May Powell was born in Henfield 91 years ago. In 1900 her parents came to Henfield and took over a strange old shop where Ken Johnstone, Gilbert Travel and George Pearce are today. The living accommodation with the shop wasn't suitable and so, as a temporary measure, they purchased Ivy House, opposite the shop. May has lived in Ivy House all her life and the "temporary" purchase was 100 years ago next year!

Mr. W.A. Powell and daughter, May, with his collection of bicycles behind his shop, 1935.

When she was a child, Henfield was mainly agricultural with farms and market gardens. She counted 7 market gardens in the village, mainly in the West End Lane area, growing flowers and tomatoes and other produce, which was sold at Covent Garden in London and also Brighton Market.

May compared the progress and hubbub of Budgens, with the relaxing and helpful atmosphere of Mr. Musson's shop (situated where Dillons is now). In total there were 5 grocers shops in the High Street, 2 in Nep Town, 2 in Station Road and later one in Church Street. There were 2 butchers, plus one colonial butcher, and later one in the Co-op at the station. There were 3 mill businesses, a saddler, farrier, and a chemist (which was also the Post Office), 3 bakers (and the muffin man on Saturdays). She remembered the Brewery at Mock Bridge and the Town Band. The South Downs Hunt met every month in the middle of the Street, alternately outside the George and the White Hart.

There was also an excellent train service, with 12 trains daily to Victoria Station (5 on Sundays). May attended school at Steyning and every morning caught the train - if she was late, Mr. Standing, the Station Master would hold the train.

The Telephone Exchange started in Park Road, and then moved down to two rooms above the then Barclays (now Lloyds Bank). Miss Brazier offered a very personal service, telling callers that someone wasn't at home because she'd just seen them in the High Street!

Mr. Tobitt's shop (now Budgens) was very Victorian. The property itself had no running water, and ever day a dustbin full of water was brought from what is now the Secretary Shop. The Drapery section was run by Miss Fowler, and Mr. Carey sold boots and shoes and bolts of cloth; in a room at the back Miss Carter sold ladies' things, such as hats, dresses, and lingerie. A very dark staircase led to a large single room upstairs which contained all things to do with funerals: hats, coats, gloves. There was a large mirror, and ladies trying on dresses also used this room. Mr. Tobitt, who was a batchelor, also had the shop's only telephone here, and insisted upon answering it himself!

May described the Assembly Rooms (now Bishop Croft) as a lovely building; built in about 1878, it was where everything happened. Lots of plays, a very nice stage, but the wings were very small and everyone had to hold on to each other. There were lovely dances with live bands in those days, when the girls wore evening dresses, and the boys wore dinner jackets or dark Iounge suits.

Miss Terry, where the Post Office is now, sold lace and net. She dressed her window only about every 5 years, and there were white flies and spiders dead in the window all covered with dust!

Mr. and Mrs. Tyler had the shop where Village Care is now - she was a very small lady who lived to 93 and she was still in the shop the day before she died. (Her mother had been told when she was born that she wouldn't survive long because she was such a tiny thing.) She sold toys and pictures, garden seeds, needles and cottons, patent medicines ... just about everything! In a room behind the shop Mr. Tyler was the village barber, whistling as he worked. It was possible to get tea and a bun, as well as having a hair cut all for 4d.

Mrs. Morey also told of her father's experience as a teenager working for Sophia Jex Blake, a pioneer lady doctor; and of the family's friendship with Miss Elizabeth Robbins, an American actress who was the first to portray Ibsen's Hedda Gabler on the stage, and who subsequently retired to Backsettown in Furners Lane, where she became a writer. When May's father acquired the freehold deeds of Ivy House (previously a copyhold property), which were on parchment and dated back to 1636, it was found they were not still legally acceptable, and so they were given to Miss Robins as she had said they were beautiful. However, when Miss Robbins died in 1952 she returned the deeds to May Morey, and the deeds are now in the Henfield Museum.

Some years ago, May Morey wrote a small book of memoirs entitled "I Remember...", and this is available on loan from the Henfield Library.

HENFIELD HISTORY GROUP HOMEPAGE