A street party in Islingword Street and Southampton Street in 1938.

Photograph of a street party in Islingword Street in 1938
Photo from 'Hard Work and No Consideration', published by QueenSpark Books

Collecting coppers
The feelings among several people were such, that owing to so many children living in the two streets, they formed a committee. The outcome of a meeting was that they decided to contact every house-holder in the two streets and collect a few coppers. This they did with every parent giving what they could afford open heartedly. The amount collected was laid out on paper. Again the committee got to work, working out the various foods, drinks and sweets required. The necessary foods were bought, with the different men and women (parents of all the children living in those two streets) setting to work making various fancy cakes, jellies, custard…

Ringing the bells
 The arranged day arrived. What activity, plus excitement. Along came handbarrow loads of trestles, table tops, chairs (talk about happiness among the poor) with all the mothers and fathers working together in harmony, out came the various cakes, jellies, custards, sweets, in fact the lot, from all the various households who had arranged to do their bit. When everything had been set in place, hand bells were rung, letting all the children know that the time had arrived for them to take their places at the tables. My wife and I were very proud to see our two young sons among the other children, enjoying their company. What a time we all had and enjoyed.

Comments about this page

  • Just to say that my Great Great Grandfather Edwin Stunell lived in Islingword Street from 1887 -1904 with Ellen Harriett Stunell nee Jefferies. They had all their 8 children here including Lilian Frances Stunell later Dennis. Her eldest sister Ellen Stunell later Rovery was living in Southampton Street at the time of the street party pictured.

    By Adam Dennis (19/11/2006)
  • My dad Dennis Clarkson converted 8A from a disused laundry to a four storey family house in about 1968/9.
    We lived there for a few years before moving to Upper Lewes Road. I remember the Cosham family at number 7, particularly Elaine and Julie.

    By Allan Clarkson (15/08/2007)
  • Does anyone know when the houses were built in this street?

    By Mary (05/09/2007)
  • The first significant development in Islingword Street was between 1870 – 1874. Edwin’s parents, Henry Stunell and Mary Yeates, were living at 40 Islingword Street at the time of the 1881 census. Maybe one of the first families to live in Islingword Streeet.

    The first significant development in Southampton Street was between 1865 – 69. Henry and Mary were living at 1 Southampton Street in the 1871 census. Therefore probably the Stunells were one of the first residents to Southampton Street.

    Thank you Mary for making me look at my notes otherwise I would not have come across these facts.

    I can now imagine the Stunells living in Southamton Street whilst the work was going on in Islingword Street.

    By Adam Dennis (25/09/2007)
  • I know Islingword Street and Islingword Road were named after Islingword Furlong in Hilly Laine and there was an Islingword Cottage before that – but who, or what was Islingword?

    By T Cox (16/02/2008)
  • Islingword Street. My dad lived there in the 30s. The Phillips family, he was the youngest in a large family, times were hard in them days. He was left to get on with it. They called his mum the oxo queen because that was all they got to eat or drink on some days. The hard times have left their mark on him today.  He told me that one day he and his brother went down to Queens Park where the Canadians were prepareing for D-Day and they nicked a couple of 303 rifles. Their dad found them under their bed the next day, my dad told me he and his brother got the hardest belting of their lives.  The rifles – they disappeared, only to resurface in the 70s in the Evening Argus. Some chap was digging in his garden in Islingworth Street and had found them. Old grandad had driven them into the ground with a hammer, barrel first and the rusted relics had finally turned up to reveal grandad’s hiding place.

    By M.L.Phillips (22/02/2008)
  • My Great Grandfather is living in 59 Southampton Street according to 1901 census – his occupation Caretaker, Board School – does anyone have any idea if this school still exists or what it’s name might have been and the exact location?

    By S Warner (28/12/2008)
  • I have in my possesion a stamp album that i purchased on my local Stockton on Tees flea market. Inside the cover is the name Katherine Creighten, 18 Islingword Road, dated 20th July 1947. I would be very interested to know if any of the Creightens still live in this area.

    By Gail Marr (09/03/2009)
  • My grandparents lived in 59 Southampton Street – I am not certain when they moved in, but they left on his retirement in about 1953. He was caretaker at Finsbury Road School, which was in Finsbury Road, the next street up the hill from Southampton Street. I remember playing in the school playground when I was small. It was rather special to have the whole area, which adjoined the back yard of number 59, to myself.   I believe that the school is now converted into living accommodation. Strange to think that the classrooms that my grandparents cleaned are now apartments.

    By Helen Logan (07/06/2009)
  • Hi, I hope that Gail Marr reads this. My Great-Grandfather was Katherine Creighton’s brother. He died at 18, Islingword Street. He was living with Katherine’s son Michael. To my knowledge there are no Creightons left in the area. It would be interesting to hear more about the stamp album.

    By Brigitte Scoble (26/06/2009)
  • With regards to Brigitte scobles’ message about stamp albums: I also have in my possesion another stamp book with the name Michael Creighton written in the front cover. Also in the stamp album with Katherine Creighton’s name written in, is the name Micheal John Creighton 9 Great St Brighton, dated june 21st 1941.

    By Gail Marr (19/08/2009)
  • Does anyone have pictures of the former bakery at 103, Islingword Road? It stands at the corner of Islingword Road and street and has been the site of my business premises for 15 years. We are currently putting together new promotional material and are looking for early photographs. Obviously we would credit any contributor and also promote the My Brighton and Hove site as our way of saying thanks. We know that the proprietors were the Ashdown family (Amos Ashdown) from 1890s. Any info / pics would be greatly appreciated.

    By Mark Williams (26/08/2009)
  • Gail – I don’t know how to get in touch with you and I don’t want to add my e-mail address to this page. Any ideas? Michael Creigton was quite interesting. Brigitte

    By Brigitte Scoble (26/08/2009)
  • Mark – I moved to Islingword Street in 1954. The bakers was called Hyders (a bit delapitated) and the ovens were in Islingword St, it later became a builder’s office – Frank Hadley – I remember it well as my father was a signwriter and I helped him put his ladders up and he painted his name in white (with shadows) on a green background. This was about 1955-56. Regret no photos though hope this is of help to you.

    By Ray (14/09/2009)
  • Many thanks for that Ray. Does anyone have any photos of Hyders bakery or of Frank Hadley’s office? Any info would be much appreciated.

    By Mark Williams (25/09/2009)
  • Does anyone know who lived at number 82?

    By Ruby (11/10/2009)
  • Hi every one, I lived at 19 Islingword street in the early 70s with my mum, dad and brother. Gail my neighbours at 18 was Pam and Brian Howard who bought the house and i think they are still there now. My mum was brought up in Ewart Street which our garden looked over Ewart street. She was Patsy Rose then with her brothers Peter Dennis Brian and my mums baby sister June and my nan and grandad Bill and Margreat Rose-I think they lived at 35. The tales my mum told me what they got up to were brill. My mum said she stole a pair of ice skates that someone had left outside their house and she put them on and was going down the street in these skates as someone famous back them. She had a right telling off ha ha. I would sit for hours listening to my mum telling me about the war, my mum was born in 1934 where she was born in Ewart Street amongst her brothers and sister. Sadly my mum died 17th May 1999. Any one who knew my family please get in touch it would be nice to hear from you my email is Lesleyh-1967@hotmail.com

    By Lesley Wares (08/03/2010)
  • Hi Brigitte, my mum Patsy Rose had a cousin called Michael Creighton. He died about 12 years ago. His last address was Islingword Road.

    By Lesley (09/03/2010)
  • Hi Lesley. I will send you an email within a week - having trouble with multi emails at the moment! I knew Pat and Rose.

    By pam (07/06/2010)
  • Sorry Leslie, I should have said I knew Pat and June. I will be in touch.

    By Pam (11/06/2010)
  • Hi Gail, Lesley and Pam, I’d love to get in touch with you all. Do you know how I can do so without putting my email address on this page?

    By Brigitte (18/06/2010)
  • Hi Brigitte, like you I don’t want to use my email on the page. I am going to send my message direct to Leslie. Good luck Pam

    By Pam (19/06/2010)
  • Lovely to read all the history about Islingword Street. Did anyone live, or have any relatives that lived, at number 26 Islingword Street.

    By Tim (08/06/2011)
  • I used to live in Southampton Street we moved in the 70s. We lived there for 30 years we had lots of fun up there and many memories, eg Silver Jubilee street party in 1977 and lots of friends. We used to have the constant service one end and the Sir Charles Napier the other end. I used to go into the side entrance to get my crisps, we used to have the best sweet shop round the corner, the owner was so nice to everyone. His name was Mr Lucas, he always had a happy face.

    By Susan Cattermole (05/07/2011)
  • My family lived at 12 and 13 Southampton Street from about 1906 to the 1940s. Some of them were born there and some died there. They eventually moved to Whitehawk in 1946 and then to Moulsecoombe in 1951 where I was born. How things have changed now.

    By Ivor Williams (29/07/2011)
  • We Whitingtons lived at number 13 for about six years. Next door to me was Miss Page then the Stoners moved in. The Cogans lived the other side, next to them were the Terrys. Opposite us were the Radfords and the Bradys- everyone used to stop at our house as you could see our avairy through the glass that went to our sub basement.

    By Laine (30/07/2011)
  • My mother was born at number 12 Islingword Street in 1936; she lived there for a few years and recalls it is very haunted. They moved to no 29 where I was born in 1956.  My mother’s name is Florence Hill and is now 75 and lives in the USA (Rhode Island). Her mother was Elizabeth (May) Hill and Father Gilbert (Bert) Hill; both now deceased. I was one of 5 children that moved to the USA in 1959 but we lived back on Islingword Street in 1966 (no 29) for about 3 months, then back to the USA ever since. I still have relatives in Brighton and visit there quite often – Jim Brunelle

    By Jim Brunelle (27/12/2011)
  • My grandparents lived at 11 Islingword Street (am pretty sure it was no 11). Their name was Harmer. I think my mother and her 3 sisters were born there. I remember the sub basement and then the large basement that led to the garden. The house was creepy.

    By Iris Gilman (28/12/2011)
  • We moved to 8a Islingword Street in 1967 from Moulsecoomb. It was the first house my parents bought and I believe it cost £2,500. We had all four stories which have now been converted to flats. I always remember it as a cold draughty house and never really liked being moved at the age of 10 from the lovely big gardens we had at Moulsecoomb to a terraced house miles from my school and up a very steep hill as well! Apart from that I have always been interested in the history of the house as we were always told it was added into the street at a later date (hence the number being 8a), also you can see from the outside that it is wider than the other houses. Can anyone shed some light on why this is? I have looked at maps in the library and it shows that Ewart Street was built after Islingword and there seems to be open land below where Islingword Street is. One interesting fact is that my Nan worked in the building when it was a laundry in the 20’s and the day we moved in we found a mangle in the cellar which my Nan said that she had used all those years before. At the time my Nan lived in Holland Street, number 8a!

    By Paul Clarkson (06/02/2012)
  • Following on from my previous comment, when my parents moved to Islingword Street from Moulsecoomb they decided that I would stay at Moulsecoomb school. When I went up to the Seniors in 1968 I used to get off the bus at the bottom of Elm Grove and walk up Islingword Road to get home. Nearly every night for the first few weeks I was ambushed at Ewart Street by the cry of ‘Get him!’ and was chased home by kids from Fitzherbert and Queens Park schools. The weird thing is that later in the evening I would play football with those same kids in Queens Park and quickly established it was the uniform they were chasing and not me! I didn’t understand it then and still don’t. The other thing I quickly established was that it was safer in future to stay for one more stop on the bus and go home up Southover Street instead!

    By Paul Clarkson (07/02/2012)
  • I grew up at 11 Islingword St. My parents were Victor and Connie Bourton. My sisters name wasMargaret Bourton. Miss Page was ouR neighbour. I lived there until I moved to the USA. My  mum was born in number 11 and died there. I have fond memories of the years there.

    By doreen kimble/bourton (15/07/2014)
  • Hello Doreen Kimble. We are first cousins. I live in Massachusetts.

    By Iris Gilman (27/07/2014)
  • In  about 1944 when I was about 5 or 6 years old I was friends with another little girl whose name was Julie Stunnel. We lived next door to each other in Muizenberg, South Africa. Her Dad was stationed at Simonstown docks and I always assumed he was in the British navy. I still live in Cape Town.

    By Marcia Raymond (nee Rosengarten) (24/07/2015)
  • I lived at number 60 Southampton Street. I was born there in 1935 and lived there with my Mum (Connie), Dad (Bill), my brothers (Bill, Eric and Wilf) and my sisters (Vi and Phillis). I am in the middle of the photo above in the white shirt, which was taken in Southampton Street in 1945.

    By Ken Measor (16/10/2015)
  • I lived in Islingword Street in 1956/57, at number 21A or 22A I think it was, four of us in two rented rooms, yet I can say that I treasure the time I spent there, aged 5 to 6, as there was a community spirit that you’d be hard pressed to find today. There was, and still is of course, one row of terraced houses along either side of the street, no front gardens, just ran out of your house across the road into your pal’s house opposite, no parked cars, the kids playing ball in the street, and jumping over the skipping rope tied at one end to the drainpipe and held at the other end by one of the more senior residents. Regular forays into Queens Park with my tadpole net, returning with unmentionable and noxious liquid in a jar, supposedly containing tadpoles, kept in a cupboard by our door, but never turning into a frog. I remember the house fire across the road from us, and being taken hallucinating to Brighton General Hospital with appendicitis that nearly killed me. It was a very sad day when I left, moving to Hangleton, riding along the street in a sidecar packed with belongings under a bright starry night. Keep meaning to write something for Queenspark Books, just need to make myself sit down and do it. If anyone can identify with the above, you’ll find me on Facebook.

    By Phil Naldrett (06/09/2016)
  • My Mum and her family grew up in Southampton Street in the 1930s they were the Williams family; her name was Joyce and her brothers and sister were George, Winn. and Derek. Does anyone remember them?

    By Trevor Saunders (14/01/2018)
  • My Great Great Grandparents George and Rachel Lankstead lived at 66 Southampton Street in the late 1930s. Their daughter (my great grandma) Elizabeth Lankstead married Charles Smith and they lived at 63 Southampton Street at the same time. My Nan was born there in 1936. So nice to hear these old stories.

    By Barbara Graysmark (02/04/2019)
  • Hi Barbara I saw your comment. George and Rachel Lankstead were my great-great-grandparent. Another one of their many children called Fred was my great grandad, he married Winifred who was born in 67, Southampton Street.

    By Toyah Woolmer (27/09/2019)

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