| Colin Godmans Farm Sheffield Forest Fletching |
 Photograph of Colin Godman in 1925 |
| The Smuggler's House - Colin Godman Here is a small square house constructed of ancient stonework that commands a fine position overlooking a valley of pasture-land in the vicinity of Sheffield Forest. From its windows, on a clear day, it is possible to distinguish many details on the distant range of Downs that lie between Clayton and Lewes, and I have often thought that a beacon-fire on those hills may have acted as a signal to those who dwelt within this house in the Middle Ages. The name of the place is Colin Godman, but so far I have met no one who could give any authentic explanation of it. I have successfully traced a bare outline of its story from the reign of Henry VII until comparatively modern times ; but for any earlier information we must still be guided by. local hearsay. Those few neighbours, mostly cottagers, who have lived near by for a considerable number of years, relate a tradition that long, long ago the place belonged to a man called Colin Godman and that, with the conservative spirit of Sussex, the same name has clung to the place ever since. This personage, having a Christian name usually connected with those who reside in the North of England, and possessing a surname that is represented by a very well known old Sussex family, seems to be a will o' the wisp that is indeed .difficult to locate. That he was not related to any of the Sussex Godmans seems apparent ; for if so, they would possess some record about him. The country-folk also aver that this place was formerly connected with some Spanish monastic order and that at one time it was used as a smuggler's hidingplace, where sacks of wool for export to distant countries lay concealed in the large cellars beneath the house. |
Books and other documents | |
| Published | Title, author and references |
| 1925 | Some of the Smaller Manor Houses of Sussex by Viscountess Wolseley ⇒ p. 162 |
| Historical records | |||||
| 1550 | History | Colin Godmans Farm | Wolseley's Manor Houses | ||
| However, in John Boyer or Bowyer, who died possesed of lands called "Collen Godmans", Legswode and Mallsland in Fletching, and of Deneland in Horsted Keynes, and a fulling-mill and lands called Motkyns Kechyn in Rotherfield and Hartdfield, we have a real personality to deal with. ......... He leaves to Dennis, his wife, 100 marks sterling, as well as his new house in Hartfylde Street ........... His wife Dennis and his eldest son William are appointed executors, and apparently the latter was the heir to Colin Godman and the other lands. | |||||
| 1597 | Freeholder | Richard Awcock, of Chelworth | Coldgodmans | Buckhurst Terrier | |
| Richard Awcock of Chelworth holds by deed tenement and land called Coldgodmans, 80 acres Rent 12s. 1d., 2 hens, 10 eggs, and two days' work in Harvest. | |||||
| 1597 | Freeholder | Richard Michelborne | Collin Godmans | Buckhurst Terrier | |
| Richard Michelborne, gent, in the right of his wife, holds by deed tenement and land called Collin Godmans, 30 acres Rent 7s., 1 hen, 5 eggs, and one day's work in Harvest. | |||||
| 1607 | History | Colin Godmans Farm | Wolseley's Manor Houses | ||
| In 1607, Richard Michelbourne of Broadhurst ….. Left "Colin Godmans" and other lands in Fletching to his third son John | |||||
| 1617 | History | Colin Godmans Farm | Wolseley's Manor Houses | ||
| Colin Godman is passed to John Bannaster | |||||
| 1621 | History | Colin Godmans Farm | Wolseley's Manor Houses | ||
| We find it as "Colegodmans" when Thomas Awcock dies in 1621 | |||||
| 1702 | History | Colin Godmans Farm | Wolseley's Manor Houses | ||
| The family of Bannister is again connected with it [Colin Godman] in the Court Rolls of Sheffield Park in 1702. …..Within its pages are recorded from 1702 onwards, the changes that took place, and how after the death of James Bannister, the acres and house of Colin Godman passed apparently to his daughter Elizabeth and her husband, Peak Elphick, she being a customary-tenant | |||||
| 1717 | History | Colin Godmans Farm | Wolseley's Manor Houses | ||
| Elizabeth's surrender of it [Colin Godman] took place apparently at her death in 1717, when all the land was taken over by Anthony Trumble, "the gent steward of the Manor of Sheffield". | |||||
| 1737 | History | Colin Godmans Farm | Wolseley's Manor Houses | ||
| John Awcock, who dying on 1737, is reported to have held "Colegodman" freely of the lady of the manor, then, presumably, Ann Lady Bergavenny. | |||||
| 1756 | History | Colin Godmans Farm | Wolseley's Manor Houses | ||
| On the death of Peak Elphick in 1756, Colin Godman passed to Thomas Geer | |||||
| 1776 | History | Colin Godmans Farm | Wolseley's Manor Houses | ||
| Thomas Geer resigned it [Colin Godman] in 1776 to John Baker Holroyd | |||||
| 6th Jun 1841 | Census | Richard Smyth, M, Head, age 65 to 69, born Sussex; occupation: farmer | Richard Smyth, farmer | Collingodmans | 1841 Census Fletching, Sussex |
| Sarah Smyth, F, [Wife], age 50 to 54, born Sussex | Sarah Smyth | ||||
| Alfred Smyth, M, [Son], age 20 to 24, born Sussex | Alfred Smyth | ||||
| Herbit Clarke, M, age 15 to 19, born Sussex, occupation: servant | Herbit Clarke | ||||
| Anne Slacks, F, age 15 to 19, born Sussex; occupation Servant | Anne Slacks | ||||
| 30th Mar 1851 | Census | Head; occupation: farm labourer | Solomon Stapley, farm labourer | Collingodmans | 1851 Census Fletching, Sussex |
| Wife | Caroline Stapley | ||||
| Son; occupation: farm labourer | William Stapley | ||||
| Son; occupation: farm labourer | John Stapley | ||||
| Son | James Stapley | ||||
| Daughter; occupation: scholar | Elisabeth Stapley | ||||
| Daughter; occupation: scholar | Emily Stapley | ||||
| Son; occupation: scholar | Samuel Stapley | ||||
| Son | Joseph Stapley | ||||
| 1874 | Directory entry | Osborn John George, farmer, Colin Godman's farm | Colin Godman's farm | Post Office Directory | |
| c 1875 |  | Part of the 6 inch to 1 mile map of Sussex produced in 1875 by Ordnance Survey | Colin Godmans | ||
| 3rd Apr 1881 | Census | Henry Martin, M, Head, married, age 54, born Fletching; occupation: farmer | Henry Martin, farmer | Colinford Farm | 1881 Census Fletching, Sussex |
| Mary Martin, F, Wife, married, age 56, born Fletching | Mary Martin | ||||
| Benjamin Martin, M, Grd Son, age 2, born Fletching | Benjamin Martin | ||||
| 3rd Apr 1881 | Census | John G. Osborne, M, Head, married, age 44, born Maresfield, employs 2 men and 1 boy; occupation Farmer | John George Osborne | Colin Godmans Farm | 1881 Census Fletching, Sussex |
| Mary A. Osborne, F, Wife, married, age 43, born Chailey | Mary A. Osborne [Smith] | ||||
| William T. Osborne, M, Son, single, age 14, born Chailey | William T. Osborne | ||||
| Charlotte F. Osborne, F, Daughter, single, age 11, born Chailey; occupation Scholar | Charlotte F. Osborne | ||||
| Harry F. Osborne, M, Son, single, age 4, born Chailey; occupation Scholar | Harry F. Osborne | ||||
| Mary Smith, F, Mother In Law, widowed, age 76, born Brenchly; occupation: annuitant | Mary Smith | ||||
| Thomas C. Hoadley, M, Servant, single, age 16, born Ticehurst; occupation: farm servant | Thomas C. Hoadley | ||||
| 1882 | Directory entry | Osborn John George, farmer, Colin Godman's farm | Colin Godman's farm | Kelly's Directory | |
| 1910 |  | Colin Godmans photographed by F. W. Spry, Littlehampton | Private collection | ||
| 1925 | History | Colin Godmans Farm | Wolseley's Manor Houses | ||
| Doctor Thomas Martindale the present [1925] of this interesting house | |||||
| 1925 |  | Colin Godman, Ashdown Forest | Wolseley's Manor Houses | ||
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