A nice little village
When we were searching for a house, we had looked in quite a lot of places like Steyning and that sort of area. We actually found this house quite quickly. It was one of those sorts of houses that you come along and look and say ‘I think that this is the right place’ right away. The outlook was very open with the view of the fields – it appeared to be a very nice little village – it was very close to the beach. It was also near to Brighton for shops so it was the ideal situation.
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Needed a new roof
This house, 100 Greenways, together with my three neighbours,is featured on just about every ‘old’ photograph of Ovingdean. On the deed the date 1921 is mentioned, but I think that is when the land was originally purchased but the exact date of the house is unsure. Greenways had very few houses then. These were the first four along Greenways, this land originally belonged to the ‘big house’ which is now Ovingdean Hall School. When we moved in we found lots of buckets and bowls in the loft which led us to think that there had been lots of problems with the roof and so we put a new roof on.
Originally published in ‘In Living Memory: a history of Ovingdean Village’, edited by Jennifer Drury: published in 2000 by Ovingdean Millennium Society
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As a kid in the 40s and 50s, Ovingdean was one of my favourite places to go to. I got to Ovingdean from my house in Bennett Road via East Brighton Park, over the golf course and down the hill to the farm with my favourite conker trees in the season. There were always crows that lived in the trees cawing and squabbling. Walking was an absolute pleasure, just listening to the skylarks on Beacon Hill singing on high. Visiting the little shop for sweets if you had the money. There always seemed to be a lot of calves and piglets in the farm buildings. I played in an old hollow oak tree until I got too big to get inside. Us kids would run for miles and seem to get there as quick as you like. Then home either the way we came or along the cliff top or the Undercliff Walk. I have very fond memories of Ovingdean, such a peaceful place and so nice in the summer. Good uncluttered times.
I can see the house my great grandfather (Frederick Vickery) built “Glendell” 3 Ainsworth Avenue. I think it was completed circa 1923 as there was a date in the kitchen. Frederick is buried along with his wife Kate in the churchyard. After he died in 1953 my grandparents lived there and as a child my family and I had many wonderful holidays there. So many memories – the big garden, the wall next to the deaf school, the rooks in the trees, the walks across the downs to Rottingdean and back along the undercliff walk and down Greenways. The cows going to be milked at the farm near the Old Vienna Cafe – and making a lovely mess on the road. Then there was the 7b bus stopping outside the house every 20 mins. The beach and the remains of the Volks railway. In the 1950s and 60s Ovingdean was a magical place for me. By the way my grandfather told me my father was the first person through the subway under Marine Drive by St Dunstans! Now I am on the other side of the world in Queensland Australia but still love Ovingdean.
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