Author: Eddie Westfield

Posted on

SUMMER BOOK CLUB  REVIEW

In August the Book Club always takes a break and members read their own choice of book and bring back recommendations to the group. We certainly had a diverse and interesting selection and I for one can’t wait to start reading some of them.

To start with some vintage World War novels, ‘Death of a Hero’ (1929) was written by Richard Aldington and based on his own first-hand experience of World War 1. It is sometimes considered the greatest of all novels about that War and makes a scalding critique of those pre-war voices that helped to make that global catastrophe inevitable. It is that very anger that made this a fascinating read. Nigel Balchin was a psychologist, a writer and deputy scientific adviser to the Army Council. Like Aldington he writes from first-hand knowledge in ‘Darkness Falls from the Air’ (1942) a vivid account of living through the blitz and ‘Small Back Room’ (1943) a story of the backroom boys. Of their time, they are readable, informative and vivid. Continue reading “SUMMER BOOK CLUB  REVIEW”

Posted on

The Grange, Hadlow Down

The Grange, Hadlow Down
Further to the George Fellowes Prynne’s biographical articles published recently in The Hadlow Down Village Magazine and here on the Village Web Site the Hadlow Down Village Trust has come across this interesting architect’s drawing that appeared in The Building News of 17 November 1893 showing The Grange as Fellowes Prynne would build it with the original building, called Buxted Lodge before the transition, in the inset.
It was George Fellowes Prynne’s first secular building.
May be an image of text
Posted on

Edward Arthur Fellowes Prynne. Sept. Mini-Bio


Edward Arthur Fellowes Prynne (1854–1921) was a leading British late Pre-Raphaelite painter of portraits and subject pictures, who in later life became one of the country’s best known creators of decorative art for churches. Examples of his work can be found in our own village church of St. Mark the Evangelist.

In 1913 the Hadlow Down church was in essential need of re-building, a project that was duly completed and the church subsequently re-consecrated. The re-building work had been gifted to the parish by local benefactor Mr. Charles Lang Huggins, J.P. of nearby Hadlow Grange. George Fellowes Prynne the brother of Edward Fellowes Prynne was the appointed architect of the project. Continue reading “Edward Arthur Fellowes Prynne. Sept. Mini-Bio”

Posted on

Fellowes Prynne, George H. (2nd April 1853 – 27th May1927)

The Church of St. Mark the Evangelist provides an impressive first view of the village as you approach Hadlow Down from the West on the A272.  The person responsible for its present day imposing appearance is George Halford Fellowes Prynne (1853–1927) a Victorian and Edwardian English church architect, part of the High Church School of Gothic Revival Architecture.

He was born on 2 April 1853 at Wyndham Square, Plymouth, Devon, the second son of the Rev. George Rundle Prynne and Emily Fellowes.  His elder brother was the painter Edward Arthur Fellowes Prynne. He also had another brother, Albert Bernard (known as Bernard), and two sisters. His father was a well-known figure in religious circles of the time, being outspoken in his support of the revival of so-called high churchmanship in the Anglican Church and espousing the views of the Oxford Movement. Continue reading “Fellowes Prynne, George H. (2nd April 1853 – 27th May1927)”

Posted on

Hadlow Down Book Club Review – August ’23

“Life doesn’t have a narrator – it’s full of lies and half-truths – so we never know anything for sure, not really. I like that” The Temptation of Forgiveness Donna Leon (2018).

We decided to read something lighter this month, and chose Trace Elements (2020), by Donna Leon. No doubt some of you will be familiar with her long-running series, set in Venice and featuring the Commissario (Detective Superintendent) Guido Brunetti, his wife Paola and his team in the Questura (police headquarters). Continue reading “Hadlow Down Book Club Review – August ’23”