| 1102 |
Kingston was acquired by Tewkesbury Abbey. Tewkesbury are likely to have founded the chapel at Kingston. (Under Tewkesbury, the churches of Ferring and Eat Preston both acquired new chancels in the 13th Century).
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[Ref: Old East Preston 3 (some historical notes); R.W.Standing] |
1332
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From the subsidy rolls we can identify a shipmaster: "Martinus of Kyngeston - Kingston Poling Hundred - tax paid 2s 0d".
In the Middle Ages such ship masters would have built up a substantial trade with the continent. The predominant cargo was wool.
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[Ref: Scrapbook of East Preston; Members of the East Preston W.I.] |
1500s
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Ships could approach Kingston in deep water in the early days. Kingston Stade and Kingston Chapel are marked on an Armada Map drawn by Peregrine Palmer.
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[Ref: Scrapbook of East Preston; Members of the East Preston W.I.] |
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1573
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The Prebendary passed to the Appropriator, Mr Shelley of Lewes. He had little interest in the church at Kingston. The Church Wardens reported "Our chauncell is in greate ruyne and decay and lyke to fall downe in Mr Shellyes fault of Lewes".
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[Ref: Old East Preston 3 (some historical notes); R.W.Standing]
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1602
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The Church Inspection book reported "The whole Chappell is unpaved the seats are ruinos the covring [the roof] greatly decayed the glass windowes and doores neede mendinge the walles whitinge the allso want a bible a pulpitt and linnen clothes for the communion table".
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[Ref: Old East Preston 3 (some historical notes); R.W.Standing] |
1626
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Stormy weather caused the sea to eat at the common fields and the village itself. A plea came from the Church Wardens: "Our chappell is much decayed and out of repayre by reason of the sea, and now hath wrought away the land in a manner to the very chappell so that is not repayrable. And being allotted to the mother church of Ferring, we most humbly desire order may be granted unto us to take downe the covring and healing of the chappell, which is of very good and large Horsham stone or slate and enable the parryshioners for the preserving of the stone and timber worke for the yearly and continuall benefit of the poore,for suddenly the chappell will be ruinated by the sea".
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[Ref: Old East Preston 3 (some historical notes); R.W.Standing] |
1641
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The last Church Wardens of Kingston (John Bennett and William Druett) wrote: "Our Chapel is utterly ruinated and demolished by the sea, and we do constantly resort to Ferring to service being the mother Church"
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[Ref: Old East Preston 3 (some historical notes); R.W.Standing] |
1671
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The village comprised 9 houses. (It remained much the same until after the Great War).
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[Ref: Old East Preston 3 (some historical notes); R.W.Standing] |
1794
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Sussex signal stations were set up and remained in operation until December 1814. A signal station was built in Kingston, at the end of Sea Lane, beyond the cottages now known as North Cottage and Lighthouse Cottage. The orders for the signal stations were: "You are to consider the great objective of establishing these Posts is that no ship or vessel of the enemy shall be able to approach the coast without being discovered".
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[Ref: The Military Defense of West Sussex; John Goodwin] |
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1801
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The Napoleonic Wars brought fears of an invasion. Plans were made to evacuate the whole coastal region, with "removal of horses and draft cattle beyond the reach of the enemy" along with all the people, to Wisborough Green. George Olliver was the Superintendant for Kingston's evacuation. An evacuation Census records 13 men and 14 draft animals in village, working a 3 crop rotation.
All 7 houses recorded were said to have ovens.
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[Ref: The Age of the Squire - East Preston and Kingston in the 19th Century; R.W.Standing] |
| 1805
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"Whereas it has been represented... that on Monday 22nd October last , between the hours of eight and nine o'clock in the evening, Thomas Newland an Officer of His Majesty's Customs at the Port of Arundel (accompanied by John Gratwicke Heasman and John Roberts also officers of the Customs) having seized a quantity of foreign spirits on the coast in the Parish of Kingston was attacked by some person or persons unknown, who beat the said Thomas Newland about the head and ill treated him inother respects in a most severe and brutal manner, and after dragging him some distance from the seized goods, forcibly rescued and carried away 4 casks of the said spirits." - A £200 reward was offered.
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[Ref: The Age of the Squire - East Preston and Kingston in the 19th Century; R.W.Standing] |
| 1841
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10 dwellings, 45 people |
[Ref: Census; Office of National Statistics] |
| 1851
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9 dwellings, 40 people |
[Ref: Census; Office of National Statistics] |
| 1852
|
Kelly's Directory records the following 3 entries for Kingston:
Henry Slater , farmer
Samuel Henty, farmer
George Olliver, farmer
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[Ref: Kelly's Directory] |
| 1861
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9 dwellings, 45 people |
[Ref: Census; Office of National Statistics] |
| 1871
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10 dwellings, 27 people |
[Ref: Census; Office of National Statistics] |
| 1881
|
9 dwellings, 34 people |
[Ref: Census; Office of National Statistics] |
| 1911
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13 dwellings, 62 people |
[Ref: Census; Office of National Statistics] |
| 1914-18
|
Kingston was still a small village at the time of the Great War. Despite this, the men of Kingston Parish did their duty and signed up for their country.
Some paid the ultimate price
.
Remembered on the war memorial at the entrance to Kingston Gorse are:
- Philip Sadler Candy (Midshipman R.N.). H.M.S. "Monmouth.", who died on Sunday, 1st November 1914. Age 15. He was the son of John Alfred Sadler Candy and Emily Louisa French Candy of East Kingston.
- Arthur Charman (Royal Sussex). Private (G/1255) 7th Bn, Royal Sussex Regiment who died on Monday, 6th March 1916. Age 23. Though recently living in Dorking he was the Son of Henry and Emily Charman, a native of Kingston.
- Thomas George Braden (Royal Fusiliers). Private (27504) 9th Bn., Royal Fusiliers who died on Friday, 4th August 1916. Age 21.He was the son of Charles and Susan Mary Braden, of Kingston
- Frederick George Bone (Royal Sussex). It has been difficult to trace details of Frederick. The only F.Bone recorded by the Commonwealth War Graves Commission, a serving in the Royal Sussex Regiment, was Frederick John. His details were: Private (L/10807) 7th Bn., Royal Sussex Regiment who died on Wednesday, 25th July 1917
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[Ref: Commonwealth War Graves Commission] |
| 1934 |
George Black was designing a house to be built from stone transported from the North of England. It was set in half an acre and built along the lines of a medeival castle complete with turrets and a moat. He commissioned stained glass windows depicting clowns (based on the Crazy Gang).
George Black shunned the show business parties and was reclusive when "off duty". He was happiest in his elaborate gardens where he grew giant chrysanthemums and rare orchids behind the fortress-like walls of his house.
|
[Ref: The Crazy Gang; Maureen Owen] |
| 1934
|
Kingston Gorse had become popular with stage people.
The Knox's were building their own house (Porchways).
The Nervos already had their house (Durban - just outside the gates of Kingston Gorse) which they bought from Bud Flanagan who had just moved to Ferring.
|
[Ref: The Crazy Gang; Maureen Owen] |
| 1940s
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When George Black died, Billy Butlin bought his house for his wife |
[Ref: The Crazy Gang; Maureen Owen] |
| 1943-45
|
Part of A Squadron, occupying the house of a famous man of theatres at Kingston Gorse, lived among stained glass, a shining cocktail bar, sunken baths and garden fountains. Other people of the stage whose homes were here became the regiment's friends, notably Nervo and Knox, who renewed acquaintance months later when they were making the Second Army laugh in Holland.
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[Ref: The Scottish Lion on Patrol - Being the Story of the 15th Scottish Reconnaissance Regiment 1943-46; Captain W Kemsley & Captain M R Reisco] |
| 1953 |
SQUADRON Leader Neville Duke yesterday broke the world air speed record in his Hawker Hunter. He did it on both attempts, one in the afternoon and one in the evening.
The figures were achieved on the second flight over the three kilometre course off-shore between Rustington and Kingston Gorse, Sussex.
The average was 727.6 mph. The speeds on the required four runs over the course were: 716.7 mph, 738.8 mph, 716.5 mph, and 738.6 mph.
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[Ref: From the Evening News, September 8, 1953] |
1998
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Kingston is granted and forms its first Parish Council |
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