Although I can't confirm this story I'm told that the owner of the Great Lodge won a substantial amount of money betting on a steeplechase horse race.

With his winnings he built a row of houses on what is now called Steeplechase.

My wife Rita and I are hoping to move to Hundon very soon. We have already purchased our house in Farmerie Way and are going through the trials and pain of trying to sell our existing house on the outskirts of London in this reducing and difficult market. Therefore, we are only weekend visitors at the moment but we have already experienced the welcoming and friendly attitude of the people of Hundon.

The people we met and spoke to during the Open Garden day seemed genuinly pleased to see us and have a chat, our neighbours cut our grass and put the bins out for collection even before they met us, and we have even been invited to a house warming by Mrs E****, a delightful lady we have met only twice.

Hundon and its residence is a truly remerkable place and we cannot wait to be part of it.

Thank you Hundon

Could anyone tell me who are the other people in the 1933 photo of Bertram Clarke with children? ( see the Historical Pictures section) Could the older couple be his parents? I am researching a family history and have a connection with the Clarkes of Hundon.
Sincerely
Jenny Wells
Melbourne, Autralia

I just want to say a big thank you to the people who have put the parish records on the site. I have now managed to get my family tree back to the early 1700’s with the ancestor of my gr gr gr gran Eliza Amelia Fitch. As the family stayed in the village for several generations I have the Fitch’s , Sergeant’s (her mothers family) and Golding’s ( her grandmothers Family). The Roger’s family seem to have married in several times too.

I have one question though. I wonder if anyone knows where Horn Row might have been.

Her parents William and Ann Fitch are recorded in the 1851 cencus as living in 51 Horn Row next to the Mill house. On a recent visit I could see no indication of where it might have been. Can anyone help?

A big thank you for your help already given.

Elizabeth Cook

mike.crawley@hotmail.co.uk

'Pauline and Charles at Ashleigh House would like to pass on the good news of who we consider to be a real craftsman in the making. Johnny Phillips who advertises in the Hundon Herald for plastering and artexing has just completed an extensive amount of work at our house from basic plastering to specialist cornice work and screeding.

He has worked around my building programme, worked under pressure from other tradesmen and has always kept to his timing. He is polite, extremely considerate punctual and a very clean worker and he is local. His costs are competitive and fair. We would like to wish Johnny all the the very best in his business and would be happy to recommend him to anyone'

Nearly four months ago we chose to move into Rogeron Close after much deliberation and exploration of other villages. 

Here there was a warm, welcoming ambiance when we visited and we felt we wanted to belong,  to be a part of this community,  and we are still being welcomed.  Thank you Hundon people.

So many amenities, so much in which to become involved.  The variety of well cared-for properties,  an eclectic population,  a beautiful church,  a village with a nucleus surrounded by many hundreds of acres of farmlands.  And for us  the pinnacle - the open space view,  ‘the allotments‘,  behind this bungalow.  A piece of land we thought was protected from development. 

Carefully and seriously consider what would be lost FOREVER if development took place;  straggling hedges,  blackberries,  loss of wildlife,  the trees,  creatures which crawl, fly, run and live in freedom.  And the dozens of people who use it,  meeting and chatting to others,  the doggie folks, children’s laughter  in a safe vehicle-free unpolluted atmosphere.  There are allotments;  a periodic clearing of  any dangerous discarded rubbish, help for allotment holders by way of stand pipe  - even a communal compost  heap,  these are some considerations for thought and discussion.

Please let it be left as a sanctuary, as a coveted area for interested allotment holders,  for wild life,  an environment for people,  a haven in our village to be enjoyed. 

Is their another field or area in the village or surrounding environs where all this could happen?

This village is a most attractive and pleasant part of the country in which to live, so much so that part of it has been designated a Conservation Area.

Unfortunately, for many years now, the Hundon Allotments have been greatly under-used and have, frankly, become an eyesore.

The Allotments, situated between Church Street and Lower Road, are owned by the Rogeron's Trust, a Registered Charity, operating in and for the benefit of, the Parish and Parishioners of Hundon.

The Trustees most certainly want to see a meaningful part of the field remain dedicated to use as Allotments. Indeed the Trustees would like to spend money up grading the facilities. Perhaps hard standing, piped water and secure storage could be provided to each plot. Maybe all those allotments in use could be grouped together with a substantial area of uncultivated land, ready for any future rush of budding gardeners.

That leaves a major problem - what do we do with the rest of the land?

How should we use it, in order to create an attractive asset for the village? One suggestion is to create an open, landscaped, park.

what do you think?

I think this would be a great opportunity for our village and would be an excellent experience.Usually you have to travel to get to anything like a Music Festival and the costs of travelling alone can be extortionate. This would be a fantastic opportunity for Hundon for all ages and would bring our community together for a fun event.

Forget London, Bring on Hundon!

With regard to the experience of those suggesting a Hundon Music Festival, it may be of interest to looka at their website. Click on the link below:

http://www.cegtheatreservices.co.uk./