Netherfield Sussex - (Arthur Blackman visits school)

Netherfield straggles for more than a mile along a ridge, with no real centre, or early church.

It earliest mention was in the Domesday book.

Netherfield stands on a high point, off the B2096 between Battle and Brightling , overlooking beautiful Forestry Commission land.

The parish church was dedicated in 1860, and was a gift to the village by Lady Webster in memory of her husband, Sir Godfrey Webster of Battle Abbey. Prior to this services were held in the barn of a local farm.

The church was designed by Samuel Sanders Teulon , a controversial Victorian architect, he also designed the Holy Trinity Church in Hastings. The church is dedicated to St John the Baptist. This fact is somewhat grotesquely commemorated by a painting on the north wall by the 17th century artist Giovanni Barbieni, of the unfortunate St John's head on a platter, carried by Salome. The artist used himself as the model for the features.

The old schoolhouse adjoining the churchyard was also given by Lady Webster, in 1859. The school closed in 1961.

(We are grateful to Alf Rogers for the following details) Arthur Blackman is probably remembered for two major enterprises, as a coal merchant and as a director of the group that produced Gyprock and later Marley Tiles. He was well beyond the years when most retire when I met him.

He came back to his old school every other Christmastide and spoke to the children. Each child received the gift of a coin (in 1959 it was a shiny new half-crown). This was but one small aspect of the life of a man who thought it an imperative in life to share at least some of his good fortune with his fellows, and in particular with those in less happy circumstance or who would soon be starting out on life's journey for themselves.

In 1959, he recalled the time when he left school and set out to start his own business. He had decided that one thing his neighbours always wanted was a supply of "pimps" (an old word referring to bundles of chopped kindling wood for the fire). He went to see the Squire (at Netherfield Place) and asked him for a loan to buy a hand cart so that he might carry out his business more effectively. He had seen one that would suit for £10 and, if he could get a loan he knew he could repay it within a year. The squire admired has enterprise and made the loan which was duly paid off well within the time set.

Of course, by then Arthur had other plans. His service was appreciated and he had visions of expanding it to the delivery of coal from the staithes in the Battle railway goods yard. For this he would need a horse and cart.

You've guessed it! He was financed again, and again through hard and honest labour expanded his business. Do you really think it would be possible for such a man to neglect the product from the Mountfield mines? I hope that for the children that were at Netherfield School on that day two impressions remain: first, that one needs to strike out on one's own to realise a dream and, second, that one must never lose the common touch or forget one's origins.

Hastings Municipal Council must have many records of his philanthropy. I well remember taking children swimming in an indoor pool that bore his name.

The local hospitals also were not forgotten.

The village is served by two public houses 'The White Hart' and 'The Netherfield Arms'. Netherfield Place is now a high quality restaurant, and Netherfield Hall, opposite the church provides a convenient stop for tea.