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1960s

A place for trysts

By Peter Allison

Back in the sixties the young would meet for their date on the corner by Electricity House; it was also a gathering place late in the evening for motor enthusiasts with their hotted up cars. They would sit and talk about cars and girls for hours, no yellow lines in those days. Late in the evening they would go off on a drive or across the road to the Continental Coffee Bar opposite in North Street for refreshment.

Electricity House c1967

Photo by Peter Allison

This page was added on 22/03/2006.

Comments:

I used to work at Seeboard when I first left school in 1967 and yes I can remember returning there in the evening to meet a date along with lots of other young people. If we looked out of the window we could sometimes see a wedding coming out of the registrar's office across the Steine. Those were the days when if someone in the office was getting married we would all go across the road to the pub at lunchtime and yes have a drink or drinks and tehn return to work.

By Shirley Bilyeu (02/11/2004)

I used to enjoy a coffee in the Cafe Continental during the mid 1950s. I used to work at 20th Century Banking Corporation, just beyond the Clock Tower.� I�would sometimes return to North Street to enjoy an hour or two with friends drinking the delicious espresso.

By Gloria Groeger (07/10/2006)

In the early sixties on a Saturday night we would gather at Electricity House at the bottom of North Street with our cars for a night of racing around. At about 8pm there would be a race to the roundabout in Crawley and back to Brighton. The first bit just outside Pycombe was a bit hairy. The idea was to take Windy Corner at over the magic ton. I was usually a passenger in a mini belonging to my mate at that time Bob Coe. There was a pig farmer, Teddy who had a Ford GT Mk1 Cortina, then after that a Lotus Cortina. Allan Muzzard, a hairdresser, had a Red Mk 1 GT Cortina. There was a lad called Roger who had a Riley 1.5, whose parents owned a garage in Lewes Road. In the winter the road from Palace Pier to Peter Pan's was used for handbrake turns on the ice, sometimes ending up with bent track rods. We are all getting on a bit now, but the memories have remained.

By Mick Peirson (20/11/2006)

Yes, that was the place where we would arrange to meet a date, it would have been nice if, sometimes they would turn up.

By Tony Clevett (07/09/2007)

Does anybody remember the banjo player John Winch who used to play in Brighton in the late 1960's. He used to play many of the pubs, including what is now Hector's House. I believe it was called something like The Norfolk back then but am not totally sure. I'd like to hear from anyone who was around in those days. There was a gospel & blues club started by John at the Heart & Hand in those days too. Does anybody remember that?

By Sally (26/01/2008)

Oh my goodness! Yes - Jonny Winch and Rod Machlin -they were fantastic. We used to go ice skating in the afternoon and onto the dive for a night of music - Jonny and Rod were our favourites - and I do believe that I had some photos some where - but sadly very poor quality.

By Ann Owens (08/02/2008)

We girls used to arrange to meet blind dates at the "Electricity House" and wait at Lyons Corner across the road. If we didn't like the look of the poor boy we never used to cross over! Seems mean now.

By Laine (17/08/2008)

Ann Owens - I have only just read your reply, sorry. John Winch is my birth father. He is still playing, in Hastings�and Germany. He's still brilliant�and did a gig in Lewes a few years back, making the whole room light up. If you would like to contact me direct let me know on here. Thanks for replying�and I'd love to hear your stories of those days.

By Sally (04/09/2008)