Bexhill, East Sussex.
Max Faulkner.
"Clown Prince of Golf".

Max Faulkner was a professional golfer who was born in Bexhill on 29th July 1916. He won the Open Championship in 1951 and a total of 18 tournaments in UK and Europe during his career. On five occasions he played in the Ryder Cup. Max Faulkner was renowned for his colourful dress sense as well as a free and easy style of play which earned him the title “Clown Prince of Golf”. He was awarded an OBE in 2001 and died, aged 88 years, in 2005. This large metal plaque was erected by Rother District Council in 1999 adjacent to the then crazy golf course. Both the plaque and crazy golf were removed during the changes to the promenade along West Parade in 2010-11.

With the help of Bexhill Heritage the plaque was re-erected on the corner of Sutton Place and De La Warr Parade on 16th June 2019. This site is appropriate as the large expanse of grassland leading from here up Galley Hill is the remains of Bexhill’s first golf course opened in 1880.

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St Peter, Bexhill, East Sussex.
Grade ll* listed.
Window by Heaton, Butler & Bayne, c1918.
Detail - Signature.

To the Glory of God and in memory of James Russell for 19 years Churchwarden of this Church, 1898-1917.

Clement Heaton (1824-1882).
James Butler (1830-1913).
Robert Turnill Bayne (1837-1915).

Clement Heaton, the son of a Methodist minister in Bradford on Avon, Wiltshire, was in 1851 a glass painter for William Holland of Warwick. He was in London by 1853 and briefly in business alone before going into partnership with James Butler in 1855. Around 1860 the two briefly shared premises with Clayton and Bell, an association of lasting importance, as the third member of the firm, Robert Turnill Bayne, who was also from Warwick and became chief designer in 1862, was an employee of theirs. Heaton pioneered the use of softer colours, but Bayne’s advent brought the firm to widespread attention. Most of their earlier glass was gothic in style, but the firm adapted to later influences, notably that of Dante Gabriel Rossetti. The firm was used widely by Sir Arthur Blomfield, but in later years less of its output was glass for churches. Heaton’s son Clement John joined for a short time, but fell out with his partners. The firm continued until 1953 under descendants of other partners, after which most of its archives were destroyed for lack of interest.
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St Mary Magdalene (RC), Bexhill, East Sussex, 1907.
By Arthur Young (1853-1924).
Grade ll listed.
First World War Memorial.

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St Peter, Bexhill, East Sussex.
Grade ll* listed.

Memorial Window to George Henry Wathen & Henry Winckworth Simpson.
By Clayton & Bell, c1881-83.
Detail - St James.

Clayton & Bell (1855-1993).
The company was founded in London by John Richard Clayton (1827-1913) and Alfred Bell (1832-1895). Within a few years the firm occupied a leading place in stained glass design and manufacture. They were one of the most prolific and proficient workshops of English stained glass during the latter half of the 19th century.

By the 1860s they were established in large premises in Regent Street with 300 employees. During the 1860s and 1870s night shifts were worked in order to fulfil commissions. The company was also producing decorative schemes and murals for churches.

In the 1880s the two founders withdrew from active participation. The firm continued under Alfred Bell’s son, John Clement Bell (1860-1944), then under Reginald Otto Bell (1884-1950) and lastly Michael Farrar-Bell (1911-1993) until his death.

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St Peter, Bexhill, East Sussex.
Grade ll* listed.
Window by Lawrence & Co.

In ever loving memory of Leslie Ruse 1897-1976. Organist, and of Dora his wife 1903-1994. singer in the choir of God's church.

Meg Lawrence was born in Kent. She has produced glass in her own name and also as Lawrence & Co at studios in Radnorshire and Herefordshire.

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