I did hear a story that the window cleaner was claening the windows of the pub when it was bombed.

Dear Jennifer, I have a photo of the pub taken after the bombing showing the very extensive damage and the ARP team searching through the wreckage. The photo would fit very nicely between the two, and would help to document the history, if you could insert it? Let me know if you want it and I'll scan and email it to you?

My uncle Jim Frew was killed in the bombing raid. He was home on leave from the army and he was due to go back to barracks the next day. The barmaid said later that he had just ordered his drink when the bomb dropped. The beam from the ceiling came down and caught him on the side of his head. My Aunt and Grandparents lived in Hastings Road, and were on the scene before the dust had settled. He not only left a widow he had an 18 month old daughter as well. My parents told me it was a plane which was being chased back over the channel by the R.A.F. and he just dropped his payload in order to get away faster. My parents had to go and identify him in the mortuary which at that time was in Hodshrove Road, they said he had no mark on him except for were the beam had hit him.

Thanks Jennifer, it looks very good and completes the story! If anyone has any doubt about the 3 photos please look at the chimney behind on the old photo, which can still be seen in the WWII photo and the new photo, although from slightly different angles. It also looks like the coal merchant Stokes & Son building was demolished to make way for the new "bigger" pub!

Thank you Peter for the photo of the Lewes Road In., It is fascinating after having heard about the bombing from my grandfather William and mother, Sheila Johnson, to actually see a photograph of the damage. My family had lived in Caledonian Road for many generation and on the day of the bombing my mother as a child had been told to go indoors as a German plane had been seen circling above. She tells me that the next thing she heard was a rushing noise and everything went black, closely followed by dirt and dust flying everywhere as a bombs landed on the top of Caledonian Road, as well as the Lewes Road Inn. Two of my mother's friends, Barry Leach and Doris Farmer had to be dug out from rubble in the street and although not suffering any serious injury later gained great status amongst their friends. She also tells me that her mother rushed her into the next door neighbours' house with an apron over her head once it had become apparent what had happened. My poor grandfather, who was on his way home from work for his dinner, was told by, I believe the ARP/Police, that Caledonian Road had been raised to the ground and stopped from going home. I can only imagine how traumatised he must have been upon hearing this. Somehow or other he managed to get back to the house, evading any roadblocks, and to his immense relief found all in our house were safe, even though he became quite overcome with emotion and spent days locked in the bedroom, going grey almost overnight. Although a number of people died in this raid, I was also told that the front wall of the pub remained standing, complete with curtains, despite the large amount of damage to the rest of the building. Our back garden apparently took a lot of clearing to remove all of the rubble and debris that arrived as a result. I hope readers may find this information of interest. Regards

Thanks for your story Chris, its really great when bits of the jig-saw fall into place and we get an overall story. I have had the photo for about the last 20 years, and was aware of the general story. Just by chance when Jennifer and Councillor Geoffrey Wells put the 1900s and current photos, plus story together, my bombing photo fitted perfectly in-between theirs. Now you have filled in more gaps, with an almost first-hand account, which is great for our local history. It's worth also looking at the 1946 bombing map on this site; look under maps on the left hand side. You will see, if you zoom in, it shows the bomb on the pub and the other one you mention, which is shown as landing in-between St Mary Madgalene St and Caledonian Road. Thanks again for the story of that dreadful day!

I was crossing the playground at Coombe Rd. school when I saw the German bomber which released the bombs, one of which destroyed the Lewes Rd. Inn. I reported it to the teacher, but was told to sit down and not to be so silly, whereupon there were two big bangs and the air-raid siren went off. My mother and aunt were returning from the market and were almost at the pub when the bombs landed. Fortunately they only lost all the eggs they had managed to get hold of when they hit the deck! The bomber, a Heinkel 111, seemed to be just stooging around and was probably having a go at the railway viaduct which once served Kemptown Station. By the way, can anyone remember a german bomber being chased by one of our fighters at very low level down Milner road as we were leaving school at lunch time? I was slung into the shelter of a wall by an Allen West worker, but I was having none of that and quickly managed to watch the planes swoop over the barracks and climb over Ditchling Rd. hill. My grandad, who was in the back garden at 112 Milner Rd., threw his rose sprayer at the bomber! I found it in the road when I eventually got home and at first thought it was something dropped from the planes!