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Portslade

Station Road, Portslade, 1907

From the private collection of Bob Carden

High Street, Portslade Old Village

From the private collection of Bob Carden

Introducing Portslade

By Geoff Mead

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.

This page was added on 22/03/2006.

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)

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)

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)

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)

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)

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)

Like many of the recent contributors, I have only just come across this site, and reading the comments suddenly took me back over 50 years. I remember almost all the places that have been mentioned. I lived at 37 Foredown Drive with my parents and grandparents from birth in 1943, until I left home at 21. Earliest memories as a child - the bread being delivered by a horse and cart, Foredown Drive itself being tarmaced and rolled by a real steamroller - oh the smell! Highlands Road, and Benfield Way were rough flint tracks for many years after the War. I can’t remember when they were surfaced. Brighton ‘B’ Power Station chimney being built. The roar of the steam safety valve from the old power station, or would it have been the gasworks? Saturday morning pictures at the Rothbury Cinema. Snow like we never get these days. I went to St Nicholas' Infants School and St Nicholas' Junior School. Mr Ternouth was headmaster at the Junior School at the time. Mrs Wells was the music teacher and I still think of her whenever I hear ‘Land of Hope and Glory’ sung. She was insistent that you sang the ‘mother’ in ‘mother of the free’, as one word, rather than moth-er as most people do these days. This was a bit unnatural, and we had to go over it time and time again until we got it right. Getting whacked across the back of bare legs with a gym shoe by Mr Elder(?). Very painful, but you didn’t misbehave again. School plays - a wonderful opportunity to dress up. I’ve still got the programme and a photo of the St Nicholas Juniors' Nativity cast in about 1953 if anyone’s interested. Also a photo of the cast of Aladdin (I think it is, from the costumes) about the same era. I bet the cast names will be familiar to some of you: Maureen Cherryman, Ann Sharp, Brian Smith, Margaret Jeater, Marilyn Smith, Carol Bide, Robin Root, Edna Setters, Brian Pettit, Edwin Moody, Raymond Fuller, John Caperon, Colin Richardson (me), Margaret Goldsmith, Julia Christmas, Colin Worley, Ian Scott, Roger Bennett. The ‘angels’ were J King, S Blaber, E Cobell, J Clarke, J Condick, D Reynolds, L Hutson, J Pilcher. Does anyone have any photos of the Foredown Drive area, in the 1930s to 1960s? Roads and buildings particularly. I’d like to scan them into my computer to add to the family history that I’m writing (slowly!).

By Colin Richardson (18/08/2006)

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 (19/11/2006)

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 (14/12/2006)

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 (25/01/2007)

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 (03/02/2007)

Does anyone have any information about Leslie Reginald Hawkes who used to live in Deacons Drive?

By Flora Riccioni (18/02/2007)

I am looking for any information on the Thorpe family of Portslade, in paticular Alfred James Thorpe who died in 1971.

By Ian Ryan (20/02/2007)

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 (26/02/2007)

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 (07/03/2007)

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 (25/03/2007)

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 (01/04/2007)

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 (03/04/2007)

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 (04/04/2007)

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 (06/04/2007)

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 (11/04/2007)

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 (03/05/2007)

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 (22/05/2007)

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) (27/05/2007)

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 (11/08/2007)

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 (20/10/2007)

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 (25/11/2007)

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 (24/02/2008)

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 (05/05/2008)

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 (07/06/2008)

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) (02/10/2008)

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 (21/01/2009)

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 (22/02/2009)

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 (01/03/2009)

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 (10/03/2009)

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 (05/05/2009)

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 (10/05/2009)

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 (15/08/2009)

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 (27/08/2009)

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 (20/09/2009)

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 (17/01/2010)