Nob Gate

The scientific study of place-names is known as 'toponomastics'. It is as an important science in as much as place-names almost always provide some sort of clue to the local history of an area, its former inhabitants and their way of life.

Most place-names in Southern England date from before the Norman Conquest of 1066 and so characterize the landscape of the Anglo-Saxon occupation. Findon is no exception to this pattern. Although the first mention of 'Findune' is to be found in the Domesday Book of 1086, the form itself is Anglo-Saxon and is undoubtedly much older than the records might suggest.

Nepcote is Findon's village-within-a-village. However, as a name, 'Nepcote' is very much younger than 'Findon' and is almost certainly medieval (its earliest record is 1256). The name appears to have arisen from an association with the family of Philip le Nulp (Nolp?) and up to 1823 Nepcote seems to have been known by the name of 'Nob Gate'. The modern form has perhaps been influenced by 'nep', a Sussex dialect word for catmint.

Inhabitant is Victim of Bad Luck

It is often possible to look back at incidents which happened to bygone Findon characters. This all helps to make a rich umbrella of village history. An accident in Findon ninety years ago in June 1907 concerned Frederick Mustchin who was 70 years old and employed by Albert Short of Findon Farm. He met with an unfortunate fall and it was recorded at the time that he was transferring milk churns in a cart, when he unluckily stumbled awkwardly over something and fell straight out of the back of the vehicle and landed on the road.

Mr F W Lee of Storrington was at once apparently telegraphed for. Could this Mr Lee have been a doctor?

Mr Mustchin, suffering from shock and badly shaken by his experience, was later conveyed by Albert Short's horse and trap to the cottage in Nepcote where he lived. He later recovered from his experience.

Cottages in Nepcote with Ockenden's old timber yard on the right. Circa 1930.

The name Mustchin is still a Findon name. In July 1996, Eric (Dick) Mustchin died. He was born in Nepcote in 1907 which coincidentally was the date of the above incident. He enjoyed village life and played in the local cricket team. As a young man he worked as a market gardener for Arthur Brown who ran a greengrocery business at the lower end of Stable Lane. Half way up the hill is a splendid thick laurel hedge which was planted by Dick and Arthur from seedlings from Muntham Court. A fitting memorial to another old Findon countryman.