Judy Middleton 2021
 |
copyright © D. Sharp |
The proper name for this group of Christian Dissenters was the Society of Dependants, but for some obscure reason they were popularly known in Sussex as ‘Cokelers’. One attractive theory for the name is that the members were very fond of drinking a nice cup of cocoa, which as they were forbidden to touch alcohol or tobacco must have seemed a luxury indeed.
William Bridges founded the Plumstead Peculiars in 1838. The word ‘Peculiar’ might cause some difficulty today because of its popular connotation with the meaning ‘odd’. But the original meaning was of something being exclusive, special, or independent and the Plumstead followers saw themselves as belonging exclusively to Christ. The original meaning of the word continues in use to this day – for example, Westminster Abbey is a Royal Peculiar, meaning it is outside the jurisdiction of the established church.
One disciple of William Bridges was John Sirgood, originally from Gloucestershire, but who moved to London. There are two delightful stories handed down about Sirgood’s decision to come to Sussex. One was that he had a dream instructing him to make such a move. The other story relates that he placed his possessions plus his wife Harriet into a handcart, and proceeded to Sussex forthwith. The latter story has a similarity with the Sussex legend of St Cuthman who also travelled in Sussex with his trusty handcart, only it was his aged mother who was aboard. But the conveyance broke down at Steyning, and there they stayed, St Cuthman’s relics later being kept in the church of St Andrew.
Sirgood arrived at Loxwood in around 1850, which then became a centre for the Cokelers, and indeed has the only graveyard especially for Cokeler folk. One can imagine the reaction of ordinary Sussex people to this austere new sect that had settled in their midst. There was suspicion, perhaps even fear, and one farmer had no qualms about setting two vicious dogs on Sirgood. It seems the dogs sensed he was harmless, and the situation ended with Sirgood stroking them.
Perhaps the word ‘austere’ does not quite convey the absolutely down-to-earth existence of the Cokelers. Their homes did not have any pictures on the walls, and neither were they allowed any flowers indoors. They wore plain, dark clothes. Apart from the Bible, no other books could be read, and they were not allowed to take part in any cultural activities, or even sport. One extreme stricture forbade the Lord’s Prayer from being used in worship because Sirgood taught that it was only intended for the original disciples of Jesus, and not by later Christians. The hymn books were hand written, as it seems the printed books were not to be trusted. This situation lasted up until 1958 when Joseph Hunt of Hove produced a book that was acceptable.
To this long and cheerless list must be added their aversion to marriage. This was a self-defeating feature because if there were no marriages then there were no children to carry on their traditions. Celibacy was valued above marriage, and in this Sirgood was following the teachings of St Paul who also believed that it was better to stay unmarried, although he did concede that it was better to marry than to burn. But then St Paul and the early disciples were expecting the Second Coming at any moment. Perhaps the Cokelers too thought they were in the ‘end days’. For those who did marry, there was always the prospect that their children would grow up and rebel against such narrow boundaries
An occasion that brought the Cokelers together was a funeral, which was a significant event. None of your half-hour slots for them – a funeral could last for hours. Wherever the Cokelers lived in Sussex, when they died, they wanted to be buried at Loxwood if possible. Thus a funeral was also a get-together for Cokelers from all over the place, and whom they might not normally see.
The chief virtue of the Cokelers was their ethic of hard work. True also to the practices of the early Christians when everything was shared between the community, the Cokelers liked to run their shops or workplaces on co-operative lines.
When Sirgood died in 1885, there
were about 2,000 Cokelers all told. But with such a significant
leader dead and buried, some of the spark and enthusiasm went out of
the Cokelers too. Furthermore, there was nobody comparable who could
carry the message outside the group.
 |
copyright © R. Nash |
The Hove chapel was on the corner
of Payne Avenue / Linton Road and was built in around 1905. It seems
the compilers of Street Directories did not know quite how to label
the chapel. It was called a Mission Hall until 1936, and then it was
called the Christians’ Meeting Room. It was still called that in
1951 but there was the added specification of ‘Dependants’
Chapel, which was of course the correct name for the Cokelers.
Today, the premises still remain, but as a private residence.
It seems likely that there was a place for Cokelers to meet at Portslade. It was described in the same way as the Hove Chapel in the Directories as a ‘Christians’ Meeting Room’ and it was situated in Norway Street, at the junction with Franklin Road, and before 40 Norway Street. It was first mentioned in the Directories in 1910, and was still there in 1925.
A prominent local Cokeler family
was the Greenfields. In 1939 it was recorded that Henry Greenfield,
called Harry (1859-1946) was living at 84 Boundary Road, and he was a
retired green grocer. Harry had been born at Wisborough Green and was
formerly a self-employed market gardener living at 125 Trafalgar
Road. Portslade.
 |
copyright © D. Sharp |
Frederick Greenfield (1898-1959) who was born at Portslade, lived at 55 Boundary Road (the business was later located at 89/101 Boundary Road) and he was the managing director of Greenfield & Sons, removals, storage and contractor. His wife Edith Greenfield, known as Bessie, (1900-1983) played her part in the family business by being a company director, and undertaking office work as well as her domestic duties.
 |
copyright © R. Bardsley |
The Cokelers were Conscientious Objectors in both world wars, and suffered for holding fast to their belief. One can imagine the patriotic hysteria in wartime, and then the opprobrium heaped on a fit young man who refused to don khaki. Naturally, the authorities could not allow such behaviour to escalate, and there were appropriate measures in place. In the case of Frederick Greenfield there were several court appearances, starting off in a modest way at the Local Appeals Tribunal at Hove and ending up with a full-blown courts-martial. These unpleasant experiences were punctuated with almost four weeks in the guard-room (having to sleep on the bare floor) plus a stint in Wormwood Scrubs. Eventually, the Central Tribunal gave him his ‘freedom’ on condition that he went to work at Aberdeen Quarry. It was not until 28 February 1918 that Greenfield was finally discharged. He continued to live at Hove until his death in 1959.
It is interesting to note that Frank Attree, who died in 1958, and Mrs Martha Attree, who died in 1955, and Olive Attree, were Cokelers. But there are five Attrees listed on the Portslade War Memorial, while Edward S. Attree has his name inscribed in the War Memorial at St Andrew’s Church, Portslade. Likewise, there was Cokeler Henry Clevett, called Jim, who died in 1938, while the name of H. G. Clevett is inscribed on Portslade War Memorial; also there was Mrs Annie Candy who died in 1952 and Kate Candy, while on Portslade War Memorial there is F. Candy’s name.
 |
copyright © J.Middleton |
Walter Hart (1853-1945) hailed from Selsey, and combined being an undertaker with business as a coal merchant. He became the leader/elder of the Hove Cokelers, and married Fanny Edwards (1877-1952) shortly after coming to this part of Sussex – it will be noted that the bride was a good deal younger than her husband. The couple moved around because in 1911 they lived at 3 Worcester Villas, Hove, then in 1939 they were to be found at 1 High Street, Portslade, and later they were at 28 Portland Road, Hove.
Many of the Cokelers came from
humble backgrounds, and there were only a tiny number who could
describe themselves of being of ‘independent means’.
 |
copyright © J.Middleton |
The following list sheds some light on their employment as recorded in the 1911 census:
Olive Attree, born in Portslade, general servant at 43 Walsingham RoadAlbert Candy, born in Wiltshire, lived at 14 Norway Street, Portslade, foreman fitter for local gas firm
Florence Martin, born in Uckfield, parlour maid at 38 Carlisle Road
James Page, lived at 66 Byron
Street, bath chair man on Hove Esplanade.
Winifred Pannell, born in
Northchapel, cook at 41 Rutland Gardens.
One tends to think that because most Cockelers toiled on the land or worked in their Combination Stores, their wages must have been meagre. Indeed, this was perhaps the case. But on the other hand, because they dressed plainly, did not drink alcohol, or otherwise fritter away their money, some of them managed to save substantial amounts of cash. It is a fascinating fact that top of the Sussex ‘Rich List’ was none other than Frederick Charles Greenfield from good old Portslade, who accumulated the astonishing sum of £87,043-6s-10d, leaving it to Alfred Greenfield, fruiterer; even Albert George Candy of 14 Norway Street had managed to save over £600 by the time he died in 1927. Then there was George Luff with his business at 12 Boundary Road, Hove, who left over £3,062 when he died in 1948.
Sources
Census Returns
Encyclopaedia of Hove and
Portslade
Nash,
R. Dependant
Brethren of Sussex and Surrey (2021)
Street Directories
Information about the Hove and
Portslade Cokelers kindly supplied by R. Nash
Copyright © J.Middleton 2020
page layout by D.Sharp