The third Dewpond at Chanctonbury was also built c.1871
NGR TQ 1410 1215
I have at last found it thanks to Christine Keyes pointing me to the
following which appeared in the 1930's
This picture was in an article from the1930's, showing the lower dewpond to be surrounded
by trees.
The caption is 'disintegrated and almost dry' in the article -
'a rare instance
of a dewpond situated on the lower slopes of the Downs.and walled in by dense
woodland growth.'
It appears that it was in the 'hanger', the woods 'hanging'
onto the northern scarp of the downs.
A letter which I am trying to trace, dated 23rd April 1936 it is reported as 'overgrown'
Found
I took the following photos on 28th October, when the undergrowth had died
down, the site is right by the track used by many people on their way up to the
Ring from the north, unaware of the presence of this remnant from our
agricultural past.
The site is unusual, being at the foot of the scarp slope,
on a small plateau on a low ridge jutting out from the scarp.
This would account for the difficulty in finding the site, I had expected to
find it nearer or on the top of the scarp.
As it happens the dewpond was shown on the 1879 1:10560 County Series and the
first series 2½" based on 1909-39 6" sheets, it was just a case of
knowing where to look.
Being so overgrown it is difficult to get a photograph
to show the location to justice.
The
bowl of the dried up pond in the Autumn when the undergrowth has died down.
The circular bare patch indicating the former puddled base.
The
Bank to the north (downhill) side the overgrown centre to the right, looking
South..
This is the area that appear on the right of the 1930's picture above.
View
to the North from the South, the track up to the Ring is off to the left.
The farm track that goes around the foot of the hill is in the foreground.
