered her mother’s death on 27 November 1903 she gave her address as her parent’s home, Stone Hall Cottage in High Hurstwood, and she stated that she was present at the death the day before, so it looks as if Biss may have returned home, from working in service, to look after her mother. But after her mother's death Biss returned to working in service, and in the census of 2 April 1911 she was a live-in housemaid to the family of chemical manufacturer Leonard Oswald Johnson at 5 Maresfield Gardens, Hampstead, London.

 

 

Biss never married, it’s thought that the man she was going to marry was killed in the First World War. She worked for many years as a waitress at Selfridges in London, where they insisted that she was known as ‘Miss Muddell’ as Miss Muddle was considered too ‘common sounding’ a name. When Biss retired she moved to a flat in Worthing, to be near to her sister Fan Charman. After Fan died in 1949 Biss moved into a council flat at Maypole Cottages in High Hurstwood, to be near to her sister-in-law Laura Muddle. When Laura died in 1960 Biss moved into a council run old-folks' sheltered flat, 9 Uplands in Uckfield. Biss died on 23 December 1965, at the age of 87, and she was buried in Holy Trinity Churchyard at High Hurstwood on 29 December 1965. Her grave is marked by an inscribed open book headstone.

 

 

Spencer and Isabella’s fifth child was Percy Muddle who was born at Huggetts in Fowley Lane at High Hurstwood in Sussex on 13 April 1883, and baptised at St Margaret the Queen Church in Buxted on 10 June 1883. It’s thought that Percy probably started school when he was about 3½ years old, as his enrolment at Buxted National School has to be before the start, in late 1886, of the earliest surviving school admission register. In the Buxted National School log book it was recorded on 6 August 1890 that:

Percy Muddle has cut his foot very badly this morning with a mowing machine.

This was the accident that was to possibly save Percy’s life a quarter of a century later when it’s effects were to stop him being sent to France when he was conscripted into the army during the First World War.

In the census of 5 April 1891 Percy, at the age of 7, was living with his parents at Huggetts, and he was going to school. Percy transferred to High Hurstwood School, probable when the family moved from Huggetts to Stone Hall Cottage in Royal Oak Lane during 1893/4; he was in a group photo taken at High Hurstwood School in about 1895. Percy frequently played truant, keeping the penny he was supposed to take to school. In the census of 31 March 1901 Percy, now aged 17, was working as a farm labourer and living with his parents at Stone Hall Cottage.

 

 

When he was 25 years old Percy married 21-year-old Laura Elizabeth Bailey at Holy Trinity Church in High Hurstwood on 27 January 1909, at which time he was a labourer. Laura was the daughter of James Alfred and Jemima Elizabeth Bailey; she had been born at High Hurstwood on the 17 January 1888, and baptised at Holy Trinity Church in High Hurstwood on 15 April 1888.

 

 

Percy and Laura first lived in the Old Maypole Cottage, which was the small northern end of Old Maypole Farm at High Hurstwood, where their first two children, Ivy and Harold, were born in 1910 and 1912. In the census of 2 April 1911 they were living in the Old Maypole Cottage with their young daughter Ivy, and Percy was working as a bricklayer's labourer. Living next-door in the other half of the Old Maypole was Laura's sister Kate Wren with her husband and two sons. Percy worked as a bricklayer's labourer with his friend and drinking partner, Amos Moon, who was a bricklayer and the husband of Percy's cousin Mary Ann. On the 11 May 1915 Percy was one of the pallbearers at the funeral of his friend William Marten, publican of the Maypole Inn at High Hurstwood, at St Margaret the Queen Church in Buxted.[5]

About halfway through the First World War, after the start of conscription in mid-1916, Percy was conscripted into the army; but he was found to be unfit for active service as he could not march, due to the injury to his foot by the mowing machine when he was seven years old. So he served as a guard at prisoner-of-war camps in England, and for at least part of the time he was at Chatham.

 

 

Will Hill, who had reluctantly become landlord of the Maypole Inn after the death of his father-in-law William Marten, wanted to avoid conscription, so he moved to the southern end of Old Maypole Farm and became a farmer. Laura’s best friend was Will Hill’s wife Kate, and it was arranged that Laura would move to the Maypole Inn and run it; this was probably in late 1916 or early 1917. Laura’s younger sister, Mabel, came to live at the Maypole Inn to help Laura. At some point Laura’s mother, Jemima Bailey, and Laura’s youngest brother, Walter, came to live with Laura at the Maypole Inn. Mabel stopped living with Laura at the Maypole Inn when she married in 1919, and went to lived with her husband Bernard Watson at the Old Maypole Farm.

 

 

To help Percy to get out of the army after the war by becoming a farmer, they took over the running of the Old Maypole Farm while still living at the Maypole Inn. It is thought that Percy got out of the army sometime in 1922, and Walter stopped living with them when he married on 28 October 1922. Sometime after this they moved to the larger southern end of the Old Maypole Farm, which included the actual farm, and became tenant farmers to the Alchorne family, until in about 1935 Mr Thompson purchased the farm and they became his tenants. It was here that their third child, Denis, was born on 21 February 1923 soon after they had moved.

 

 

Percy and Laura had a small herd of milking cows whose milk was originally sent to a dairy by train from Buxted station, but later Percy started a milk delivery business. Fresh milk from the farm was delivered twice a day by horse and cart to houses in the main village area of High Hurstwood, the deliveries often being done by their children. Jemima continued to live with Percy and Laura until her death in 1936. Soon after which Laura’s brother-in-law Charlie Leeves came to live with them after the death of his wife Alice in 1937.

Laura and her sister Mabel, who lived in the other half of Old Maypole Farm, would prepare and serve in Laura’s main room the teas for the cricket teams playing in the village cricket matches on the cricket field across the road from the Old Maypole Farm. Percy would graze sheep on the cricket field in the winter.

 

 

Percy died at Maypole Farm on 16 February 1946, at the age of 62, from cancer of the oesophagus, and he was buried in Holy Trinity Churchyard at High Hurstwood on 22 February 1946. Laura continued to work the farm with the help of Charlie, until in 1950 the landlord, Mr Thompson, sold the farm and they had to get out. Laura moved to a council flat, 20 Maypole Cottages in High Hurstwood, and Charlie went to live with his sister-in-law Emily Leeves. Laura died suddenly at 20 Maypole Cottages on 11 May 1960, at the age of 72, from a heart attack. She was cremated at the Kent and Sussex Crematorium in Tunbridge Wells on 14 May 1960 after a service at Holy Trinity Church in High Hurstwood, and her ashes were buried in her husband's grave in Holy Trinity Churchyard at High Hurstwood. An inscribed kerb marks their grave.

 

Percy and Laura’s eldest child was Ivy Muddle who was born in the Old Maypole Cottage at High Hurstwood, Sussex, which was the small northern end of Old Maypole Farm, on 12 June 1910, and baptised at Holy Trinity Church in High Hurstwood on 24 July 1910. In the census of 2 April 1911 Ivy, at the age of nearly 10 months, was living with her parents at the Old Maypole Cottage. Ivy went to High Hurstwood School, starting on 14 June 1915 at the age of 5, and leaving on 6 June 1924 just before her 14th birthday.

 

 

After leaving school Ivy went into domestic service, first for the family of John Albert Lovett at Nordens Green in High Hurstwood, until after about 18 months Mr Lovett died in February 1926. Ivy then went into service with the Maslen family at Sleeches in High Hurstwood. When Maslens left Sleeches in early 1928, Ivy, together with Kath Booker, went with them first to High Wycombe for 6 weeks, and then to their new home at Fowey in Cornwall for 6 weeks to help them get settled in. On her return Ivy went back to Sleeches to work for the new owner, Frank Brown. She continued to live and work at Sleeches, together with her best friend Joan Levett, who latter married Charlie Izzard, and was the sister of the Catherine Levett who married Ivy’s cousin Sid Chilton, until Frank Brown died on 18 September 1937. She then left and went to work for the Francis family at Brackenwood in Burnt Oak Lane at High Hurstwood.

 

 

When she was 30 years old Ivy married 36-year-old Edwin Thomas Miller, known as Ted, who had also been working at Sleeches, at Holy Trinity Church in High Hurstwood on 28 December 1940. Ted was the son of James and Louisa Miller and he had been born at Yapton in Sussex on 15 October 1904. Ted and Ivy initially lived at Sun Harbour in Royal Oak Lane at High Hurstwood, where their only child, a son, was born in mid-1944. It was only a few weeks after the birth of their son that Sun Harbour was badly damaged by a V1 flying bomb, but thankfully all the family escaped injury, and Sun Harbour was repaired.

When they married Ted was working as a gardener for Mr Moorshead at Stonehouse in High Hurstwood, and he was also in the Home Guard during the war. Then in 1944 Stonehouse was purchased by Mr Karck, and Ted left his job there because of his dislike of Mr Karck, and he went to work for Bill Tester who was cutting trees in Birchetts Wood and converting them into timber in his sawmill at Old Hall Cottages in High Hurstwood.

 

 

When Sun Harbour, which they had been renting from Colonel Leslie of Upper Nordens, was sold to the owner of Nordens Green Farm they were evicted by court order as the farmer wanted it for his new cowman. So they moved to The Stables at The Hermitage in High Hurstwood, Ivy’s identity card shows that she was registered on 21 January 1948 as residing there. It was in 1948 that Ivy started doing part-time housework for the Drummond Smith family at Spring Copse in High Hurstwood, which she continued until about 1968.

They then moved to 3 Maypole Cottages in High Hurstwood, which was on a newly built council housing estate. Ivy’s identity card shows that she was registered on 6 January 1950 as residing there. The family got Jock their black spaniel dog from Bill Tester at about this time. Later Ted left Bill Tester’s employment and went to work for a while at the Flax Factory at Five Ash Down, possibly until it closed in 1955, before working for many years as a labourer for J Wright & Son, a building company based at Blackboys. When Wrights closed down Ted went to work at the army supplies depot at Isfield, and then when that closed he worked in the officer’s mess at Crowborough Army Camp. The army camp then closed and Ted got a job with the local council at Uckfield sewage works.

While they lived at Maypole Cottages Ted also did part-time gardening work in the evenings and at weekends; this was first for the Eustace family at Coxbrook in High Hurstwood until they moved away in about 1954, and then for the Dummond Smith family at Spring Copse. The family got Rob, their first boarder collie dog, from Len Tidy at Claygate Farm in 1965. Then in 1966 Ted lost most of his sight due to glaucoma, which he had inherited from his mother, and had to give up work. In January 1967 Ted, Ivy and their son moved to Claremont Bungalow in Snatts Road at Uckfield, which they had purchased.

In September 1973 Ted went to stay for a week at Highview, the council's old-peoples home at Ridgewood in Uckfield, to give Ivy a rest from looking after him. While he was there he went out for a walk on 13 September and never returned. There was an extensive police search for him, but he was only found four weeks later on 11 October 1973 by a man walking his dog. Ted's body was in a bramble thicket in the overgrown garden of Old Court at Ridgewood, which was not far from the home that he had been staying at. He had been dead for some time and it is assumed that he died, at the age of 68, soon after going missing. The inquest recorded an open verdict, but assumed death from natural causes as there was no suspicion of foul play. Ted was cremated at the Kent and Sussex Crematorium in Tunbridge Wells on 19 October 1973, after a service at Holy Cross Church in Uckfield, and his ashes were later buried in his brother Frank's grave in Holy Trinity Churchyard at High Hurstwood.

 

The family’s dog, Rob, died in June 1979, and Ivy and her son then got Shep, their second boarder collie dog, from a farm near Hailsham in September 1979. Ivy died at about 7am on 15 January 1994, at the age of 83, of bronchopneumonia in Eastbourne District General Hospital, where she had been since the 27 December 1993 after being taken ill at home on Christmas Day. Ivy was cremated on 25 January 1994 at the Surrey & Sussex Crematorium in Worth after a service at Holy Trinity Church in High Hurstwood, and her ashes were buried with her husband’s ashes in Frank Miller’s grave in Holy Trinity Churchyard at High Hurstwood on 6 February 1994. An inscribed headstone marks the grave.

 

Percy and Laura’s second child was Harold Muddle, known as Son, who was born in The Old Maypole Cottage in High Hurstwood, Sussex, which was the small northern end of Old Maypole Farm, on 26 October 1912, and baptised at Holy Trinity Church in High Hurstwood on 22 December 1912. Harold went to High Hurstwood School, starting on 29 October 1917 at the age of 5, and leaving on 23 December 1926 at the age of 14. Harold’s first job was as a gardener at The Hermitage in High Hurstwood. Harold is thought to have then worked for the Uckfield building firm of Durrants where he learnt his trade of carpenter. He then travelled around to where there was building work, and it was while he was lodging with her family in Gravesend that he met his future wife.

 

 

When he was 25 years old Harold married 20-year-old Winifred Florence Vulgar, known as Winnie, at Holy Trinity Church in High Hurstwood on 1 October 1938. Winnie had been born on 27 March 1918. They first lived at 91 Stonehouse Cottages in Rocks Lane at High Hurstwood, where their first child was born in 1939. They then moved in late 1939 to 5 Lane End Cottages in Chillies Lane at High Hurstwood, and while they were living there their next three children were born between 1941 and 1949, the first of whom died when only 7 weeks old. During the first part of the Second World War Harold worked in a London factory as a sheet metal worker. He then served in the army during the later part of the Second World War, and after the Allied invasion of Europe he was a guard at airfields in France, and also a dispatch rider. While he was serving in France he was seriously ill with dysentery and also broke his collarbone playing football.

 

 

When Harold was discharged from the army after the war he worked as a carpenter for the Uckfield building firm of Holcombes. But it was not long before Harold, his brother Denis, and Bill Eastwood, all left Holcombes to start their own carpentry business. Denis left after about 4 years, but Harold and Bill continued with the business until they retired, at times employing other men as well. Winnie did daily housework at various places in the village. Harold and family moved to 25 Maypole Cottages in the summer of 1949, and their last child was born in 1956 while they were living there.

 

In about 1961 they moved to a bungalow called Ellhurst at Five Ash Down. It was on 13 October 1972 while they were living at Five Ash Down that Winnie died, at the age of 54, when she was run-down as she walked out from behind a bus that she had just alighted from at the bus stop across the road from their bungalow. Winnie was buried in Holy Trinity Churchyard at High Hurstwood on 19 October 1972. Harold continued to live at Ellhurst with his youngest daughter Jacqueline, who continued to live there after her marriage in 1975. When he became ill with lung cancer Harold went to live with the family of his eldest daughter, Daphne, at 15 New Road in Ridgewood, Uckfield, where he died on 16 May 1984, at the age of 71. He was buried with his wife in Holy Trinity Churchyard at High Hurstwood on 21 May 1984. An inscribed headstone marks their grave.

 

Percy and Laura’s third child is Denis Muddle who was born in the larger southern end of Old Maypole Farm at High Hurstwood in Sussex on 21 February 1923, and baptised at Holy Trinity Church in High Hurstwood on 1 July 1923. Denis went to High Hurstwood School, starting on 17 April 1928 at the age of 5, and leaving on 24 March 1937 at the age of 14. While he was a schoolboy he sung in High Hurstwood Church choir and after school he had to deliver milk from the family farm to those customers in the village that required a second daily delivery.

 

 

After leaving school Denis worked for his father on the family farm until 1941 when he was eighteen and he became eligible for military service in the Second World War. He enlisted in the RAF as flight crew, but because of the backlog in training pilots he had to wait nearly 2 years for his call up. During this time he served in the local Home Guard and was also directed to work as a labourer on government building work, first at the construction of the flax factory in Five Ash Down, then on maintenance of army requisitioned buildings in the Uckfield area, and finally building an airport in East Anglia. When he was called up he did preliminary training in England flying Tiger Moths. Then in January 1944 he was sent to Miami in the USA to train as a pilot of single engine fighters. He returned to England in December 1944 to find that there was no requirement for fighter pilots and he was sent to Wales to train as an engineer and second pilot on four engine bombers. By the time he was posted to a bomber squadron the war in Europe was over and the only operational flying he did was transporting service personal back from Italy.

 

 

When he was 23 years old Denis married 22-year-old Mary Jean Rigby, known as Jean, at St John’s Catholic Church in Herons Ghyll, Sussex on 26 October 1946. Denis was discharged from the RAF soon after his marriage, and he went to work for Holcombe the builder where his brother Harold was already working as a carpenter, and Denis there learnt the trade of carpenter. Harold and Bill Eastwood left Holcombes to start their own carpentry business and talked Denis into joining them. Denis was not happy with the partnership and after about four years left to work as a self-employed carpenter, which he did until his retirement. Jean worked for many years as a nurse at Uckfield Hospital.

 

 

Denis and Jean first lived for a few months with Denis’ mother at the Maypole Farm, before moving into two rooms at Holly Mount House in Burnt Oak Lane at High Hurstwood. They were living there when their first three children were born, the first two being twins, one of whom died when only two days old. They then moved, in November 1949, to a council house at 83 Gordon Road in Buxted where their daughter Christine was born. Then in about 1952 they moved to a council house at 46 The Drive on the Church Coombe Estate in Uckfield, and while they were there their last child was born. They then moved in about 1963 to a house that Denis had built, called Woodlands at 28 Cambridge Way in Uckfield Then in about 1984 they moved to another house that Denis built called Timbers in Five Ash Down.

Denis was a keen cricketer, playing for the village teams at High Hurstwood and Buxted, and later both Denis and Jean were for many years active members of Buxted Bowls Club where Denis did a lot of work to help build up the facilities of the club. Then around the turn of the century Denis started to suffer from a muscle wasting disease that affected his legs and ability to swallow. After a fall at home in which he broke his leg he spent a long time in hospital, ending up in a wheelchair as he was now unable to walk and he was also beginning to suffer from dementia. He transferred to a nursing home at Wych Cross and then St Raphael’s Nursing Home at Danehill where his condition continued to deteriorate. He became so weak that when he contracted an infection he couldn’t fight it off and didn’t respond to medication. At 1pm on 11 August 2006 Denis died peacefully at St Raphael’s, at the age of 83, and he was buried in Holy Trinity Churchyard at High Hurstwood on 25 August 2006.

Copyright © Derek Miller 2008-2011

Last updated 13 February 2011