In 1980, on the foreshore off Kingston-by-Ferring in West
Sussex, the remains of a medieval well were found, some 500 ft south from the
present promenade.
A search in April 2002 did not locate any sign of the ring of chalk blocks
An excavation by members of Worthing
Archaeological Society was made at December low tide and two buckets and what
appeared to be loom weights were recovered.
As full an account as is possible some 20 years later, is
being prepared. Here are some notes by RW Standing prepared in 2002.
The KINGSTON WELL 1980/81
RW Standing
Perhaps my notes made shortly afterwards, when the well was opened again, and relating to a wooden bucket that had been found in the well, may
be of value.
An article of mine in West Sussex History No 68, Kingston Chapel - all that is presently known about it?, indicates that the chapel was demolished
and gone by 1641. The parish register continues on past that date, but was in use at Ferring church. There are no maps of that era that indicate the
church.
The well was evidently first excavated in the presence of Con Ainsworth at the end of 1980, and I heard of this shortly afterwards. I understood, as
indicated by the report, that two wooden buckets were found together with flints with holes which had possibly been used as “loom weights”.
Remains of one of the buckets found its way into the possession of Mr J. Eschbaecher of Sea Road East Preston, and I subsequently took photos
and notes of this. If the “weights” and remains of the other bucket were taken to Worthing Museum, they were not found for me when I visited there
this month.
On the 8th February 1981 the second excavation took place, and being advised of this I watched it and took photos and notes.
From my own calculations the position of well is approximately 08132E and 01325N. Some 500 feet south of the present headland at Kingston
south of Spanish Place. South-east of the sea end of Peak Lane, which was Kingston Street.
The internal diameter of the well was approximately 38 inches. It consisted of two courses of chalk blocks dressed on the inside face to the well
radius. These two courses measured approximately 12 inches overall. Underneath the walling there was a square timber frame (oak?) of 7 inch
depth, but the width could not be determined without removing the stonework. It is quite definite that the timber was on all four sides, and not simply
two beams as noted in the report.
It is my understanding that the technique of well sinking was to make a frame on the surface and build the wall on this, undercutting the frame so
as to sink it, until the desired depth was reached. In this instance it would appear the frame rested on the chalk substrata, and this base had worn
into a slight bowl shape.
The bucket acquired by Mr Eschbaecher consisted of several pieces that were separate when I saw them. The base was a solid piece of close
grained wood (oak?) of circular shape 7 inch diameter min. and at the maximum diameter 8 inches. It had probably shrunk across the grain to 7
inches. This base was approx. 3/8 inch thick. There were five visible peg holes in the rim, with remains of pegs 1/8” across, set in holes approx. 3/4
inch deep.
A piece of the side of the bucket was of a thin slice of oak 1/8 inch thick, and curved to fit around half the circumference of the base. It contained
holes for pegs and remains of pegs.
The sides and base were evidently held together using split withy. A piece of this withy, light and yellowish in colour with a wide grain, measured
3/4 inch across and 3/16 inch thickness. The withy was notched on one edge.
There was no evidence for any metal parts, and the whole would appear to have been pegged together.
Mr Eschbaecher has since died, and none of the bucket survives.
I have provided Littlehampton Museum with notes similar to this, and also a set of photos. I assume they have been filed away.
As in my WSH article, the well is approximately where I would suppose the coastline was in the mid 17th century, at the time the chapel was
lost. From the 1635 Glebe Terrier, it is evident that a lane branched off Kingston Street, almost against the beach, eastwards towards the manor
house. The chapel must have been in this vicinity, although it cannot be fixed from the information in the terrier. No doubt the well related to
various houses in this southern extension of the Street.
© RW Standing 2002
A further dig in February 1981 enabled this photograph to
be taken,
The remains of one of the buckets taken in 1990
Original images © RW Standing 1981 and 1990
