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Extract from - East Sussex Agricultural Express 1922


Battles Grand Old Man (G.O.M)

Borne to Grave by Abbey Workers

Battles grand old man, Mr James Morgan, who died last week, at advanced age of 99, was buried on Tuesday Afternoon. The internment was preceeded by a service at the Parish Church, conducted by the very Rev. Dean H. Francis, which was attended by several of the deceased's old friends. During the service the late Mr Morgans's favourite hymn, "Abide with me." was sung. The mourners were: Mr and Mrs W.White (daughter and son-in-law), Mr and Mrs J.P.Eldridge (daughter and son-in-law), Mrs S Harris (daughter). Mr Reg White. Mr Percy White, and Mr.R.Eldridge (grandsons). Mrs Wood (neice), Mr J.Fuller and Mr. W.Waite (nephews). There were also present: Mr Harry Jones (an old workmate), Mrs Mewett, Mrs Jones, Mr H.J.Gower. Mr Herberte Blackman, and Mr Alfred Blackman. The coffin was borne by the following employees on the Abbey Estate: Messrs C.Jenner, J.Spittles, H.Wood. and F.Philcox.
Wreaths were sent by: "Lizzie, Walter, Reg. Percy and Mabel." "Carrie, Percy, Dorothy, Bob and Arthur." "Bert and Ida." "Fanny," "Lily, Harry and family," Sir Augustus WebsterF.Webster, Bart., Miss Webster, and the Abbey garden staff. Mr Herbert Blackman, Madame and Mrs. Massonat, Mrs Jones, Mrs Mewett, and Mrs. Geoorge Muggereidge and family.

Interesting Reminiscences

By the death of Mr.James Morgan, which occurres on Thursday, October 19th, at Battle Abbey gardens in his 100th year, at the residence of his daughter and son-in-law. Battle has lost an interesting link with the past. Mr Morgan's observant nature and well-stored memory, combined with a clear and happy manner of recital of happenings of lonf ago, rendered a chat with him most pleasurable and interesting to anyone who had the privilage.
He was very active and alert mentally and physically until the last three or four years, when the gradual decline of his physical strength prevented him from indulging in outdoor exercise; but to the end he was invariably cheerful and uncolmplaining, and under the tender care and unremitting attention of his devoted daughter was thoroughly happy and contented.
Nearly the whole of his long life had been spent on the Abbey Estate in various capacities, and he had very pleasant memories of the time when he was house-boy at the abbey under Lady Webster, and of her sons Godgrey and Ferederic, who were about his own age. In the course of time he accepted the position of head van-man to Messrs Laurence and Son at the Battle Gunpowder Works, whith whom he remained until the works ceased. One part of his duties was to deliver the gunpowder over a wide area extending as far as Lewes and Tonbridge with his horses and van. In addition to delivery he was empowered to receive payment for the goods, his employers placing the greatest confidence in him. He also assisted in bringing the salt-petre and brimstone to the works (the charcoal was burnt on site), and taking the powder from one set of buildings to the other for the various processes in its manufacture, which afforded him an excelllent opportunity of seeing and noting the minutest details of the manufacture; it also brought him into contact with all the workmen, and many diverting anecdotes would he relate to them, showing that they had a full appreciation of the lighter side of life, and were not unduly impressed by the dengerous nature of their calling.
I the course of the various conversations he related the following items : - He well remembered the Abbey refectory being used as a gardeners store, etc. The roof, which was partly tiled and partly shingled, fell in one very rough night about the year 1838, and then Lady Webster had the north wall removed and turf laid on the floor.
As a child he lived at Breadsell in the old farmhouse, three families living there, at that time the Beauport wall was being built. Previous to that there was a "big bit of land covered with hawth" called Breadsell Green, where he and his brothers played, but when the wall was built and the road straighened this land was enclosed. When he was young wages for men were 1/8 per day and for the lads 7d. and 8d. a day. Cheese and bacon were very cheap then, sugar about at present prices, and tea 7/- per lb. He said "We youngsters didnt have tea at all. We had herb tea (mentioning the common hebs), which were mixed and hot water poured on them. His mother would purchase an ounce of tea occasionally."
He was fond of speaking of the old couching days. The "couch horses" laid at the George Hotel, and with the coaches and the waggons going to and fro many horses were required. There were five post boys at the "George" for engagements if folk cam along who wished to travel. He also spoke of red coats of the coachman and guard and the "bugle horn."
He also referred to the revolt of the farm labourers against existing conditions about the year 1850 (which is descroibed in Mr Hodson's "History of Salehurst"). He said "the men struck for higher pay and went about in mobs. His father was then working on a farm in Battle, and was compelled to join them. Sir Godfrey Webster spoke to them from a platform at battle promising higher wages, and they got it' ""My father was a smuggler." he said, and minutley described the method of slinging the tubs of brandy from the shoulders. His father being a strong man carried a third tub, two being the ordinary load, the pay being 2/6 per tub. Their meeting place was usually Breadsell Green, and they would go off through Crowhurst, but sometimes as far as Pett : it all depended where the boat was coming in.
He told a farm labourer named Ransome living at the old wooden cottage which stands close to Park Gate, on going to his work at Great Park Farm one morning finding a lot of tubs of brandy hidden under  the straw in nthe cowsheds.
He also told the following tale: - At the Seddlescmbe Powder Works one of the buildings stood in the brook under a clump of trees, which still remain. The man  named Sargent, who was in charge of this building, was suspected of having smuggled goods there, which indeed he had, concealed under the floor. The axcise officers came and commenced a thorough search of this building, and were getting dangerously near the place of concealment, when Sargent rushed in the door eclaiming, "Look here, if you are going a blundering about tlike this we shall have an explosion, and I am off." The frightened excise men then hurriedly abandoned further search.
The above are a few of the many notes of the past he loved to tell. The last has now been told, but the respected memory of old Mr.Morgan will long live in the minds of many in Battle and neighborhood.