William Fletcher

Numerous times I have mentioned the name William Fletcher in a variety of contexts, therefore I thought it would be an idea to give you more information on this gentleman who for over 40 years resided at what is now Hotham Park House.

William Holland Ballett Fletcher was born on 29th October 1852 in Broadwater, West Sussex and was only 11 years old when his father died. With the guidance of his mother he went on to St. John's College in Cambridge from where, in 1875, he obtained his B.A. and an M.A in 1879.

During his period at Cambridge he met and in 1875 married his wife Agnes Caroline Nicholls, and it was on the occasion of his wedding that he found at Goodwood a Cork oak, which was planted in the grounds of the house to commemorate this occasion.

The cork oak can still be seen today in Hotham Park - if you know where to find it.

In the mid 1870's William and Agnes lived in Worthing where their two children were born - John in 1879 and their second son Edward in 1881 but sadly he died nine months later. During his time at Worthing William Fletcher was elected to the West Sussex County Council in 1893 and between 1894 and 1896 he became the Mayor of Worthing. He was also elected to the Bench of the Justice of the Peace for West Sussex.

On the death of his mother in 1899 the family moved into the house known at that time as Bersted Lodge. William immediately changed the house's name to Aldwick Manor, as he had also inherited the Lordship of the Manor of Aldwick. When looking through historical documents and seeing the name 'Aldwick Manor' we can today be forgiven for dismissing this as being situated elsewhere in the town. William and Agnes were to enjoy their life in the house enjoying the social

life of the time and soon became accepted as part of the town. In 1906 William was co-opted as Chairman of the Bognor Urban District Council and in 1910 he became a County Alderman. It was during this period that there was much controversy regarding the sale of Bognor Pier. He insisted on his anonymity for much of his charity work. His work for various communities and his public service was not exploited also he never consented to be interviewed about his life or work.
Their son John was developing his life and attended the same college as his father and grandfather at St. John's in Cambridge where he also obtained his M.A. before becoming a Barrister in 1902. This time for the Fletcher's was a good and happy period of their lives. An article by Gerard Young in 1976 describes life in the house where 'the steel fire-grates shone like silver. Swiss lace and blue and silver brocade curtained the windows. Dinner was eaten in the glow of a twelve-branched candelabra and every Sunday each servant was given a basket of fruit.' For a man who was involved with numerous organisations, groups and held various offices, it appeared that he was apparently courteous but very shy, so much so that he preferred not to be spoken to and would slip past staff if he met them in the house.

This happy period was interrupted in 1914 by the 1st World War and John joined the services and became a Lieutenant of the 7th Battalion of the London Regiment.

Sadly he was killed on May 13th in 1915 and is buried in the town cemetery of Bethune in France. The death of their son was to greatly affect William and Agnes and they were soon both seen as having a reclusive life style.

Another aspect of the life of William Fletcher that remains with us today is the planting and maintenance of plants, trees and shrubs in his grounds. He worked closely with Kew Gardens and at one period the plantings were compared with Kew as being such an outstanding collection of species. Each year the woodland around the house became carpeted with primroses and bluebells between the small mossy paths. We should remember that this was his garden and not

the park we know today. The area known by many people as the boating lake was his pond and where he could be seen regularly standing at the side feeding his huge goldfish with bread. He also kept a large container of corn near the front lawn from where he would feed the rooks, which the staff referred to as 'Mr. Fletcher's canaries.' He was viewed as a gentleman with his Sherlock Holmes hat, stick and his Airedale terrier when walking through his grounds.

William Fletcher owned much land around the district; one such was an area where today we have the Marine Park Gardens.

This area was saved from development when the Council purchased part of his Estate in 1926, allowing developers to purchase and develop the housing on the adjoining roads.

He had strong links with North Mundham and its church because his brother John was the Vicar there, and there were many mentions of William in Parish Magazines when he was involved in either providing cash or attending functions to raise money for the Parish.
Agnes Fletcher became well known in her own right, for her unusual interest in reptiles, amphibians and rodents. She was a life fellow of the Zoological Society of London. Her large collection of snakes made her legendary.

There are many stories recalling the 'lady with the snakes' and even recently whilst talking to a resident they told me of some of the stories of snakes being 'lost' around the house.

As the years passed old age began to take its toll and in 1934, when he was in his 80's William was

to retire from some of the positions he held locally due to increasing deafness.

In 1939 Agnes Fletcher died at the age of 84 and within 2 years in 1941 William Fletcher also died, thus ending a Fletcher house association that had lasted over 80 years, since his father took over the house and completing over 40 years for William. Their deaths finished the private ownership of the house and park we know today. On William's death his monies were divided between three hospitals leaving no money for a grave or permanent memorial to this man.
It was not until 1959 that his name reappears when the Bognor Regis County Secondary School was renamed the William Fletcher School. Sadly this did not last long as, by 1967, the amalgamation of schools resulted in the Bognor Regis Comprehensive School. Today the only reminders are street names Fletcher Way and Fletcher Close, which we must assume were named after William Fletcher.

It was not until the late 1970's that discussions, plans and money were gathered together by members of the Bognor Regis Local History Society to enable a permanent memorial to William Holland Ballett Fletcher to be erected. On the 10th May 1980 there was a gravestone dedication ceremony in North Mundham at the graveside of the man who gave so much of his time and money to the town that nothing remained for himself.

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