Introducing Portslade

Station Road, Portslade, 1907
From the private collection of Bob Carden
A photograph of Portslade Old Village
From a private collection

Portslade is the district furthest west in the city conurbation. It lies along the West Sussex border at Southwick, and consists of a number of separate communities, including Mile Oak.

The village Manor House
Portslade village lies in a Downland valley. The village street runs east-west across the hollow, and the flint housing runs downhill from the church and manor. The present manor house has some twelfth-century ruins in the gap between it and the church. There are also the ruins of a nineteenth-century folly, believed to be built from the rubble of the original.

A classic landscape
Like many areas of the Downland, Portslade village was dominated by major landowners. It was classic ‘sheep-corn husbandry’ landscape, with market gardens in the valley benefiting from proximity to the rapidly growing town of Brighton.
Portslade is relatively off the beaten track. Many people first seeing it are surprised at the wealth of trees and park space, and the range of flint and timbered buildings. Indeed in the early twentieth century, this leafy suburb drew incomers to build some fine villas in the area. The collapse of land values slightly later in the twentieth century meant that the immediate surroundings of the village were swamped with some decidedly unsympathetic buildings.

Growth and industry c.1850-1960
The southern part of the area, Portslade-on-Sea, was known as Copperas Gap until the mid-nineteenth century. It was a tidal creekside community of coal and timber wharves, with some brickfields further inland, mixed in with cornfields and orchards. The construction of the Southwick lock gates led to an increase in the canal-side industry. There was a gas works by 1870, an electicity works by 1906, a steam flour mill soon after, and petrol storage tanks in the 1930s. All this industry created a low-value working class district. Much of this district was cleared in the 1960s.

Decline and regeneration
In the period either side of the First World War, several streets of middle class housing were built on the worked-out brickfields. A busy district, this has some of the cheapest housing in the city. As activity in the port has declined, a range of schemes have been put forward to regenerate the area, but there has been little progress so far.

Comments about this page

  • Reference to Dave Barcock: I think I played football with you for Courthope and I do remember the name Abbott. The coach was a little older than us and played goal. I think at one time he was associated with B&H Albion FC. I have an old photo of the team and you are next to me in the front row. I moved to Canada in 1969 and have sadly only been back once.

    By Charles Bodle (06/07/2006)
  • Reference the hairdressers on the corner of Shelldale Avenue – I cannot remember who had it at the time but at about 7pm on the 8th October 1940 the Henkiel 111 bombers swept in from the east around 800 ft and opened up with all machine guns blazing away. It was getting dark and the sight of the tracer bullets sent everyone diving for cover – one bullet went through from the window of this hairdressers and drilled a neat hole in the big mirror on the wall. The three planes went on to drop around 40 bombs at the top of Kingston Lane detroying some cottages and killing several people. I believe the mirror stayed on the wall for several years with the hole in it.

    By E. Masters (07/07/2006)
  • In reply to Charles Bodle with reference to the ‘Courthope Centre’: Yes, Charles, I remember you well! The coach of the football team was indeed an ex-professional goalkeeper with Brighton and Hove Albion; his name was/is Roy Marshall. Phil Abbott used to play in the side with us. Wally Thompson was the centre warden. I cannot remember whether or not you were still with the team when we entered the Sussex Sunday league as Portslade United, our first venture into ‘Big-Football’. Those were the days! It is nice to hear from someone remembering the times at the Centre. I would be very interested in seeing the photo that you have. Best wishes to you and all.

    By Dave Barcock (10/07/2006)
  • Hi Dave Barcock! Good to hear from you, if you post you email address I will send you a copy of the photo. Phil Abbott is in the picture as are several others whose names I know I would recognise. We had a lot of fun as a team, and yes you are right it was Roy Marshall who coached us, and he is also in the photo.

    By Charles Bodle (10/07/2006)
  • I’ve just found this site. Pat Maynard was asking about the gun up by the shops at Mill Lane. Well my father was in the army during the War and was assigned to the gun you mentioned. I remember him telling me that it was fired in anger more than once. He came from Chatham in Kent and met my mother up there. They married in 1944 and stayed here all their life; first living in Deacons Drive (where I was born) and in 1948 they moved to Easthill Way. I bought their house and still live in it today.

    By Brian Higgins (02/08/2006)
  • It was nice to hear from Brian Higgins regarding the gun opposite the shops. My late husband used to live at 33 Deacons Drive. I used to play in the fields that the Easthill Estate was built on. Seem to remember that when the hay was cut they used to have men with air rifles shooting the rabbits as they escaped. My dad had an allotment at the top of Deacons Drive where the pub is now. Once that pub was built I was sent up to the off-licence to buy a bottle of pale ale and lemonade to make a shandy which was a special Sunday treat. No wine in those days – only my mother’s home-made elderberry flower!

    By Pat Maynard (05/08/2006)
  • I lived for over three years on Wickhurst Rise as a student at the Comprehensive School, then returned with family to America. Would enjoy hearing about what students Wendy Burton (Valley Road), Roland Sinden, Nicky Tew, and other friends and faculty etc are now doing. Reply to gstearns@shentel.net

    By Gordon Stearns (06/08/2006)
  • What a wonderful site. I lived in Dorothy Road, Hove (opposite the Maytree pub) but had many friends in Portslade. I noticed that Roger Holden wrote a message on 27-08-2005, and wondered if he is the Roger Holden who went to the Hove County Grammar School with me?

    By David (Dave) Hunter (07/08/2006)
  • In response to Pat Maynard, I am pretty sure my mum (Gwen Alderton) used to talk about a Freddy Maynard. She lived in Deacons Drive during and just after the Second World War. Is this the same Freddy Maynard? If so does he remember the Aldertons?

    By Tony Alderton (11/08/2006)
  • My father and his cousin were always talking about the ‘caves’ up on the Downs. From what they said it seemed these were a series of tunnels cut in the chalk somewhere above Portslade. Does anyone else remember these, what they really were, and where they were? Thanks.

    By Tony Alderton (11/08/2006)
  • Replying to Pat Maynard’s posting – I also remember the allotments where the Mill House is now. When the pub was being built we used to play in the cellars. My mother worked in the pub as a cleaner when it first opened for many years. The first people to have it were named Morris and Billie Harris and they stayed friends with our family for many many years after they left the pub. The fields you talked about were above our house in Easthill Way and one had a horse in it and for some reason it would keep rolling under the fence and come to stand outside our front door. My mother would have to coax him back with apples. Many a time people would knock on our door telling us our horse was out somewhere. Reading through the many comments on this page, it brings back many things that I had forgotten. Thanks to the originator of this site. Keep up the good work.

    By Brian Higgins (15/08/2006)
  • I used to live in East Street Portslade, until we were all moved to Valley Road, Old Village, to the coucil houses. I went to St Peter’s, Benfield and Mile Oak Girls’ School. Our family all went to the Baptist church in North Street. I remember the blind man’s lolly shop, the boot shop, the cake shop on the corner. There was also a bike shop where we used hire bikes and go out to the woods picking daffodils and primroses. I used to go walking with my grandmother Browning over the top of the Downs to Devil’s Dyke, then catch the bus home. At the bottom of our street was a pub, and on the other corner was a second hand shop. Silverstone’s fish shop was a big shop and in North Street. I worked the hardware shop in Boundary Road; the manager was Mr Richard Hudsons. After I married, I came to live in Australia. I now live on a small farm which is in the central Table Lands. I like reading all the other entries in this site.

    By Patricia Finneran (nee Morley) (17/08/2006)
  • There were some caves on the Downs behind Portslade. From the Mile Oak water works there was a path running due west up Mile Oak bottom well to the left of the old rifle range. It eventually went up the side of the hill passing the old range butts lower down the valley. At the top of the hill you are all but over the top of the A27 tunnel on Southwick Hill. In 1930 I was 8 years old and belonged to the Cubs which met in the old parish rooms – now demolished – and a car showroom at the bottom of St Andrew’s Rd. We were camping out at Mile Oak bottom – best place to obtain water from the water works. We got a bit bored and set off to explore these caves. Some of the older boys went right through them. I walked over Southwick Hill several years ago and they were on the right of the pathway up from Upper Kingston Lane over the hill. Whether the tunnel had an adverse affect on them I do not know.

    By Eric Masters (17/08/2006)
  • Comment has been made about various shops in North St Portslade. Mention was made of Silverthorne’s fish and chip shop. At one time Lower Portslade could boast about four good fish and chip shops. As well as Silverthorne’s, there was Cave’s in North St, Ford’s in Station Rd and one I cannot remember the name of in Church Rd. Back before 1929 there was a little fish and chip shop at the bottom of North Street next to the old Pavilion picture house run by a man named Peters. Sadly this was all demolished circa 1930 when the new Pavilion was built. I knew them all as when they were open we used to trek between them all asking for the crackling. How many of you can remember the story of Joey Bedford who kept a junk shop on the corner of Clarence St? His shop had a bit of a reputation for being a place where us youngsters did not loiter around but passed it by very quickly or even crossed the road to avoid it. Very few people ever saw Joey; nobody seemed to like going in the shop as if it was haunted or something. One night he met a very sticky end – murdered in his shop. Two local men were soon picked up for it, stood trial, found guilty and sentenced to be hung. Now one of these men was very young and had started life in the East Street area and got in with bad company. Efforts were made to commute the sentence to imprisonment but it all fell on deaf ears and he was hung. Yes the law was tough in those days.

    By Eric Masters (17/08/2006)
  • My grandparents, the Heasmans, were from Brighton, (Queen’s Gardens as one example) and I spent most of my childhood school holidays with them. I now live in Spain but in 1965 my wife and I lived in 27 Old Shoreham Road, Portslade; a tied property belonging to Tates garage for whom I worked as a partsman . The house was very strange in many ways, ie things happened which were unexplainable forcing us eventually to move out. Your Portslade page is a mine of good information and well presented. Many years I know have passed but I wondered if anyone who uses your site had any information about the history of that house? I was given to understand that at one time there was a garden nursery behind it, which should place the exact position of the house.

    By Mike Glazier (20/08/2006)
  • In answer to Mike Glazier – I remember a nursery being in Old Shoreham Road up until the 60s, but this was pretty much opposite Victoria Park near the old laundry. However, Speedy Spares is currently number 25 Old Shoreham Road (there is no 27) which would put the house you are talking about near the twitten that runs down past the allotments. Can you remember exactly where the house was? Also I think all readers are now intrigued about the ‘mysterious goings on’ – what exactly happened?

    By Tony Alderton (25/08/2006)
  • Regarding Tony Alderton – unfortunately my husband, Freddy, died in 1984 but I remember the name Gwen Alderton (I used to live in Fairway Crescent). You also mention ‘twitten’- is this Sussex terminology? People in Berkshire have never heard of it. Also I don’t think stoolball is known outside the Sussex and surrounding area – is this basically a Sussex game? My friend, Barbara Hughes, and I joined a local church near the Portslade rec so that we could play in their stoolball team – we were never seen again during the winter months!

    By Pat Maynard (27/08/2006)
  • I have a photograph taken of the front of the house and it definitely was number 27, a semi-detached building. With regards to the nursery, that was information I had been given at the time. What happened? Well, I worked as a partsman at Tates and I have a photo of that also. Previous to that I had been working at Wadham Stringer’s of Ship Street, Brighton and had been living with an aunt by the name of Doris Peters in Queen’s Gardens which, to be honest, was not very satisfactory. 27 Old Shoreham Road was only a few hundred yards from the garage and each day I would walk to the house for lunch at around 1pm. On two separate occassions my wife had asked me why I had returned home earlier than normal saying that, from the kitchen, she had heard the front door open and close then ‘I’ went upstairs, walked into one of the bedrooms and came down again, leaving without saying a word. We actually did have a couple of arguments about this because she thought I was lying to her! One evening, as I was crouched in front of the fire in the back living room, and my wife in the kitchen, we both clearly heard a young child on the staircase calling “Mummy” but there was no child on the staircase depite the fact we had both heard the same thing coming from the same place. In the early hours of the morning a ball would often be heard ‘bouncing’ down the stairs but again there was no ball to be found. We did have a small child, our son, sleeping in a cot in the back bedroom and he was then about 2 years old. On the night we both heard the child on the staircase, Robert, who unfortunately died at the age of 26 from diabetes, was found (because of course I had checked) to be fast asleep. He was, and we can both clearly remember this, one day standing at the foot of the staircase looking up, pointing and saying quite simply the word ‘man’. I rushed upstairs immediately to investigate but, as was only to be expected, there was nobody there. One day I returned home for lunch to find my wife in a state of shock. She said that whilst making our bed something pulled on the back of her cardigan, this may well have been a ‘snag’ or something catching as she bent over but nevertheless she refused to go upstairs again alone even for a visit to the bathroom. One night whilst in bed we both heard a faint but rapid tapping sound coming from the small bedroom fireplace. Upon making an investigation I found woodlice in great numbers falling down the chimney and onto the paper laid in the fire grate. By now we had both had enough and decided to move both our bed and Robert’s cot down into the back living room which incidentally had the fire and back boiler. We had only been in our beds for a few minutes when extremely loud, rapid and violent sounding banging noises came from the bedroom upstairs lasting for quite a long time. They were so loud that I can remember us putting our heads under the covers to dampen down the noise and get to sleep. I made an appointment to see a member of the management team; although I cannot remember now who the person was to whom I related the problems that the house was giving us. I told him that Brian, a mechanic who was a tenant in the house when I started work at the garage, had asked if it was indeed I who would be moving in when he moved out shortly. I said that was the case and then he went on to say that he had something to tell me. He explained that there were many noises in the house but that it would be best if I said nothing to my wife, which in fact I didn’t. Nor did I pursue the matter any further with him. I also informed the person with whom I was having the interview that I was seeking the assistance of a priest. He repiled that if I felt the need to do that then I should go ahead but went on to ask that I do not involve the press, which in fact I didn’t. A priest from the local church came to visit the house within a few days of our request, I was at work at the time but he simply told my wife, Val, that he did not feel anything unusual. We of course could only take his word for it since for obvious reasons we believed that only church people could know anything about these things. We moved out and went to live in Bushey (Watford) where I took a parts managers job at Bushey Vale Garages. The events which took place in number 27 have never been put to rest and that was the reason why I contacted your web site. Thank you for your reply.

    By Mike Glazier (Spain, 0034 96 285 3202) (29/08/2006)
  • Regarding the Thorpe family – postings by Patricia Machon and Lynne Abbott – my mother was Rose Thorpe. Depending on the dates – Freddie was either my grandfather or uncle. Patricia, I think we may be related. Mum died in January of this year and my grandfather died before I was born. Yes, they were a big family…twelve I think and about the same for my uncle’s family. A few months before Mum died she had all her family papers and photos stolen so I would love to hear from anybody who knew them. Also did anybody know my dad, Richard Hersee – all his photos were stolen as well? He lived in Ellen Street as a child and worked at Brighton power station and played in their cricket team as wicket keeper. He had the biggest ‘howzat’ in the land!

    By Rosalind Hersee (03/09/2006)
  • In answer to Pat Maynard, yes the term ‘twitten’ is a Sussex word meaning a narrow lane or alleyway.

    By Tony Alderton (05/09/2006)
  • If memory serves me correctly, in the area between the laundry and the twitten was Carlisle Laundry.  It was owned by my grand parents.

    By Rick Green (29/09/2006)
  • The area between the laundry and the twitten was the market garden house, bread shop, green grocers, wool shop, butchers, the open area where we built the bonfire each year, shoe repairers, grocers, newsagents and finally, Findlaters.

    By Rick Green (01/10/2006)
  • Does anyone have any information about Cow Hayes Cottages, which were a group of farm buldings located to the east of Foredown Drive, where Benfield Close is today? They were demolished in the mid to late 1930s I believe. I’m really looking for any photos which might exist.

    By Colin Richardson (24/10/2006)
  • I too went to St Nicholas Infants and Junior schools. Many of the names Colin Richardson mentioned were known to me also. One in particular was Colin Worley, we were good friends for many years. Since leaving school we lost contact and if anyone knows where he might be now, I would be very interested to hear.

    By Brian Higgins (18/11/2006)
  • I have a photo taken at St. Nicholas Junior school, class 3a with Ms. Turnouth. Colin Richardson’s list of school friends in Alladin, are those in this class, I cannot recall being in the play. But Julia Christmas has remained my best friend till this day, although I have lived in Australia for many years and now reside in USA.

    By Bonny Cother - Veronica Bentley (30/11/2006)
  • I would like to know any information about my property, 31 Deacons Drive. For example, the previous owers, pictures etc. Thank you!

    By Flora Riccioni (13/12/2006)
  • What an interesting column of reading. I still live in Portslade at Mile Oak and would be pleased to hear from friends old and new.

    By Councillor Bob Carden (24/01/2007)
  • I see quite a few familiar names dotted around these comments, such as Colin Richardson, Colin Worley, Sue Blaber, Brian Pettit, Edwin Moody and Ian Scott. If anyone here fancies a chat about St Nicholas, Benfield, the Rothbury, etc, it might be better for us to make contact through the My Brighton and Hove Yahoo! Group (http://groups.yahoo.com/group/mybrightonandhove), my details being available via the members list there under the Yahoo! ID jeremy7788.

    By Jeremy Pender (25/01/2007)
  • Further to my earlier message today, I see that lots of people contributing to some of the other pages here at mybrightonandhove.org.uk – the one about Mile Oak, for example – seem to have few qualms about including their email addresses, so here’s mine too: jeremy.pender@btinternet.com. That’ll save you the trouble of having to go through http://groups.yahoo.com/group/mybrightonandhove, but I’ll still post a copy there of what I’ve written here today in case some of you go there first!

    By Jeremy Pender (25/01/2007)
  • I have uploaded 3 photos of people who most probably lived in Portslade or Southwick, and I wondered if anyone could put names to faces. They are from about the 1920s, 1949 and 1951. The web page is at: http://www.mandywillard.co.uk/places/portslade/portslade.htm (The page might be a slow to load, sorry.)

    By Mandy Willard (25/01/2007)
  • I write with reference to Co. Bob Carden’s note re old friends contacting him. Please forgive me if I am wrong Bob, but were you in your early days, a football referee as I am sure you or your namesake refereed some of the games that I played in, particularly on a Sunday at Buckingham Park? If I am right, you may remember my team, Hangleton, which played in the premier division of the SSL. They were very special times for me, football was my life then Monday to Sunday, as it was with most of my mates in Mile Oak. I had a brilliant time living in Mile Oak it was a super place to live, I wonder if much has changed over the years? I haven’t been back since getting married in 1968 save for passing through!

    By Dave Barcock (01/02/2007)
  • Does anyone have any information about Leslie Reginald Hawkes who used to live in Deacons Drive?

    By Flora Riccioni (16/02/2007)
  • I am looking for any information on the Thorpe family of Portslade, in paticular Alfred James Thorpe who died in 1971.

    By Ian Ryan (19/02/2007)
  • In reply to Flora Riccioni – 18.2.07. I remember the Hawkes family, they lived next door to my in-laws who lived at number at 33. I vaguely remember Mr Hawkes who died many years ago. Mrs Hawkes used to do hair dressing. They had three daughters, Brenda, Christine and Bridget. As far as I know Brenda and Bridget still live in England but Christine married an Italian and lives in Italy. Mrs Hawkes moved from Deacons Drive and lived, I believe, in Hove where she died last year.

    By Pat Maynard (23/02/2007)
  • I want to say thank you to Pat Maynard who give me a lots of information about my property 31 Deacons Drive. I am Italian and it is a coincidence that one of the girls, Christine, married an italian and lives there now. It will be nice to meet with one of the girls one day, and share memory of the house where I am now.

    By Flora Riccioni (25/02/2007)
  • I am looking for any information about Andrew J Langley who used lived in Mill Lane, Portslade, as far as I know until 1982. Thanks for your reply.

    By Isabel Gonzalez Garzo (27/02/2007)
  • In reply to David Barcock:- Yes I am the same said person that was a football referee and I seem to remember that you lived at one time in Graham Avenue. The area has changed a fair bit over the years with quite a bit of building having taken place.
    With regard to an enquiry about the Thorpe Family: I know that a couple have died, one of the daughters who was married to Peter Willows in fact passed away about three years ago. I know that there are several of the daughters living in the area as I see them about quite often. I saw several of the lads at the funeral of Irma.

    By Cllr Bob Carden (04/03/2007)
  • Does anyone have any infomation on 44 Franklin Road or remember the Robinsons or The Budds?
    I would be very interested, I lived in 44 Franklin Road from 1941-1945

    By Gloria Moore (06/03/2007)
  • Alfred Thorpe was my uncle. I would appreciate any information you have about his mother.

    By Rosalind Hersee (18/03/2007)
  • Can anybody remember hearing or reading about Leonora Godsalve H Newman. She married in Brighton in 1870, but there is a possibility she may have had a daughter who went on to marry Alfred Thorpe. Alfred was my grandfather and father to the Alfred Thorpe mentioned above. They were a big family, possibly twelve, and may have lived in Buckler Street. Alfred, Fred, Albert, Nora, Una, Helen, Rosina and Gertrude were the names of some of their children. Alfred Jn. married Dolly Fuller, she was a cousin of my dad Richard Hersee. Does anybody remember the Fullers or the Hersees? I think they lived at 2 Ellen Street at one time. Can anyone remember the name of Alfred Sn.’s wife? It’s quite a puzzle.

    By Rosalind Hersee (19/03/2007)
  • For Mandy Willard, I have just downloaded your 3 photographs and recognized my great grandmother. She is seated last on the left of the second row. Her name was Elizabeth Wells and she owned the approved school for boys in Mile Oak

    By pam evans (24/03/2007)
  • I lived at No.21 East Street with a Mrs Morley one side of us and Mrs Virgo the other side. I went into the Navy in 1938 at the age of 14 so lost touch with a lot of old school mates but I remember Eric Masters and his memories of old Joey Bedford. I used to love the Saturday morning picture shows at the old Pavilion cinema and I used to go to the Rothbury in Franklin Road as well, there was also Fanny Tucker’s sweet shop in North Street. I must say that this column has brought a lot of old memories back.

    By Frank Young (31/03/2007)
  • I thought perhaps someone out there might be interested in a bit of my background history, I left the navy in 1954 and went to live in Wales with my Welsh wife and then in 1958 I came back to Porslade to live with my Mum and her new husband Hugh Earl. We all moved to St. Richards Road a couple of years later and my wife Iris went to work at the Metal Box and I became a bus driver for
    the Brighton Hove Omnibus Company until 1968. When I left I wentnto work on the Valve Line at the Metal Box, my wife was still working there in the Rical departmentt.  We stayed there then until 1986 when we took early retirement and moved back to Wales where we have now lived for 21 years. We also lived at Benfield Court and later Locks Crescent while we were in Portslade.  Sadly my Mum died in 1885 and I lost my stepfather a few years before. I did have one old friend who I lost touch with and his name was Victor James, bye for now to all.

    By Frank Young (02/04/2007)
  • If Pat Minneran nee Morley would like to contact
    f.young73@ntlworld.com we will have a chat about good old East Stret.

    By Frank Young (03/04/2007)
  • To Frank Young. Frank, would you have known my brother Pete(Barcock) and his wife Sylvia, also Bill Stevens who worked at the Metal Box at the time you were there?

    By Dave Barcock (03/04/2007)
  • To Dave Barcock. Hi Dave, am notb quite sure but the names do sound familiar, would have to know a bit more about what department they worked in and what shift, I was on B shft in the Valve dept and I worked on Eline as a Setter, Barrie Cook was my Foreman and Bob Savage was the Dept Superintendant.

    By Frank Young (03/04/2007)
  • To Frank Young. Thanks for your response Frank. As far as I can remember, Pete & Bill worked on maintenance. Pete was machine and electrical maintenance. All I know about his shifts etc. is that he at one time did alternate day/night shifts before he went to permanent days. As regards to Bill Stevens, I do not know anything of his work, I know him through playing football in the Sussex County League with Haywards Heath F.C.  P.S. the name Bob Savage was mentioned often by my brother Pete!

    By Dave Barcock (05/04/2007)
  • To Dave Barcock. Hi Dave, yes I do remember Pete the little electrician who came to the valve lines for repair jobs, and my wife Iris who worked as a chargehand in the Rical dept remembers him as well. So Pete would probably remember her and Wally Kersey the foreman and Don Blake the Supervisor, he would also, I exspect remember my brother Peter Young who was an electrician and
    moved up to Swindon to open the new Metal Box up there. My Pete still lives in Swindon but is now retired. There was also another sparks there called Don Tester who was married to one of my neighbours in East Street named Betty Sharp and she had a sister named Eva who worked in the canteen.

    By Frank Young (05/04/2007)
  • For the attention of Frank Young. Once again Frank, thank you for your reply. Sadly, I do not see much of my brother Pete. But in telephone conversations, he has told me that he remembers all the names that you refer to. So much so for him to give a brief rundown of life at the Metal Box. They say ‘those were the days’ – were they? Many thanks for answering my ‘merely by-the-way’ question.

    By Dave Barcock (09/04/2007)
  • With reference Joan Greenup’s message on Copperas’ Gap page which doesn’t appear to be visited very often. Alfred and Leander Thorpe had about twelve children and his son, also Alfred, went on to have about twelve too. I remember going to their cottage when I was younger…sadly one of Alfred and Leander’s young children drowned in Aldrington Basin in about 1915. At the time they were living at St. Aubyn’s Road, Fishersgate. I would love to hear from anyone who can help with memories of this family…Alfred and Leander were my grandparents, who I never met. Leander may have been of Spanish descent and was well known in the area at the, but most of my mother’s papers were stolen just before she died, so I have no way of checking dates. We are not even sure if Leander was her real name, so please, this is a real request for help. I would love to hear from anyone who can remember the family. Many thanks

    By Rosalind Hersee (09/04/2007)
  • For Pam Evans – Hi Pam, many thanks for replying, regarding the 1949 photo. Can I just confirm, was Elizabeth Wells the lady with with the dark coat and hat and lighter dress, holding 3 of her fingers? You can email me at MandyWillard@aol.com.

    By Mandy Willard (10/04/2007)
  • Hello Frank – I tried contactinig you on your email address but it would not go through. Yes, we lived at 25 East Street and I have two sisters, Joan and Beryl – they still in the UK. I’ved lived in Australia now for 40 years. There were two other families named Morley in the street. Also the Roses, Lanes, Pauls, Foss, George, Mrs Moore. My Nan lived at number 19, her name was Parsons. My Dad’s name as John, Mum Eleanor. Did you know them? Hope to hear from you. Regards Pat

    By Patricia Finneran (nee Morley) (29/04/2007)
  • Hello Mandy Willard. Thank you for putting those photos on this site my nan Mrs Parsons is second on the first row sitting on the chair. She lived at number 19 East Street and we lived at 25.
    I got such a surprise when I saw the photo, I have told my sister to have a look thank you.

    By Patricia Finneran (nee Morley) (01/05/2007)
  • Mandy, thank you for the photos you posted on your site my grandmother is Mrs. Parsons I lived at no 25 East Street with my sister Joan and pat my mothers name was Eleanor also known as Cissie. Pat left and went to Australia where she is now living. I don’t recognise anyone else in the photo. We moved to Valley Road Portslade. I now live in Woodingdean, Brighton with my husband Stan. My sister Joan still lives in Portslade. It was nice seeing the photos, once again thank you.

    By beryl thompson (nee morley) (01/05/2007)
  • Hi Pat, I don’t know why you could not contact me on my Email address, have double checked that it is correct, I send mail to Oz to a friend who lives at Nowra near Sydney and that always gets there OK. I think I knew your Mum and Dad because we lived at no 21 next door to Mrs Parsons and I think there was a daughter there called Joan. I think she married a Morley, she had a girl called Susan and she married a John Connors and they still live in Portslade, he was ginger haired. I am waiting for him to Email me. I can remember all the names you mentioned, my Gran, Mrs Gander, lived at No. 4 next door to Mrs Harris, and then there were the Rothwells, Sharps, Simmonds, Wests and Hattons to mention a few more. You must try my Email again: f.young73@ntlworld.com

    By Frank Young (02/05/2007)
  • Hi Frank: My name is Beryl and I am the sister of Pat Finneran (nee Morley). I am the youngest and I now live in Woodingdean, Brighton with my husband Stan. Pat has tried to contact your email address and so have I but the messages just keep coming back. Perhaps you could let us know how we can contact you.

    By Beryl Thompson (nee Morley) (18/05/2007)
  • Hi Beryl: I can’t understand why you can’t connect to my email address, it’s working for everyone else. The only thing I can suggest is that you leave your email address for me on this page and I will try sending to you then there should be no problem when you click on reply to my mail, if of course mine gets to you. Cheers for now.

    By Frank Young (21/05/2007)
  • Hi Frank. Thank you for your email. I hope now that you will be able to contact Pat in Australia. She would like to talk to you about our time in East Street. As I said, I am the youngest of the three. Joan does still live in Portslade and I live in Woodingdean with my husband Stan as I said before. His father was in the Navy, his name was Frank Thompson, and his father was a petty officer. Stan was an electrician.  We had some good times in East Street. I remember all the names you have mentioned but Betty Sharpe never had a sister. I think the person you mentioned in one of your comments was her nan who brought her up. Hope to talk to you again.

    By Beryl Thompson (nee Morley) (24/05/2007)
  • Hi Beryl, I have sent an email to Pat but as yet have not had a reply, so I hope she got it OK. Talking about the Sharps, as far as I remember there was, Mrs, Eva, Elsie ,Gwen and Betty and they lived next door to Mrs Simmons and she had two sons, Jim an Bert I think they were, my little grey cells are a bit foggy these days. Was the Joan Morley who had a daughter Susan who married John Connors any relation to you?  They were living in the street across from the bottom of North Street. Hope Woodingdean is as nice as ever, I used to drive the 2a bus up around there years ago. Cheers for now and take care.

    By Frank Young (25/05/2007)
  • Hi Frank, thank you for the letter. Yes, Joan is my older sister. Joan was the eldest, then Pat and then me, Susan is my neice. We don’t see much of each other these days. Sometimes Joan rings me up but she lost her husband last year, his name was Jimmy. Yes, Woodingdean is nice. I have been living there for 40 years now – we live in Cowley Drive and we have no houses behind us. I have two daughters and a son and 4 grandaughters. Unfortunatly my husband Stan is now registered disabled so we don’t get around much. Hope you hear from Pat. Well, hope to catch you again.

    By Beryl Thompson (nee Morley) (26/05/2007)
  • Does anyone have some more information regarding my property, 31 Deacons Drive?
    The Hawkes family used to live there, and the last owner was Melvyn Gibson.

    By Flora Riccioni (11/06/2007)
  • Can anyone help? I am trying to find out more about my grandfather’s shop Shirer’s Stores and my family. The shop was in the High Street aound 1907, then moved to a site now occupied by the betting shop. Thank you. My email is jillyp@gotadsl.co.uk

    By Jilly Penegar (15/07/2007)
  • Hi, I wonder if anyone has any information on the Windmill which stood somewhere near the old Village? We have recently aquired a photo of what we think maybe this mill. I have just found this web site, my mother came from portslade so I have enjoyed reading all the comments. Her name was Kathleen Ford and they lived in Victoria Road .

    By Rene Marriott (23/07/2007)
  • Does anybody know Andrew J. Langley who used to live at 64 Mill Lane Portslade and could they put me in touch with him, my email address is f.young73@ntlworld.com.  Thank you friends.

    By Frank Young (10/08/2007)
  • I have just discovered that my great-great-great grandfather was one Charles Richard Smith, a miller in Portslade in the 1860s. I would really appreciate any info regarding him and his descendants. Thanks

    By Amanda Tudor-Williams (25/08/2007)
  • My great, great grandfather Richard Sharpe retired from New Erringham Farm to Portslade in the 1870s. He resided at 7 Alexandra Terrace, Portslade. Can anyone tell me where to find a map online which locates that old address?

    By Stephen Sharpe Mensel (19/10/2007)
  • Hi, I’m not from Portslade but my mum’s uncles were and I’ve been trying to contact people who may have known them to find out some information about them. Her Uncle Sydney Green lived on Upper Shoreham Road, he had a son named James. Her other uncle, Arthur Wellesley Green, owned the Petersfield Laundry and at least as of the 1891 census, was living at No. 7 Petersfield Terrace. He had two daughters, Ida Florence, who never married and lived at The Nook. His other daughter was named Vera Olive. Any information would be greatly appreciated.

    By Mike McAbee (17/11/2007)
  • I am looking for information about the Alexander family of 60 St Andrews Road, Portslade and also 87 Foredown Drive, Portslade. I can’t find St Andrews Road anywhere on a map. Has it been knocked down? My grandparents “Bert” and Phyll lived at 87 Foredown Road from 1939 when they married until 1993 when granddad died. I remember granddad saying that the chap next door “up” went down on HMS Hood in the war. Granddad was in civil defence in the war although his aircraft recognition skills were a bit rubbish – as he was coming home from his allotment one day when he saw a “spitfire” flying low over the house. He waved to the pilot. Big mistake! The plane was a Messerschmitt and it shot at him! The last time I saw the house the holes in the wall were still there – as was his Anderson shelter that he turned into a grape house after the war. Anyone who has anything to add to any of this information it would be greatly appreciated.

    By Jill Alexander (24/11/2007)
  • I’m looking for some information on The Old Forge just at the top of Portslade Village. We have recently moved into the property and wondered if anybody had old photographs of it, or some history behind it. We know that the Burgess family once lived /worked there, but little else is known to us. Any information / stories would be great, thanks

    By Simon Lewis (30/11/2007)
  • Rest assured Jill Alexander, St Andrews road is still there and has changed little apart from the traffic.

    By Tony Clevett (04/12/2007)
  • I found this site by accident, just idly looking up’ Portslade’ to see what it was all about. I was enthralled to find that many places, events and names were known to me. The report from Colin Richardson brought back many memories. (18/8/06)
    I was born in St. Andrew’s Road in 1938 and my parents, fearing the looming war and the likelihood of that part of town being a target, soon moved to 7 Fairfield Gardens. We lived opposite the Cherrymans and I went to St. Nicholas junior school with Brian Cherryman, Denis Cobell, brothers of Maureen Cherryman and Eiline Cobell respectively. My younger brother Robin Root is 5 years younger than me so that puts me at school 5 years before you. Rob retired as a chief petty officer in the navy in about 1990 and lives in Titchfield Hants. I remember the Pettits on the corner of Foredown Drive and Highlands road. They had a model steam engine on tracks which ran right round their garden. David Ridehalgh was just up Foredown Drive from there. Roy Bonniface was across the road. Valerie Piper, lived at the first house in Highlands Road. Roger Locke’s dad had the butcher shop in Carlton Terrace.
    At St.Nicholas junior school, I was in a school play directed by Mrs. Wells, called ‘A cart Load of Villains’ co-staring Brian Cherryman and John Collins. I still have a photo taken against the flint wall. I can vividly remember being falsely accused of scrumping apples by the girl whose parents ran the orchard next to Petersfields Laundry and getting the ‘stick’ from Mr.Turnouth. But no apology when he found out I was playing cricket in the ‘reccie’ with friends at the time. I left home for Australia, following my sister Lillian in 1963, leaving Mum and little brother Timothy behind. They joined us a few years later. Lillian and I later adopted Mum’s name of Saunders. I could ramble on as these memories create more memories, lots more.
    I often think of the folks at ‘home’ as I swelter in the 35C heat of Melbourne. Best wishes to all.

    By Chris Saunders (29/12/2007)
  • For Rosalind Hersee. Leonora Godsalve Harding Newman is in my husband’s family tree. She married Edward Edwards in Brighton in 1870, but I do not have any information about any children she had. She died in 1876 and as far as I know she did not have any children.

    By Penny Shouler (23/02/2008)
  • Hi all, I have just read all the messages re Portslade families and would like to add my interests. I am in the US but my family are from England. My interest lies with Henry Brice and a J Sweetman/Sweatman living at 44 Norway St during the First World War. There is a connection to my Knight family. Anyone know of these families? Would love to hear from you.
    Regards,

    By Peggy Verzulli (02/05/2008)
  • Regarding my message about J Sweetman and Brice if anyone has any information my email is: Twnie21@AOL.com

    By Peggy Verzulli (07/05/2008)
  • We lived in Portslade during the war; my dad was in the army, our family name was Mepsted. We lived near the railway crossing on at Aldrington Halt, the name of our road was Payne Avenue, it had a corner shop over the road to us. Our grandparents also lived in Portslade and they had Canadian soldiers billeted with them. I was seven years old when we moved back to London, but, apart from the way that my little brother was treated at one of the schools, my own memories of Brighton and Portslade were happy. I can remember the rolls of barbed wire along the seafront at Brighton, and a lot of the big houses on the front boarded up. Can anyone remember the streets that I have mentioned or, at a long shot, either me June Mepsted, or my brother who sadly died three years ago, Arthur Mepsted. I would love to hear from anyone from those long ago days

    By June Hawkins (05/06/2008)
  • Hi Chris Saunders, I was in school with your younger brother Robin Root; there is a St. Nicholas class photo with him in it on one of the pages. Also Maureen Cherryman and Eileen Gobells. Did you attend St. Nicholas with my brother John Cother, and friend Diana Christmas?

    By BonnyCother/Veronica Bentley (06/06/2008)
  • I am searching for an old friend of mine, her name is Iris Holden. I lived in Ethel Street, Hove and I would like to hear from her. My adress is 61 Masefield Road, Hartlepool, Cleavland TS25 4PE.

    By Hazel Judd (nee Collins) (30/09/2008)
  • I have recently found that we descend from the Peters family of Portslade. I visited the area briefly late in 2008. I purchased a couple of local history books by Julie Middleton. I was wondering if anyone knows of the availability of copies of prints of the 1841 painting of East Hill Mill as featured in one of the books. I take it this was separate to Copperas Gap Mill. I also had some of the family living at Copperas Gap in early census records. Was there more than just a mill at Copperas? I descend from William and Harriett Peters aged 58 and 50 and living in the village in 1841.

    By Paul Watton (04/01/2009)
  • My dad Bill Stevens was a Labour councillor in Hove for nine years late 50s, 60s. Does anyone remember him or have any photos?

    By Suzanne Barber Nee Stevens (19/01/2009)
  • For Amanda Tudor Williams. Charles Richard Smith is my great great grandfather. His daughter Caroline Margaret Smith married my great grandfather William Henri Colchester Mollett. Not sure how best you could contact me, but happy to share anything I know. Charles’ father was Richard – I think he worked near Caroline’s husband’s father which is probably how the two met.

    By Rosemary Dearman (21/02/2009)
  • My Grandmother was Caroline Emma Virgo born 1876 in Fishersgate. She married my Grandfather Samuel Upward in 1896. Emma was the daughter of Charles Virgo & Emma Stringer. Charles was the Son of George Virgo & Mary Ann Sawyer. George was the Son of George and Hannah Virgo. I have a photo of Emma Virgo if anyone is interested + more Virgo info. I am chasing old photos of the Upward & Virgo Families. I was born and brought up in Hove until I moved to Australia in 1960. I returned to the UK in 1962 and bought a House in Trafalgar Road (81) Portslade. I worked as a Carpenter at the Power Station for 5 years until I returned to Australia in 1967. I have a couple of 1960s photos of Foredown Drive, where my cousins, the Burtenshaws, used to live, if anyone is interested! Also a couple of the Lock gates taken from the top of the old “B” Power Station.

    By Keith Upward (28/02/2009)
  • Does anyone have photos of George Street, Portslade, before the street was demolished? It’s where I was born in 1939. My Grandmother, Caroline Emma Upward (nee Virgo) lived there  with my Auntie, Uncle and cousins, the Burtenshaws until the late 1940s, when they moved to a council house in Foredown Drive. My email address is mup30636@bigpond.net.au

    By Keith Upward, Queensland, Australia (03/03/2009)
  • Re query from Simon Lewis 30/11/07 regarding The Old Forge Portslade. My family lived there from 1959 until just after the great storm in the 80s. I spent all my childhood there and have many happy memories and interesting unusual events that occurred whilst living there. We kept our horses in the barn which eventually became a museum for all sorts of antiquities that my father collected and lovingly restored. We also had a local farrier who worked there called Bill Bowley who used to shoe the Queen Mother’s horses until he retired . The house was originally a cottage and was used in part with local smuggling. It had an old cellar which had tunnels going to the manor and the convent. The barn and house were haunted and we had to have it exorcised to rest a lost spirit. As a child I saw what I now know to be ghosts, although I was never frightened. The barn was a Grade 2 listed building and also the oak trees in the garden were protected as was the fig tree. In the garden I grazed my pony and we kept many animals: hens, rabbits, pigeons etc all as pets. The hens and pigeons would roost in the barn at night. The house and barn were isolated and to the rear were corn fields and in the front was a track and an orchard, a far cry from today. It saddens me today to see how this area has changed but I still have my memories which will never change. I have many stories and some photos if you’re interested.

    By Lynette Satinet (09/03/2009)
  • I am seeking information about Kate Mary Earl, who lived at 25 or 26 St Andrews Road, Portslade, last known by me to have been there in the 1932 edition of Kellys, when she was 62. She was the second wife of my great grandfather, Harry Earl, who died at 2 Shoreham Road (the local ‘workhouse’) Portslade in 1926. They had two daughters, Dorothy and Magaret, one of whom I believe was a piano teacher, when she lived in St Andrews Road.

    By John Chapman (04/05/2009)
  • Rosalind Hersee, Hi!  I remember your dad, Richard (Dick) Hersee. I worked with him at the Power Station from 1963 to 1967, I was a maintenence carpenter. Dick would always goad me into sparing with him to see what I was made of! Being in my early 20s, he always sucked me in. Apparently he was a school mate of my dad’s, Harry Upward who died in WW2.

    By Keith Upward, Queensland, Australia (05/05/2009)
  • To Everyone: Does any one remember the nursery opposite Victoria Park and was it called Kings Nursery? Also some names that people might remember: Knight, King, Hatherillo, Pollard – all names from my family. Also does anyone know Constance (Connie) Higgins, she was born 1922?

    By Alan Hatherillo (09/05/2009)
  • Regarding Mile Oak, it’s worth reading some of the other links on the Brighton and Hove Mile Oak site that will tell you a lot about the area and peoples memories. In the last 40 years Mile Oak has been very much built up at the top end of Valley Road, all the roads in the area are now made up and there has been a lot of building of houses and flats around the girls school/Graham Avenue area. Funny thing is that some areas such as Stonery rRad and Valley Road haven’t changed in 5o years – just more cars. itsmepaul57@gamail.com

    By Paul Edwards (15/05/2009)
  • Further to my earlier question, I now know that Connie passed away in 2004.

    By Alan Hatherillo (19/06/2009)
  • For Paul Watton:- Sorry I can’t help you with you queries, but perhaps we are related. I am descended from the Portslade Peters. My great grandfather was Edward Peters who was a market gardener living at The Stonery in the 1861 census. His widow Ann lived in the village with my grandfather Frederick in 1881.

    By Margaret Bridle nee Peters (27/06/2009)
  • To Lynette, many thanks for the reply, I would love to see some photographs of the place as I have only been able to find one. The smuggling tunnels in the cellar have been blocked up now. I know what you mean about what has happened to it, as I think it must have massively changed from when it sat all by itself, if you can contact me and let me get a copy of some photographs I would really appreciate it, my email is lewis_sd@mac.com. The fig tree is still there, although people complain about it, but the oaks have gone and the area has not done the house justice, which is sad.

    By Simon Lewis (30/06/2009)
  • To Rosalind Hersee: was there a brother Robert Thorpe by any chance? They lived in the old village and there were lots of them; one of the older brothers was Freddie Thorpe. I went to school with a Robert Thorpe and was he was one of my best friends.

    By Vic Voice (14/08/2009)
  • Does anyone remember a family called Welsh who lived in Norway Street, Portslade up to the 1950’s? James or Jim Welsh worked as a clerk in a bakery in Portslade?

    By Bill Hall (21/08/2009)
  • Hi Vic, I do not know the names of Alf’s children (my uncle) but there was certainly a Freddie and there were about twelve. It’s confusing because Alf’s mother (my grandmother) had about twelve as well, and the same names are used for some of the children. If it is of any help my Mum was one of youngest and she was born in 1916. Alf was a fair bit older than her – I guess his children must be in their sixties/seventies now. Thank you for replying.

    By Rosalind Hersee (26/08/2009)
  • For Jill Alexander…. Jill, I went to secondary school with Keith Alexander who lived near the top of Foredown Drive. He had a sister Jean who married Edwin Moody. I used to live at 21 Benfield Crescent at that time. I have a photo of Keith at The Devil’s Dyke in about 1954. Feel free to make personal contact: mcbrien410@aol.com 

    By Chris McBrien (18/09/2009)
  • To Rosalind Hersee. I knew the Thorpe family well. Robert and I used to go around together a lot. Mrs Thorpe was a little dumpy lady with glasses. There were a few names I remember- Alf, Dot Velmer, Sheila, Pat, Fred who used to work as a milkman for the Co-op and Robert.They all lived in Drove Road between Southdown Road and North Road where I lived with my large family of eleven which I was the youngest.Hope this helps a bit.

    By Ron Darby (02/12/2009)
  • To all the contributors and readers of this site I have just come across it today, (by accident, like many others ), and have found it fascinating. I am a relative newcomer to the area, having moved to Brambledean Road in April 1974 and on to St Andrews Road in January 1983 where I still happily reside. I do remember the second hand/junk shop on the corner of Clarendon Place run by an old lady and the greengrocers next door and all of East street opposite, empty and awaiting demolition, a sad sight. Incidentally, the public house that Patricia Finneran referred to (17/8/06) as being at the end of East Street, could this be the Duke Of Clarence that was in North Street, close to the junction with East Street? The reason I am interested is, I am considering writing a book about the public houses of Portslade by Sea, past and present, including Fishersgate. Since living in Portslade, the following pubs have been lost, The Southern Cross, The Fishersgate Inn, The Sussex, The Duke of Clarence and The Halfway House. (The Maytree, just over the “border”, was also demolished a few years ago.) The Kings Head has been closed for many months now and in view of the current recession, seems unlikely to reopen, and the Cricketers Arms /Little Cricks, closed but undergoing renovations, and if/when it reopens is likely to be renamed The Midway. I am not a writer, this will be my first and probably my last effort, but I felt the subject deserved recognition while there are people who still remember these hostelries. The earliest ordnance survey map shows the Crown and Anchor pub, south of Wellington Road at Copperas Gap, long gone, but I remember the large fig that grew next to it. I think there was also a pub called the Windmill which I believe was in the area east of Church Road and south of St Andrews Road ? Is this correct and have I missed any that are long gone? I would be happy to hear from anyone with memories of the pubs and their esteemed landlords/landladies. My email address is, chrs.bambrough@gmail.com

    By Chris Bambrough (16/01/2010)
  • To Stephen Sharpe Mensel: Alexander Terrace could be the road where the Alexander Pub stands or did stand in 2002  (I moved from Portslade in this year). It is between North Street, Portslade and the seafront on Wellington Road, not far (about  two min walk) from Boundary Road. If my info is wrong, I will soon locate it.

    By Shirley (25/05/2010)
  • Hi Ron Darby. I have been searching for Avril Darby, we used to work at the engraving factory in the old village. I remember several of her brothers and a sister. I think at one time we used to frequent the Brighton roller rink.
    Also - Colin Richardson, can you please scan the photos of St. Nicholas School plays and send copies to bonnycother@yahoo.com. I would love to see my old class mates.

    By Bonny Cother (06/06/2010)
  • Colin Richardson and the brother of Robin Root may like to see the photo of the “Fairy Wedding” on http://www.mybrightonandhove.org.uk/page_id__8921.aspx

    By Bonny Cother (18/06/2010)
  • Hi, my grandparents Reg and Irene Collins lived at 64 St Andrews Rd, Portslade. Sadly they have both passed away and are missed greatly, did anyone know them?

    By Lou (25/06/2010)
  • To Stephen Sharpe, Mensel and Shirley: Yes, Shirley, you are right about the Alexander Inn, it was in Alexander Terrace. However, the pub is now called the Harbour View, and Alexander Terrace is now Camden Street.

    By Chris Bambrough (01/07/2010)
  • I wonder if anybody remembers Audrey Smallwood who immigrated out to Australia when her father returned from the war? They lived opposite me in Fairway Crescent, number 40 I believe. What part of Australia I don’t know but it would be interesting if anyone had any news of her and her family.

    By Pat Maynard (Rattue) (26/07/2010)
  • Can anyone help? We are trying to find out the history of the old nursery in Portslade. We have been told it was called Mayberry but any help would be appreciated. I can be emailed at karen.sexton@paradisepark.co.uk

    By K Sexton (10/08/2010)
  • A message for Chris Bambrough. I have just moved into the Halfway House in Portslade. Sounds like you have lots of knowledge about the area and I would love to know more. If you could point me in the right direction to find out more in its history, that would be great. Many thanks. (studio@phasephotographic.com)

    By Faye Collyer (10/08/2010)
  • To Chris re Portslade pubs,I think that the one you called The Duke of Clarence was in fact The Clarenden Arms in North Street and the Crown & Anchor in Wellington Road was just called The Crown, which was said to have been riddled with tunnels used by bygone smugglers.The Windmill was just off North Street and probably named as being on the site of an actual windmill. It is said that many of our old local pubs are no longer in business, but this seems to be happening all over as part of our history is lost with them.

    By Tony Clevett (14/08/2010)
  • I’ve only just found this page, and discovered people wondering about my parents. I am the son of Don Tester. He died in 1993 but had worked as an electrican at the power station, the Metal Box for many years and at MB Metals. He was indeed married to Betty Sharp from East Street, who was brought up by her nan, and had aunts called Eva, Edith, Margaret and uncles Gordon and Ern. I’m particularly interested in the posts by Rosalind Hersee – my father’s mother (who died around 1960/61) was Florence Hersee and married to William Tester (everyone called him Jack)- any relation? I also remember Lynette Satinet from school. Great page.

    By Keith Tester (29/08/2010)
  • Hi Keith Found your message really interesting as I have got nowhere with the Hersees. My Dad worked at the power station too and passed away in 1993. He was also in their cricket team and as a boy he lived with his parents and sisters in Ellen Street. Thanks for the information. I will post on this site if I find a connection.

    By Rosalind Hersee (06/09/2010)
  • For Bonny Clother, Hi Bonny, sorry it has taken so long to reply but yes Avril is my sister and I have passed your message on. Regards

    By Ron Darby (25/09/2010)
  • Hello Keith Tester. Did your dad work at the gasworks before he went to the Metal Box? If so I worked in the Electricians dept with him as a mate and we both played football in the SEGAS team together. This would be about 1959/60. Sorry to hear he has passed on, he was a good bloke.

    By Den King (05/10/2010)
  • Hi Ron Darby. Thanks for passing my message onto Avril. I remember you also riding on the 15B from the roller rink. Please tell Avril I have seen Pam Bragg / Groves recently, although she has health issues she looks lovely.

    By Bonny Cother (07/10/2010)
  • For Den King – he was indeed at the Gasworks and a keen footballer. I can recall him talking about you – thanks for the kind words.

    By Keith Tester (08/10/2010)
  • Does anyone know anything about the 10th company of the Brighton and Hove Boys Brigade? My grandfather was a member in the 1920s and I have found a photo of when they won a football tournament in 1924. Looks like it was taken against a flint wall, probably in Preston Park? I wonder if anyone knows anything more about the group - like where they met and who now keeps the records.

    By Jill Alexander (02/11/2010)
  • Does anyone remember Highlands Family Centre in Highlands Road? I worked there as an admin assistant in 1975 for five years. I have very fond memories of the staff in the kitchen, the head cook was my saviour with her superb cooking, Mrs Reeves I think was her name. Another lady helped me with my childminding arrangements during the school holidays. A trip to the kitchen in the late afternoon was rewarded with a lovely supply of cheese and biscuits. Such happy days.

    By Jillian Foley (02/11/2010)
  • Thanks to Faye Collyer and Tony Clevett for your comments. Faye, if you are new to the area altogether, the best place to go is the Portslade library on Old Shoreham Road near the north eastern corner of Victoria Park, the staff are very helpful and friendly. Tony, I remember playing pool in the Duke of Clarence in the late 70s, the room at the back was as big as the bar and had two pool tables in it. It was the pub of choice for the bikers at that time until it was demolished, and then they transfered their custom to the Alexander Inn, (now the Harbour View). From what I can deduce from the Encyclopaedia of Portslade, it was origionally named the Clarence Hotel at number 47 North Street, the Clarendon Arms being another pub further along at number 24, which closed in 1965. The Crown P H is also in the Encyclopaedia, as is the Anchor P H, the latter ceased trading in the 1880s, but the first ordnance survey map of the area, 25 inches to the mile, in 1875, shows just one public house in Wellington Road called the Crown and Anchor! So what do you make of that?  Cheers.

    By Chris Bambrough (01/12/2010)
  • Hello to Keith Tester. I have just managed to find this site again and I spotted your letter about your dad Don. I worked at the Metal Box for 18 years and I was good pals with him. I also knew mum Betty very well as I lived in East Street no 21. I went to school with your Auntie Edith and we were great pals for years. I lost touch during the war years while I was in the Navy but I did make contact again while I worked at MB. Elsie and Eva both worked in the canteen so I saw them often. It was a sad day when your Dad passed away, he was a wonderful man and well liked by all. If Betty and Edith are still with us, please pass on my love to them. I am 86 now but I have not forgotten their pretty faces. Bye for now.

    By Frank Young (03/12/2010)
  • Does anybody remember the plague of ladybirds that covered Portslade in 1976? I was staying with my grandparents in Foredown Drive and we came out of the house one morning in July to find all the plants covered in ladybirds. There were literally millions of them. I remember it to this day. It was during the drought, I think. They were in the house and everything?

    By Jill Alexander (04/01/2011)
  • Re. Simon Lewis, 30/06/09. Hi Simon I have not been able to contact you regarding the Old Forge on the email address. By the way, hello to Keith Tester, I remember you as well from St Nicolas school, many years ago now.

    By Lynette (04/01/2011)
  • For Karen Sexton: I did answer this one before but it was not printed. There were two nurseries in the Old Village one of which was called Mayberry and owned by the Huggett family. The house stood right in the middle of North Road, it was at the top of North Road, it ran right through to North Lane between Southdown Road and Valley Road. Just before it on the left hand side of North Road was the other nursery that was owned by the Spiers family - this one ran between North Road, Drove Road and Valley Road. The old flint wall of the nursery is still standing. It ran at the back of the houses of numbers 2 to 36. Hope this is some help to you. Regards

    By Ron Darby (15/01/2011)
  • Hi Dave Barcock, just found out from Eddy Leppard ref this web page. I was at the school around the same time as yourself, I was in Mr Hunt’s class. I seem to remember you was quite good at football at that time. Names I can remember in the class are Derrick Bud, Roger Fish, Peter Hebditch, Mr Bennett,and his famous plimsole (Fido) which I received on many occasions. When I left, if you remember, I went to work on the same farm as Eddy at New Barn. Eddy and I have stayed good friends ever since. Unfortunately do not have photos of around my school time.

    By malcolm davis (27/01/2011)
  • Hi Malc (Davis), just seen your note and of course I remember you well! I also remember all the people you mentioned including Ed, he was and hopefully still, is a very good friend of mine. I remember some brilliant times back then especially ‘New Barn farm’. Yes, as you say, I was very much into football then and went on to play (briefly) for the Albion youth team and Bournemouth F.C. I played local football up to the age of 56!!! I have tried e-mailing Ed but mail gets returned – maybe he has changed his e-mail address. It was nice to see your note Malc, keep using the site, I am on it most days. Best regards to you and Ed.

    By Dave Barcock (30/01/2011)
  • Hi Dave (Barcock), thanks for reply, yes we had some good times at new barn, and the youth club in the village. Yes Eddy still a good friend to you, we often talk regarding our times in Portslade. Eddy has just had an accident at work, he has broken his leg, I have just been up to the hospital in Ashford to see him. Unfortunately he is in a lot of pain. I am still working at the moment until December when I retire. If you would like to contact me at some time you can phone 01303891365, if I am not in you can leave a message, I will get back to you as my work involves shifts. I do not know Eddy’s e-mail, I have been married 42 years in March, and have a daughter who is a nurse in Bournemouth and a son in Sydney. Are you still living in the Brighton area? I will let Eddy know you have been in touch, regards Malcolm Davis.

    By Malcolm Davis (01/02/2011)
  • Hi Malc, nice to hear from you again albeit with some adverse news. I am so very sorry to hear of Ed’s bad injury he has not had the best of luck lately has he! How long is he to be in ‘dock?’ Hope Julie is coping okay. I expect she is beside herself with worry. Phyl (my wife) has just found Ed’s e-mail address it was on the Christmas card we got last year so we will send a message to him. Malc, if you give me your email address perhaps we could keep in contact now and again. I see you are an ‘old married man’ now, me also,I have been married to Phyl for 43 years. We have two married daughters, five grand children and soon to be great grand parents! Yes, still in Brighton (Patcham) often thought of moving away but so many ties don’t know if we ever will! Give Ed kind regards from Phyl and I, we hope he makes a speedy recovery and very best wishes to you Malc.

    By Dave Barcock (02/02/2011)
  • Hi Malcolm Davis, I also went to Portslade Boys school and I was in Mr Hunts class of 4c and I remember you well. I can remember most of are class mates of Tony Adams, Aurthur Ayres, Derrick Budd, Phillip Bristo, Eric Bourne, Colin Bowyer, Cliff Bowring, Allan Channon,—– Clarke, John Cannons, Tony Evans, Roger Fish, Phillip Gobel, —– Gander, Paul Hickey, Lawrence Hodson, Peter Hebditch, John Harriott, Barry Locke, —– Ileff, John Magwick, Graham May, Terry Martin, David Mould, Barry Newman, Colin Osborne, Derrick Pittock, John Silv, Robert Witney, John Wort. There are eight people that I cannot remember but it was 49 years ago so it’s not bad to remember all those names. I also have been married for 43 years and have two boys. I retired two years ago after being at the same company for 26 years. Hi to Dave Barcock, how I remember very well and yes Malc he was a very good footballer and put a lot of goal past me. Regards to you both, Ron.

    By Ron Darby (04/02/2011)
  • Hi Ron Darby, well this is all certainly a ‘blast from the past’. I remember you well and most of the names you quoted. I am sure it was only one or two goals I put past you though! It is really good to hear from you all. I have been using this site for a long time and it is brilliant. Kind regards to you, Ron.

    By Dave Barcock (05/02/2011)
  • Does anyone have any information on the history of Postslade Boys School? When I went to school there back in the 80s there was a rumour that it was haunted due to a workman being buried in the swimming pool when they where covering it over. Sceptical as I am I would be interesting if anyone else who atteneded this school pervious heard the same rumour? Would be nice to learn some history about this school as it is a very old building. All the best, Rob.

    By Robert Herron (05/02/2011)
  • Hi Robert Herron. I was at the boys school from 1958 to 1962 the pool that you refer to was under Mr Bennetts class room it was filled in in 1956 but I do not recall anyone being buried there. I had my brothers at the school from way back in the 40s (I had six brothers) upto the time I was there so I think I would have remembered that but someone else might know different. Regards Ron.

    By Ron Darby (05/02/2011)
  • Hi, I live at the bottom of Foredown Drive. I believe Foredown Drive was widened at some point and houses knocked down. Does anyone have any info on this or photos of Old Shoreham Road before the A27 was built?

    By stephanie (21/02/2011)
  • Hi Ron Darby, many thanks for the message, what a good memory you must have. I could only remember a few of the lads that were in our class 4c. I am due to retire in December. I am working for one of the cross channel operators and now live in Hawkinge, just north of Folkestone. I have been at the company for 16 years, I got married in March 1969, 42 years today. Do you have any old school pictures? Regards, Malcolm Davis.

    By Malcolm Davis (01/03/2011)
  • Hi Malcolm Davis. Sorry but I do not have any pictures. I will go up to the school soon and try to get hold of some and will forward them on to you. Good to hear you have been married for so long, not many last these days, as for me I got married in October 1968. I retired two years ago after being with the same company for 26 years. I took early retirement. I lived in Southwick in the same house for 39 years. Regards, Ron Darby.

    By Ron Darby (06/03/2011)
  • Hi Dave Barcock and Ron Darby. I have just sent a school photo to this sight. Looking at old photo books I found the school photo of Mr Hunt’s class 4c I think it is around 1959/1960,I do not remember many of the names. I took the photo to show Eddy but we could not remember many of the lads, so if you can remember some of them it will be good to find out. regards 

    By Malcolm Davis (25/06/2011)
  • Hi Malc, good to see your comments again hope you are keeping well! Had a look for photo but didn’t see it amongst the others on site, perhaps it is still being processed. Ed rang me a couple of weeks back it was really good to hear from him again, hope all goes well for him. Will keep in touch.

    By Dave Barcock (28/06/2011)
  • Can you please tell me if the photos that Malcolm Davis sent you on 26/06/2011 have been posted yet. If so where and is it possible to forward my email address on to Malcolm. Thank you. Ron Darby.

    By Ron Darby (03/07/2011)
  • Hi Ron and Dave. The photo is now on the site: 1959 / 1960 top left hand corner I am in the back row 7 from the left. I have named a few but not sure if I am correct, I do hope you can add a few more names. I am hoping to come to Brighton to stay at the caravan site in Sheepcote Valley as from 18 July – would be good if we can meet up. Will be in touch soon.

    By Malcolm Davis (04/07/2011)
  • Hi Malc and Dave. I have seen the photo and I have named all but one. The guy you thought was Roger Budd I think is in fact Roger Taylor (not the tennis player!). I hope I can get to Sheepcote, it would be great to see you. Talk to you soon.

    By Ron Darby (05/07/2011)
  • To Frank Young. My other half is the grand daughter of Ronald Gander who used to live at number 4 East Street. I think you may be related. adetheace@yahoo.co.uk

    By Adrian T (07/09/2011)
  • Just having spent a bit more time on research, it seems that the Gander family, or their relatives, at some stage or another occupied at least 4 addresses in East Street; 4, 5, 17 and at least one other. If anyone has any pictures of these houses, East Street before it was demolished or can shed any light on the Gander families – Henry and Rebecca 1881, Charles and Elizabeth 1891 to 1911 at least – please can they let me know. Thanks

    By Adrian T (08/09/2011)
  • I lived in Station Road with my parents, my brother Norman and sisters Ruth, Sylvia, Ann and Sue, and believe it or not I still live in Portslade. We all went to St Peters Infants School, followed by Benfield and Mile Oak Girls, except my brother of course. My grandparents, named Goble, had the Halfway House pub after having The Cricketers.

    By Valerie Jackson (nee Scott) (13/11/2011)
  • Hi Chris Bambrough, I just picked up on the site again and with regard to Portslade pubs, you missed out ‘The Jolly Sailors’, which was also in Wellington Road.

    By Tony Clevett (09/04/2012)
  • Dear Heidi,
    Sorry but we have had to delete your post. We are no longer allowing the posting of requests to find third parties, as sharing information like this breaches their privacy. We recommend you try Friends Reunited website if you want to track old friends or neighbours.
    Comments Editor

    By Heidi Gibbons (27/04/2012)
  • I have only just discovered this site and have enjoyed reading about Metal Box workers. I also worked at Metal Box in the wages department. My husband Roy also worked there in the development dept, his foreman was Fred Cosham. It was a great place to work and am still in touch with a few people. Certainly remember Don Tester, Pete Barcock, Bill Stevens, Bob Atkins and many more. They were good days.

    By Jennifer Bainbridge (nee Bleach) (06/05/2012)
  • My granma and grandad helped. They were landlords of the Southern Cross public house in Portslade.

    By Carol a Lee (12/08/2012)
  • I believe there was a paper factory in or near North Rd, Portslade. I think it was burnt down. Have you any info on it, I think it was arson!

    By Wama (26/08/2012)
  • All I know is North Road, Portslade the firm was called Flexer Paper Sacks. Was never sure about arson though. Also Saint Andrews Road Portslade is still there, it was on my last visit In Jan 2012.

    By Steven Keith Penton (20/11/2012)
  • The paper factory you are talking about was indeed called Flexer’s but it was not in North Road Portslade but in North Street Portslade and it did burn down in the late 1950’s/ 1960’s. North Road Portslade only had one factory in it that was Dennis and Robinsons who were a wooden clock cases. I lived in North Road from 1947 to 1964 and used to do some of the worker’s shopping.

    By Ron Darby (12/12/2012)
  • Hi there, I’m a trainee journalist for Journalist Works and I’m currently writing for submission to The Argus. I have recently been assigned as a community reporter for your area and I was wondering if there were any issues or events you would care to share with me? If so, please do send me an email.

    By Amy (17/01/2013)
  • If anyone is interested in a Portslade & Fishersgate history group on the social media site Facebook, I am the administrator and would welcome new members https://www.facebook.com/groups/389187537825221/

    By Ray Hamblett (28/01/2013)
  • Hi there, does anyone know if the Mile Oak Hill at the top right before the island near the old stoney wall area is haunted at all? I had a strange experience last night about 9pm or later, where three orbs appeared under the lamp post that was off. I was walking home from my brother’s house last night then I saw another orb appear about maybe 15 feet along the old stoney wall that runs alone the community college, which was floating in the trees. Then suddenly an old man came out of nowhere and he seemed to walk past me as I was on the opposite side but took no notice of me stopping to watch him walk past along the side of stoney wall. But he seemed to be wearing 80s style clothes(jeans, tan/olive green jacket) with some sort of WWII light tan hat on. Kinda freaked me out.

    By Mark Smales (16/02/2013)
  • Does anyone have any information about Fishersgate Terrace? I live in one of the few remaining houses (close to the ruins of the old brewery) and would be very interested if anyone knows anything about their history. Thank you.

    By Jacquelyn Miles (17/02/2013)
  • Mark Smales, like many others, I imagine, I cannot place the location you have in mind from your description. I don’t know of a road named Mile Oak Hill. Maybe if you could specify the road name someone could, perhaps, be of more help.

    By Alan Phillips (18/02/2013)
  • Alan Phillips, there is a small island section at the top of Melrose Avenue of Mile Oak Road, “sorry”. Opposite there’s a street lamp thats always off. Shortly past that theres the old stoney wall on the right walking up towards Portlade community college.

    By Mark Smales (19/02/2013)
  • The flint wall along this section of Mile Oak Road marks the boundary of the Community College grounds and was already old when I attended the College under its previous guise as Portslade County School for Boys. That was from 1960 to 1964 and, as far as I am aware, there was never any mention of haunted areas at that time.

    By Alan Phillips (21/02/2013)
  • Alan Phillips, well there should be! Call me crazy … but I did see something!

    By Mark Smales (25/02/2013)
  • Mike Grazier from Spain, I think you are suffering from too much sun and sangria. You said you lived at 27 Old Shoreham Road, Portslade in 1965 taking over from Brian the mechanic. Well I lived in that house in 1967 with Brian the mechanic and his wife Kathy- my wife and I had the back bedroom, my son was born in May 1967 whilst we were living there. The house was next to Speedy Spares. The garage entrance was between the two buildings. In all the time I lived there there were no noises and Brian never said anything to me about it. The only strange goings on in that house was between them after Kathy and the tallyman, so you see if you took over the house from Brian and his wife it would have been late 1967 to early 1968. I can’t remember exactly when he moved out, but I do know he moved to Polegate because we visited them after they moved.

    By Mike Willard (08/05/2013)
  • To David (Dave) Hunter, you mentioned living in Dorothy Road. My grandparents lived there in 1937 at No 11.

    By Bonny Cother (04/08/2014)
  • I attended Portslade County Boys School and my grandparents lived in the village from 1963. I believe whilst at the County school, we moved to Chalky Road and Portslade Community College delivering to the school its first county sports trophy: the East Sussex County Cup at Sussex County Cricket Club, after finishing playing for Middlesex and coaching at Sussex 1974-1979 and playing for Shoreham FC. I returned to the school but found no records relating to this period.

    By Roly Willows (09/10/2014)
  • Replying to Bob Herring: Regarding Portslade County Boys School, I never heard of the school grounds being haunted. In the 1970s and 80s we trained on the hard courts at the top of the village (Shoreham FC and Courthope FC) with old boys of the school – Thorpe brothers.

    By Ro Willows (27/10/2014)
  • Replying to Rosalind Heisee and Ron Dawby re the Thorpe family: they were my uncles and aunties Fred, Rob, Alfie, Dorathy, Alma, Sheila, Carole, Pat, Jean,Stan, Burt and my grandfather’s name being Alf and grandmother’s name being Dolly. The family resided in Wickhurst Rise, previous to that in the old village opposite Wiltons shop and the butchers.

    By Roly Willows (28/10/2014)
  • Hi Frank. This is Beryl – please can you get in touch as Joan would like to know more about the photo that was posted of Nanny Parsons. We are trying to find out a bit more about our grandad and was wondering if you could be of any help to us. Thanks  stanandberyl1@sky.com

    By Beryl Thompson (nee Morley) (27/04/2015)
  • Hi Frank, I should have said Pat not Joan. Thank you, hope to hear from you soon.

    By Beryl Thompson nee Morley (27/04/2015)
  • I was actually born at 75 Wellington Road in 1953 and lived there with my parents and two sisters. My dad worked on the Sand and Blast ships out of, I think Shorham. We lived next door to the Robinson family, I was friendly with one of the daughters, Mary. We moved to Southampton in 1960. The paper factory storage yard as I remember was at the back of our house. I remember my parent drank in the pub on the corner, I think it was called the Jolly Sailor but not sure.

    By Tina Nivens Shaw (02/12/2015)
  • I am looking for information about the following who are connected to me: Frederick William Sidney Winder and his wife Florence Nellie nee Smith born 1895 died 1993.  Florence is my first cousin twice removed. They were living at 19 St Andrews Road, Portslade by the Sea on the 1939 register with their son Richard Harry Winder born 1919 plus a Catherine Allen born 1857 widowed, and another person.

    By Jenny Franklin (11/07/2016)
  • Like many I before have just come across this site. Lived in Portslade for 40 years (Shelldale) and worked at Fryco and Metal Box. Brings back loads of memories, especially M.B. Does anyone remember ‘Acker Wallers’ in Trafalgar Rd?

    By Terry Neal (06/10/2016)
  • Was that the name of the men’s hairdressers on the corner of Shelldale and Trafalgar? I remember my first haircut was at Wallers, which would have been about 1947. I do not remember any bullet holes in the mirror though (see 2006 post by E Masters)

    By Barry Flahey (07/10/2016)
  • Acker Wallers was at the rear of an icecream parlour next door to Postills sweet shop. My friend Colin Coppard lived in the flat above with his sister Maureen and brother Laurence (I think). 

    By Terry Neal (26/10/2016)
  • I have been endlessly looking for any information about my birth mother, Edith Rouse who married Jack Morley in 1962 at Brighton Register Office. They had a daughter, Deborah Ruth, who was born 23rd March 1963 at Brighton General Hospital. Jack’s parents lived in Hove and his father was Sidney Morley. Does this ring any bells for anyone? Kind regards, Rachel 

    By Rachel Illsley (03/03/2017)
  • Does anyone know the drivers who worked for Eric Masters Haulage in the late ’60s/early ’70s.

    By Colin Drewett (07/12/2017)
  • Hello Keith, I was looking through the Portslade site and saw your message. Your mum used to live three houses down from me in East Street, Portslade. Betty and me used to go out together and went to the same school in Mile Oak girls school. I also knew your dad when he married Betty and her gran. Then we were all moved to Valley Road in Mile Oak where we lived in the top of the house next door to you. The last time I saw Betty was when I came home for a holiday as I live in Australia. If Betty is still with us would you please say hello to her. My sister Beryl still lives in Brighton. I hope you don’t mind me writing to you and I would like to hear back  some time.

    By Patricia Finneran (21/08/2018)
  • Hi Keith Upward, I’ve spotted your message from ten years ago trying to find information on the Virgos and Upwards of Portslade. I am related to Samuel and Caroline Virgo as their daughter Caroline is my Grandmother and used to speak fondly of her family in Portslade. I have a few family photos of my Grandmother’s sisters and brother Harry.

    By Simon French (18/10/2019)
  • Great page with lots of information, my family are the Willows, Dad Peter, Mum Alma, and brother Alan, both parents having passed, brother lives in South Africa with Mardeen, Greg and Lauren, my grandfather was Alf, Nan Dolly, aunties Dot, Shelia, Fred,Robert, Ted, Carol,Robert, Burt, Jean, Audrey, nephew Ally, who lived in Wickhurst Road, before that the Old Village, I noticed some information a little off from a few entrants and felt I should be this right, for them, at the same time thanks to everyone who contributed, fantastic.

    By roly willows (13/05/2023)

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