Greenwich Meridian Welcome!Findon is situated in the heart of the proposed
South Downs National Park... Worthing is in in the county of West Sussex, in England. So, Findon is located only a few miles from the English Channel. Sussex was divided into separate counties called East Sussex and West Sussex in 1974. England is the largest division of Great Britain (which comprises England, Wales, Scotland and also those adjacent islands governed from the mainland, excluding the Isle of Man and the Channel Islands).
The United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland was formed in 1921, after the rest of Ireland became autonomous as the Irish Free State (which became the Republic of Ireland in 1949).
Historic FindonThis part of Britain, with its close proximity to the continent of Europe, has long been considered a gateway to Britain. In fact, the English Channel was not formed until about 6500 BC, so during the previous 2000 years people were able to travel on foot to locations in southern and eastern Britain from the Eurasian landmass. Findon is located 1.8 kilometres (ie 1.1 miles) from Cissbury Ring (ie one of the greatest of Britain's prehistoric hillforts), where there are filled-in openings of flint mines dating back to about 3,000 BC. The builders of Cissbury Ring were an Iron Age people and this was probably their tribal capital. The Iron Age (which began in the Middle East about 1100 BC) lasted in Britain from about 751 BC to AD 42. The Atrebates tribe which occupied this part of Britain quickly accepted Roman influence. There is evidence of farming within the derelict ramparts of Cissbury Ring during the period of Roman Britain between AD 43 and 410. After the Roman withdrawal from Britain around AD 410, the island was invaded by tribes of Jutes, Saxons and Angles from Denmark, Germany and the coastal areas of what is now Holland. Seven main kingdoms emerged known as the Heptarchy. The seven were Sussex, Essex, Kent, Mercia, Northumbria, Wessex and East Anglia. Sussex which was the kingdom of the South Saxons, became a shire of the kingdom of Wessex in the early 9th century AD. By the 10th century AD, Wessex had become the most powerful English kingdom. Sussex is steeped in history; there have been many invasions of Britain. Julius Caesar landed in Sussex during 55 and 54 BC, Duke William of Normandy invaded Sussex and defeated King Harold in 1066, Sussex was defended against the Spanish Armada in 1588, France during the Napoleonic wars (1799-1815) and Germany during World War II (1939-1945).
Findon TodayFindon nestles between Church Hill and Cissbury Ring, and falls within the boundaries of the proposed South Downs National Park, in the South Downs.  
[aerial photograph / map] The photograph above, taken in December 2004, shows the view looking north-westwards, as seen from the footpath that leads up to Cissbury Ring from the car park in Findon Valley. Can you spot Santa? You might need to enlarge the photograph. Findon sits between Church Hill, where some of the oldest flint mines in the UK are situated, and Cissbury Ring, which is both an Iron Age hillfort and one of the most important Neolithic flint mine sites in the UK. 
[aerial photograph / map] The image above consists of four photographs, taken in December 2004, that have been joined to form a panoramic view of Findon and Cissbury Ring, looking eastwards from Church Hill. The left-hand end of the panorama shows the view looking northwards. Long Furlong (A280) can be seen where it joins Findon roundabout [aerial photograph / map] and the A24 which heads towards London. The right-hand of the panorama shows the view looking southwards, with Findon Valley in the middle distance and Worthing and the sea in the far distance. Can you spot the gas storage cylinder? You might need to enlarge the photograph. The mast at the extreme right-hand end of the panorama is the TV tower on High Salvington. The ramparts of Cissbury Ring can also be seen quite clearly. The white 'blossom' in the hedgerow, in the foreground at the extreme right-hand end of the panorama, comprises the seed heads of wild Clematis.
Houses
[aerial photograph / map] There are now far more houses in Findon than there were a few years ago, so perhaps these days the term 'village' is a bit of a euphemism, however it is sometimes used in this Website so as to distinguish the village from Findon Valley. The image above consists of four photographs, taken from the top of Church Hill in December 2004, that have been joined to form a panoramic view of part of Findon. This panorama shows some of the houses at the northernmost end of the village, that includes the end of Long Furlong, parts of the A24, Findon Roundabout, School Hill, The Oval, Highbarn, Beech Road and Horsham Road. Can you spot the person wearing green Wellington boots? You might need to enlarge the photograph. 
[aerial photograph / map] The image above consists of four more photographs that have been joined to form a panoramic view of part of Findon Village. This panorama shows some of the houses in the central part of the village, that includes parts of Beech Road, Holmcroft Gardens, Tudor Close, Cross Lane, Stable Lane, Nepcote Lane and The Square. What is Santa doing on the roof? You might need to enlarge the photograph. 
[aerial photograph / map] The image above consists of four more photographs that have been joined to form a panoramic view of part of Findon Village. This panorama shows some of the houses in the central and southern part of the village, that includes parts of the High Street, Tudor Close, Stable Lane, Holmcroft Gardens, Southview Road and Nepcote Lane. Can you see what is hanging on the washing line? You might need to enlarge the photograph. 
[aerial photograph / map] The image above consists of four more photographs that have been joined to form a panoramic view of part of Findon Village. This panorama shows some of the houses in the southern part of the village, that includes parts of the Nepcote Lane, Cross Lane and Steep Lane. Is there anyone on the blue trampoline? 
[aerial photograph / map] The image above consists of four more photographs that have been joined to form a panoramic view of part of Findon Village. This panorama shows some more of the houses at the southern end of the village, that includes parts of the Steep Lane, Steep Close, Cross Lane, Nepcote Lane, Nepcote Close and The Chase. How many birds nests can you see in the trees? You might need to enlarge the photograph.  The aerial photograph above, which shows the centre of the village, is a view looking northwards. The grey building on the left, with the car park and swimming pool, is Findon School [aerial photograph / map]. The white building just to the right of centre is Grey Point [aerial photograph / map], one of Findon's 26 listed buildings. Just to the left, partially hidden by trees, is the Gun Inn [aerial photograph / map], another listed building. The green triangular area to the right of Grey Point is Pond Green [aerial photograph / map] where the Findon sign, that is featured on the home page page of this site, is located.
Findon bypassA few miles before it reaches Worthing, the A24 that links London to the South Coast undergoes an abrupt change of personality. From a fairly mild and straightforward dual carriageway it becomes a thing of dips and curves, taking many a motorist by surprise. This is the Findon bypass, which these days carries increasing amounts of speeding traffic. For those who want to turn off into the village it is rather like trying to leave a racetrack, with more than its fair share of bends. [aerial photograph / map] The bypass was built in 1938 when there wasn't much traffic about. It would probably be designed differently today. A side effect of the new road was to cut off the village from the Parish Church [aerial photograph / map].
Findon ValleyFindon Valley lies just south of the village, on the outskirts of Worthing. It straddles the A24 and is in the Borough of Worthing, consequently it falls outside the proposed South Downs National Park. It is separated from the village by a narrow strip of farmland to the north called the Strategic Gap. Findon Valley is a vibrant community with its own school, church and library, which are listed in the local organisations section of this Website and busy shops, many of which are listed in the local services section of this Website. In 1989, the population of Findon Valley was 1,660. A new Website called Findon Valley Resident's Association was launched by David Goncalves during November 2005.  [aerial photograph / map] Above is a view looking eastwards; the road at the bottom of the picture is the main A24 Worthing to London thoroughfare. The octagonal shaped building is Findon Valley Library which was built in 1958. The large red-roofed building, beyond the library is Limetree Surgery. The chevron shaped building on the left (ie to the north of the library) is Findon Valley Free Church and behind it is the Church Hall. You can tell from the shadows cast by the houses that this photograph was taken one sunny afternoon. 
[aerial photograph / map] Above is a view of Findon Valley looking eastwards from Bost Hill towards Cissbury Ring. The lower end of Bost Hill marks the beginning of Findon Valley, is about one mile south of Findon Village and leads up to the windmill at High Salvington. Just south of Findon Valley the A24 meets the A27 [aerial photograph / map], the UK's main South Coast trunk road which passes through the northern outskirts of Worthing. This is the worse bottleneck on the A27 which reduces to a single lane in each direction [aerial photograph / map]. The congestion affects both local and longer journeys and is driving traffic onto unsuitable local roads and creating rat runs in the town. The resultant traffic jams cause long delays, much frustation and add further air pollution. Some local residents are worried that emergency vehicles may be delayed, or prevented from reaching their destinations, in the event of a serious emergency, and reports of gridlocks have done nothing to allay these fears. Some people think Worthing should have a bypass of its own, however others are against further road development and want to see greater use of public transport. West Sussex County Council pledged to keep up the pressure on the then Transport Secretary, Alistair Darling, who was blocking improvements to the A27. In 1967, West Sussex launched a three year study into a bypass for Worthing. Two more studies were carried out between 1972 and 1980, and so it goes on ... the great British muddle.
Who is your Member of Parliament?In 1932 the population of Findon Village was about 600. In 1997 the electoral list for Findon Village contained 1,462 names. In 2001 the list contained 1,524 names. So, on that basis the village's population grew by more than 4% in 4 years. The minimum voting age in the UK is 18. Findon Village is controlled by Arun District Council. Constituency Locata enables you to to find out which constituency you are in, find out who your local Member of Parliament is and send them an e-mail.
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