Society History

In the Spring of 1973, it was rumoured that The Pigeon House, High Street Angmering, was likely to be sold, and perhaps its various buildings sold in separate lots. The Pigeon House was probably the oldest dwelling in Angmering (14th Century) and was of considerable architectural and historic interest as a medieval Sussex yeoman's house.

At the instigation of Mr J L Kessler, Lieut. Cdr. A C Pinsent RN (Rtd), Mr E Holmes and Mr T Kay, a few residents met during April/May 1973 to consider what action could be taken regarding the Pigeon House and whether there was a need to form a society to "preserve the history of the village, improve the present and guard the future".

The formation of a society was agreed and a public meeting called on 31 May 1973 to seek ratification and adoption of a constitution. Thus The Angmering Society was born.

The meeting agreed a constitution which established the Society for the benefit of the village and parish of Angmering. The current constitutional objectives of the Society are:

• To advance the education of the public in the heritage of the area of benefit (i.e. the Parish of Angmering).

• To secure the preservation, protection, development and improvement of features of historic or public interest and of natural environment in the area of benefit.

• To promote the benefit of the inhabitants of the area of benefit by associating together local authorities, voluntary and community bodies and said inhabitants in common effort to advance education and provide faciltities for recreation and other leisure time occupation with the object of improving the condition of life of said inhabitants.

Since its formation, the Society has been involved in well over one hundred projects and initiatives ranging across all of its constitutional objectives. It has a strong membership in excess of 600 people.

Day-to-day affairs of the Society are managed by an Executive Committee which is elected by the membership on an annual basis each October.