Hilaire Belloc bought King's Land (in Shipley, Sussex), 5 acres and a working windmill for £1000 in 1907 and it was his home for the rest of his life. Belloc loved Sussex as few other writers have loved her: he lived there for most of his 83 years, he tramped the length and breadth of the county, slept under her hedgerows, drank in her inns, sailed her coast and her rivers and wrote several incomparable books about her. "He does not die that can bequeath Some influence to the land he knows, Or dares, persistent, interwreath Love permanent with the wild hedgerows; He does not die, but still remains Substantiate with his darling plains."

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Monday 30 September 2013

Looking back - Belloc's 50th Anniversary...


Shipley Windmill

Looking back, as Belloc often did (!), the 50th anniversary of his death was well marked. Aside from a conference in Oxford, West Sussex County Council organised a host of events. This is how the programme shaped up:


March 22nd to June 8th - Hilaire Belloc Anniversary Walk:

An 80 mile journey over eight days, commencing the weekend of 22nd & 23rd March, continuing 12th & 13th April, 10th & 11th May and finishing on the 7th & 8th June. The walks are in the style of The Four Men, beginning at Robertsbridge in East Sussex and finishing at South Harting in West Sussex. 


April 6th at 2pm - Shipley Windmill Open Day:

The launch day for the Belloc Programme of Events. The mill is also open 2pm to 5pm on the 1st, 2nd and 3rd Sunday of every month between April and October inclusive and during the Shipley Festival on 3rd, 4th & 5th May.


May 8th at 7-30pm - Talk:

In the Steps of Hilaire Belloc: 100 years of the countryside, a talk by Nick Channer in the Richmond Room, Edes House,West Street,Chichester.


June 27th - Copper Family Evening:

The Four Men: a celebration of Sussex in words & song, performed by Bob Copper & family, at the North Cray Building,Weald & Downland Museum.


July 5th and 12th - Pilgrimages:

Belloc is buried in the churchyard at the Roman Catholic Church of Our Lady of Consolation and St.
Francis, Park Lane,West Grinstead. Both pilgrimages begin at 11am followed by a Mass at 12 noon. All are welcome. 



July 13th - Anniversary Walk:

Includes a visit to King's Land, the Belloc family home, and 'Mrs Shipley'; followed by a musical performance by Bob Copper & friends at The Fountain, Ashurst.


July 16th at 7-30pm - Talk:

'Belloc's Special Place' by Kim Leslie of West Sussex Record Office.

Venue:

Worthing Library

In association with the West Sussex Literary Society.



July 27th - Plaque Unveiling:

Gumber, north of Slindon, had great significance for Belloc. West Sussex County Council, in association with the National Trust, will unveil a commemorative plaque at the Bothy.


28th & 29th August - Hilaire Belloc Conference in Oxford organised by the Hilaire Belloc Society.


Ernest Powell , Miller of Shipley 1895-1926




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