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Tower House

These images are from the Sussex Daily News 1941 and show the exterior of and view from Tower House, which stood at the top of Sussex Street, probably at the site now occupied by Pilot House.

The Tower was built by Edwin Tarner in the mid/late 1800’s. Allegedly trader Tarner used the tower as a veiwpoint to give him early sight of his ships on their return from the Americas.

Exterior and view from Tower House
From the private collection of Simon Bannister

Comments about this page

  • Was Tower House at the corner of Lennox Street and Sussex Street? I lived at the top of Lennox Street as a child and remember a tall house on the corner.

    By Iris Trangmar (23/01/2008)
  • The Tower was at the top of Sussex Street. However, it was sited in what is now the smaller carpark of Zylo Works (LNP). Unknown when demolition took place.

    By Phil Cross (14/04/2008)
  • My ggg grandad Thomas Pope b 1802 lived at 125 Sussex Street in 1861. Where was that in relation to this picture? tTey also lived at 2 Circus Street in 1851.

    By Jackie Wickham (10/09/2008)
  • I am working on a project about Tarner Tower, if anybody can tell me more about its history it would be really useful. I am interested especially in regards to its use, description of interior and about the myth that it may be haunted.

    By Mark Mitchell (30/01/2009)
  • My family, the Elliotts, lived in Tower House 1945 to 1953. The house was demolished in 1953 due to a road collapse, the road having been built on old arches. It was a scarey place to live – but no ghost.

    By Janice Doherty (01/06/2009)
  • I was 2.5 years when I lived there, and I nearly fell off the roof terrace where my brother kept pigeons – my sister should have pushed harder.

    By Peter Elliott (11/06/2009)
  • The tower, towerhouse and the adjoing house, all part of the same build, were next to the pub which was on the corner of Lennox and Sussex Street. The first fireworks after the war were fantastic when viewed from the back bedroom or the tower. As an adult I can’t make the inside plan of the buildings make sense, even though i can remember every room. I also remember the way the house curled round part of the tower.

    By Janice Doherty (18/06/2009)
  • My grandparents (the Woods family) lived in the ‘non tower’ part of tower house, 84c Sussex Street, from approx. 1908 – 1955. I would very much like to talk to Janice Doherty.

    By Nola Martin (01/03/2011)
  • I would like to get in touch also with Nola.

    We are not able to provide details of other people’s e mails however it is possible to include an e mail address in the body of a comment but in so doing that address is shared with all those who read the comment.  Editor

    By Janice Doherty (16/02/2013)
  • Particularly for Janice Doherty – my email address is nonny.wynn@googlemail.com  Look forward to hearing from you.

    By Nola Martin (02/03/2013)
  • The top photo shows the end of a flat roof with an art deco style gable end.  This is still in situ on part of Zylo Works as the tower was in what is now the smaller of the two car parks.

    By Phil Cross (14/01/2014)
  • My nan worked at The Tower House which was a school with boarders. Was this the same building? It would have been around 1928. She said she originally worked for a teacher who married late and had a small daughter that she look after until it was made into a private school. She lived with her family in Stanley Street at the time.

    By Nicky Greig (30/03/2023)

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