Owners: from the beginning to the end

Woodingdean House - probably in early 50s
From the private collection of Jennifer Drury

Woodendean House, which stood in what is now Ovingdean Close, was built in the 1830s by a Mr. Lennard. By the late 1800s it was known as Woodingdean House. Notable owners include Mrs. Van der Elst, who lived there from 1929-39, ‘the richest woman in Brighton’ who had three Rolls Royce motor cars and fifteen servants.

Thomas Henry Sargeant of Brighton ‘gent’ – better known as Max Miller – owned the house from 1939-45. He ‘cheekily’ changed its name to Woodland Grange regardless of the fact that it certainly never was a grange.

Between 1958-60 the then owner sold off plots of the land adjoining the house for redevelopment. When he died in 1962 the rest was sold off and the house eventually demolished.

Comments about this page

  • The 1851 and 1861 England Censuses show my 3rd Great Granduncle John Trill Lade and family living at Woodendean House and his occupation was a farmer. Would anyone who is aware of the history of this location know whether John would have been the tenant (which I have assumed) or owner of this house and farm?

    By Nick Lade (22/04/2021)

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