Situated on the South Coast of England

 between the towns of 

Worthing & Shoreham by Sea

To navigate our web pages please follow the LINKS to the left (if these aren't visible click on the icon in the top left-hand corner - 3 horizontal bars)


Breaking news: Click on What's On Locally for some interesting talks at Shoreham Fort Nissen hut


Programme for 2025:


7th January Ian Richardson - Goring and its Nooks and Crannies

4th February Sue Belton, Worthing Society – Pioneers of Worthing

4th March Renee and Allan Marriott, Magic Lantern

1st April James Sainsbury – Saxon Worthing

6th May Bill Avenall – Why is Church Lane so steep?

3rd June Stewart Angell - The Other Armada

6th – 8th June Events at St Mary Sompting for The Friends of Sompting Church, details to be announced

1st July Sarah Nathaniel = CWGC

5th August Members only

2nd September Sharon Penfold & Gary Baines - Shoreham Fort, Past Present & Future

7th October Tony Gardner - Bronxe Bullets & Boats

4th November AGM + Speaker

2nd December TBA



WHERE AND WHEN DO WE MEET?

Meetings are held generally on the first Tuesday of each month in Sompting at Harriet Johnson Hall, Loose Lane, starting at 7.30pm..



WELCOME TO JOIN US

If you have more than a casual interest in these matters or are in possession of material associated with them and would like to join or help us, we would love to hear from you. Please do not be put off by any lack of historical background; it is enthusiasm we enjoy.


Annual Membership: £10 plus £2 each meeting attended. Visitors: £5.00 per evening.

Please e.mail our Contact below if you would like to know more.


Please visit ~ Some Little Known Facts

MORE ABOUT US

Our interests cover all aspects of local history including archaeology, genealogy, pictorial past, sociology, folklore and a number of other specialist strands. Personal research into our local heritage is encouraged. 


Some Members of Pastfinders on their recent Classic Southdown Bus Trip


Since our first meeting in 1996, we have investigated a variety of community subjects and events and our displays at Lancing Library and elsewhere have included local education, literary characters, wartime, mills and highways & byways. We have regular discussions, talks by members and outside speakers, guided walks and a summer visit to the downland barn at Lambleys. At Christmas we hold a  a social event.

This is a picture of our 1950s Local History Display at the Sir Robert Woodard Jubilee Fete on Saturday 26 May 2012


Members, individually, hold a number of archives – old documents, books, images, maps, ephemera and many other sources - which they are generally prepared to make available to each other for study and research


"Penstone House and the Basque children" ~ The Blue Plaque is now in place. Earlier this year, Alan Bradley gave us a fascinating talk and we wish him well with his very laudable efforts to get these children remembered by a blue plaque at Lancing Library. Click Here:   If you are interested in potential Blue Badgers, please visit:   Click: Local Worthies 

The late Bill Lindfield

Also please take a look at our most recent page which is a mirror (with consent of the Trustees) of the original on the Sompting Estate Website:    http://www.somptingestate.com/bill-lindfield  It deals with many aspects of the fascinating life of the late Bill Lindfield of Sompting, soldier, poet, countryman and local treasure:

https://sites.google.com/site/lancsompastfinders/Home/local-worthies/bill-lindfield-of-sompting

Local History Booklets (click here)

Please have a look at our range of local history booklets.

If you are interested in the History of Lancing & Sompting you may enjoy the pages entitled  Some Little Known Facts", "Research by Members" & "READ ALL ABOUT IT".



Heritage Lottery Fund

Since 2012 we have carried the logo of the National Lottery Heritage fund on our website in recognition of its support in funding the purchase of essential equipment to scan and store many negatives, original photographs and archives held by Lancing & Sompting Pastfinders. We still feel it necessary to acknowledge the support of HLF and whilst keeping the logo have moved its position.


Copyright

Much of the work published on this website is copyrighted to various authors. Please respect the time and money which has gone into our research to enable the production of the material for community enjoyment. An acknowledgement to LANCING & SOMPTING PASTFINDERS will suffice should you wish to use all or part of any of the published work for non-commercial, personal research or social networking. If in doubt please enquire using our contact button. 

  

Contact:

© RB & LSP 2006 - 2024                                                                                  

Alternative URL:    www.lancing-sompting-pastfinders.org.uk