Emma Jane Catherine Cobden.
1851-1947.
 
Little has been written about Jane Cobden when a child.
Daughter of Richard Cobden, Jane was born in 1851 at Dunford in the grand house as we see it today. She took a great interest in her father's work and must have been devoted to him as she has done much to keep his memory alive. Jane took an active part in local affairs, and sat on the Parish Council during the first war. Jane was also the first woman to sit on the Council at Midhurst and take part in County Council work.
 
Jane Cobden married Mr. T. Fisher Unwin in 1892. He was a publisher and they lived at 2 Adelphi Terrace London, just 2 doors away from his office at No.1. but went to 'Oatscroft' for the weekends. Jane was 41 when she married and did not have children. As time went by they spent more and more time at Oatscroft, not a quarter of a mile from Dunford. Oatscroft is next door to Walkers farm.
 
Jane Cobden Unwin, as she liked to be known, held many conferences at Oatscroft, she founded the Cobden Club at Heyshott and took a keen interest in village life.
 
When her father died, Jane obviously gave much thought to his memorial. She raised money by putting on a play at a London theatre and bought the farm called 'Peachey's' which became the 'Cobden Club' and is now 'La Fontaine'. She also owned other properties which supplemented the continuing rememberence of Cobden in the village. Mrs Jane Fisher Unwin bought the Black Horse Cottages as an investment which eventually became the property of the trustees of the Cobden Club.
 
I am sure that her husband had some influence in getting her to edit a book called 'The Hungry Forties', published 1917, which includes interviews with working class people of Heyshott and others throughout the country. Among those interviewed were Mr. David Miles, Mr. Wm. Tiller, Mr Charles Astridge, Mr. Thomas Wrapson, Mr. George Pollard, Mr, John Goff and Mr. & Mrs. Jenner and one or two of these interviews which are of particular interest will be recorded later.
 
I will at this point say a few words on Jane's husband, a prominent publisher who was born in 1848 and became Governor of the London School of Ecomonics, a Governor and Trustee of Dunford House [Cobden Memorial], and a member of the committee and treasurer of the Cobden Club.
He travelled extensively abroad and enjoyed mountain climbing; he was a member of the Alpine Club and had climbed the Matterhorn. Mr. T. Fisher Unwin must have lived a very full life.
 
He died on 6th February 1935 aged 87. His ashes were buried in the woods close to Dundford and Oatscroft. Mrs. Jane Fisher Unwin lived until 1947 and her ashes were buried with those of her husband in the beautiful wooded grounds.
There is a granite stone 5' x 2' x 2' marking the grave, with inscriptions in lead lettering.
On the same stone is an inscription to Jane's sister, Ellen Millicent Cobden, died 4th, September 1914, daughter of Richard Cobden, authoress of 'Wistons' and 'Sylvim Saxon'.