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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Tuesday 16 April 2024

Hilaire Belloc: an afternoon of four illustrated talks, exploring the life and career of this great son of Sussex.





'Bleak House' - the Belloc family home in Slindon



Saturday 27th July, 2pm - 5.30pm, (with coffee breaks). Guided walk to follow afternoon talks. Coronation Hall, Reynolds Lane, Slindon. BN18 0QT. Disabled access. Guided walk approx. two hours, moderate climb, no disabled access.

Four speakers with four different takes on Belloc. David Arscott, well known Sussex publisher and author reflects on Belloc's Sussex writings. Roderick Blythe, a Belloc descendant, will give a personal appreciation of his esteemed forebear. Playwright, Ann Feloy, will discuss how she went about turning Belloc's famous Sussex book, The Four Men, into a stage play. Chris Hare will look at the politics and philosophy of Belloc and wonder if his warnings from the 1920s have come to fruition in the 2020s. 

For tickets, please follow the following link.

After the talks Chris will lead an optional walk around Belloc's boyhood haunts of Slindon and Halnaker (there is no extra charge for the walk). For those wishing to do the walk only it will cost £7.50 (for this option please email Chris at sussexhistory.hare@gmail.com).

Jake, who runs The Forge cafe in the village (next door to the Coronation Hall) is happy to serve evening meals and also happy for us to do a bit of singing should we be so inclined. Please let Chris know if you are interested in this particular aspect of the day's proceedings.

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